The flowers are blooming, the baby chicks are hatching, the birds are chirping. Spring is here and it's time to celebrate Easter! The books on this list send winter packing and usher in a season of new life. We've included books that explain the story behind Easter. We've also added in a few fun books about egg hunts, jellybeans, and bunnies, and spring books! Check out a few of these from your local library or put them in your child's Easter basket!
This book is told in the style of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, but the children in this book are anxiously awaiting the Easter bunny instead of Santa. They've set their Easter baskets out, hoping the Easter bunny will come to fill them with yummy treats. As expected, he comes while the children are sleeping, and they have a great surprise in the morning! The rhymes in the story will keep kids laughing all the way to the last page. It's a fun book for preschoolers and kindergartners.
Blossom the bunny eagerly runs to the meadow to play with her friends, but she soon realizes she can't fly or climb like her friends can. Blossom's mom has an important lesson for her to learn: where comparison begins, contentment ends. She learns that flowers don't compare themselves, they just bloom! This book helps children build self-confidence and find joy in who they are as a person. Read it with your elementary children.
Take a closer look at how people in countries around the world celebrate Easter. Kids will learn about the traditions of colored eggs, spring flowers, and Lent. The last few pages include activity suggestions like making eggs with messages inside, singing traditional Easter hymns, and baking tatales. The book is factual and objective, providing a great overview of the holiday. Read it with your early elementary children.
In this book, even young children can learn about Jesus' resurrection from the dead on the first Easter. Papa takes Little Cub out into the Arctic world to explain God's great love for his people. The story is accompanied by beautiful watercolor illustrations that welcome kids into the polar bears' journey. Preschoolers and early elementary children will enjoy this one.
This classic book won the 1943 Caldecott Honor. It is the sweet story of a friendship between a bunny and a cat. Oliver is a cat who's used to getting all the attention at home, but when Marshmallow the bunny rabbit moves in, things change. The illustrations are sparse, but inviting. It's the perfect bedtime book for 4-8 year olds.
Cat isn't happy that the Easter bunny is getting all the attention! He thinks he can do a better job, so he sets off to deliver Easter eggs. He soon realizes that this is not the job for a cat after all. This book is especially fun for children because Cat doesn't actually talk. The narrator does all the talking, and Cat holds up signs and communicates through his body language. The illustrations propel the story perfectly, with hidden jokes and exaggerated expressions. The sense of humor is great for preschoolers and early elementary kids.
This book explores spring holidays around the world. From Holi and Navruz to Easter and Passover, kids will learn the interesting backstory and current traditions associated with each celebration. The book is full of colorful illustrations and photographs. Older kids can learn even more by reviewing the “words to understand” at the beginning of each section. Younger children will simply enjoy looking at the pictures.
Celebrate Easter with Beatrix Potter's most iconic characters: Peter Rabbit, Tom Kitten, and Jemima Puddle-Duck are all here. It's a short board book with adorable springtime illustrations. It makes a nice addition to any toddler's Easter holiday.
This book presents the story of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. It's short, but it gives a complete overview of Easter and the Christian meaning of the holiday. The colorful illustrations make it appealing to little ones, ages 3-6.
Biscuit, the adorable yellow puppy, is going on his first Easter egg hunt. Children lift-the-flap on each page to help Biscuit find the eggs. It's a quick story, but toddlers and preschoolers will love reading it again and again.
This is another springtime lift-the-flap book. Baby is looking for her Easter eggs, but where could they be? When children lift each flap, they'll see bunnies, jellybeans, Baby's Easter bonnet, and more. The colorful illustrations and interactive flaps make this book a great choice for babies, toddlers, and young preschoolers.
Fancy Nancy is excited for Easter! Her family even has a pet bunny staying at their house for the weekend. When Nancy runs off for an egg hunt and then comes back to the cage, the rabbit is missing! She'll follow the clues to find the pet bunny, but she'll miss the egg hunt while she's gone. Her friends come to the rescue to make sure she has a wonderful Easter. This is a bright story and even features a few French words that are easy for young kids to learn. Read it with early elementary children.
Our two favorite feathered friends are back in this Easter-themed board book. This time, they're trying to find a hiding spot so they can stay up all night and see the Easter bunny. Will they make it until morning? Not quite. This one is a cute book for toddlers.
This Easter book is part of a series of Bible story books that has been around since 1964. As the title says, the story takes children from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, detailing the events that happened during that week. Easy-to-read rhyming text makes this one a good pick for emerging readers. A Spanish version is available, too.
It's a beautiful Easter day and a little rabbit is off to hunt for a very special Easter egg. She stops to help her animal friends find their special eggs, but will she ever find her egg? She does indeed find a special egg with a big surprise hiding inside! This is a beautiful story of friendship, kindness, and unexpected joy. Read it with your elementary children.
This book takes a unique look at the traditional Easter story. It focuses on the emotions of Jesus' friends. As they read, kids will see that Jesus' friends felt sadness, fear, and joy. They'll be encouraged to mimic the expressions of these emotions and think about how they would've felt if they were there at the first Easter. Bright illustrations and simple text make this a must-read for preschoolers.
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