Easter has long been associated with the Easter Bunny, chocolate eggs and treasure hunts but what about using this day to further educate children in a meaningful way?
Story-telling and reading is a great way to promote child development and enhances intercultural understanding and communication, and Easter is the perfect time to snuggle in and get reading.
Early Childhood Literacy Expert, Brian Caswell believes that books written specifically for the Easter season can creatively engage your children. Image: Supplied.
“To most children, the most outstanding elements of the Easter experience are the Easter Bunny, Easter egg hunts and the compulsory consumption of insane amounts of chocolate, ” says Early Childhood Literacy Expert, Brian Caswell.
“This has been fertile ground for writers and illustrators of picture books. If your child ever dreamed of helping the Easter Bunny, imitating his generosity – or even meeting him – then then those kind of Easter books will be ideal choices.
“However, if your goal is to help your child understand the historical or religious story behind Easter, there are a number of books that retell the Easter story with children in mind too,” says Brian.
You’ll find Brian Caswell’s favourite Easter books for children in the gallery below.
Brian Caswell is an Early Childhood Literacy Expert, internationally-acclaimed author and leader of the team that developed the MindChamps Reading and Writing Programmes.
WATCH: Make your own adorable Easter bunny ears! Gallery begins after video …
15 of the best Easter books to read your children
Egg by Kevin Henkes
The simple and engaging Egg by Kevin Henkes is a great choice for very early readers. Image: Supplied.
If your children are very young, then Easter Babies: A Springtime Counting Book by Joy N. Hulme will be ideal. Image: Supplied.
Max’s Chocolate Chicken by Rosemary Wells
Max’s Chocolate Chicken by Rosemary Wells, with its frustrating, yet ultimately satisfying, egg hunt is wonderful Easter fun. Image: Supplied.
Spot’s First Easter, by Eric Hill
Spot’s First Easter, Eric Hill’s classic lift-the-flap adventure with Spot the Dog is another great choice for early readers. Image: Supplied.
The Easter Egg by Jan Brett
The delightful The Easter Egg by Jan Brett is perfect for children who’ve ever dreamed of helping the Easter Bunny. Image: Supplied.
The Story of the Easter Bunny by Katherine Tegen
Katherine Tegen’s tale The Story of the Easter Bunny, tells how a pet rabbit became the Easter Bunny. Image: Supplied.
How to Catch the Easter Bunny by Adam Wallace and Andy Elkerton
How to Catch the Easter Bunny by Adam Wallace and Andy Elkerton, shows how the Easter Bunny outwits his would-be captors. Image: Supplied.
We’re Going on an Egg Hunt by Laura Hughes
The addictive and interactive We’re Going on an Egg Hunt by Laura Hughes is an Easter classic. Image: Supplied.
The Easter Bunny’s Helpers, by Anne Mangan and Tamsin Ainslie
The Easter Bunny’s Helpers, by Anne Mangan and Tamsin Ainslie, with its native Australian animal characters is a great local read. Image: Supplied.
Otter Loves Easter by Sam Garton
Otter Loves Easter by Sam Garton, with its lesson of sharing – and avoiding over-consumption shares a sweet Easter time message. Image: Supplied.
The very creative P. Zonka Lays an Egg by Julie Paschkis draws upon the Russian/Ukrainian traditions of decorated eggs. Image: Supplied.
Rechenka’s Eggs by Patricia Polacco
Rechenka’s Eggs by Patricia Polacco is another beautifully illustrated tale that draws upon the Russian/Ukrainian traditions of decorated eggs to tell it’s story. Image: Supplied.
That Grand Easter Day by Jill Roman Lord and Alessia Trunfio
That Grand Easter Day by Jill Roman Lord and Alessia Trunfio is a good choice for younger children. The rhymes and rhythms and the cumulative effect of the repetitions draw children into the story in a very accessible way. Image: Supplied.
The Story of Easter by Christopher Doyal is aimed at older children (8 – 12 years old). It is based on biblical accounts, and features delicate yet effective watercolour illustrations. Image: Supplied.
Love One Another: The Last Days of Jesus by Lauren Thompson and Elizabeth Uyehara
Love One Another: The Last Days of Jesus by Lauren Thompson and Elizabeth Uyehara is also an effective and non-confronting treatment of the story for even young children. Image: Supplied.
