Easter should be the BIGGEST Christian holiday, it is arguably the BIGGEST event in all of history—yet Christmas get's all the "glory" (a topic for a different post). I was able to compile a list of 40 of our favorite Christmas books and only 7 for Easter. There's a big void in the market for robust Easter stories that are beautifully illustrated and theologically sound. While many Easter traditions focus on or try to incorporate eggs, gift baskets, and candy, our family is choosing to try to keep our attention on the true story of Jesus' death and resurrection. For us, Easter is about remembering Christ's sacrifice and celebrating His victory over Satan, sin, and death (more on how we celebrate Easter).
We are very intentionally with the books we read in our home, especially during the Easter season. We are looking for books that have beautiful and engaging illustrations, and faithfully, explicitly tell the Gospel, the Good News:
That God sent His son, Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man who came to Earth and lived a perfect obedient life, died on the cross paying for our sins, and rose again, defeating Satan, sin, and death. Anyone who believes in Jesus's life, death, and resurrection is forgiven for their sins and given new life and a restored relationship with God, to live forever with Him.
If you're looking for books to read with your children to help celebrate Easter, here are seven of our very favorites.
This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It helps support my small business and family, so thank you. As always, I would encourage you to check out your local library first. That’s our favorite place to start and your local bookstore (because these are keepers!).
This story mostly celebrates the beauty of spring and new life. It does not retell Holy Week or depict Jesus on the cross, but briefly shares that Jesus died and rose again and how death is not the end. The focus is on how spring invites us into the story of death and rebirth in Christ.
Pros: Beautifully illustrated with colorful, engaging pictures. The lyrical rhymes are fun to read and delightful to listen to.
Cons: Does not explicitly state the gospel or Holy Week.
Holy Week: An Emotions Primer —Danielle Hitchen
This is a board book, intended for littles, but it does such a great job of walking through the emotions and events of Holy Week, engaging every reader with the moments leading up to Jesus' death and resurrection. A great primer for reading the Easter story.
Pros: Engaging all reader's emotions to help you visualize the moments leading up to Jesus' death and resurrection. Uses quotations from Scripture.
Cons: Not the most engaging illustrations. Simple text as it was intended for the littlest readers.
The Garden, The Curtain, The Cross (Tales That Tell the Truth) —Carl Laferton
We read this book all of the time! We love it that much. It does such a great job of telling the whole story of the Bible—from the Garden of Eden to the cross. It emphasizes how our sin and how our sin kept us from God, but Jesus paid for our sin and made a way for us to be with God again.
Pros: Helpful, engaging illustrations. Theologically deep. Comes in both a simplified board book version and a more in depth hardback. Repeats phrases to help readers remember truth.
Cons: None. (Good to note, Jesus is visually depicted in this book).
The Friend Who Forgives (Tales That Tell the Truth) —Dan DeWitt
This was our daughter's favorite book for the longest time. This tells the story of Peter, his denial and restoration through the Holy Week events. This story helped grow our daughter's empathy and has helped us walk through repenting and forgiving the wrongs we experience from others.
Pros: Helpful, engaging illustrations. Theologically deep. Comes in both a simplified board book version and a more in depth hardback. Repeats phrases to help readers remember truth.
Cons: None. (Good to note, Jesus is visually depicted in this book).
Tale of Three Trees: A Traditional Folktale —Angela Elwell Hunt
This is a beloved folktale originally written before 1950. It is an imaginative story that follows three trees whose dreams are fulfilled in unexpected ways in the story of Jesus. Great story to spur discussions about God's purposes and plans.
Pros: Classic realistic illustrations point to Christ's birth, death, and resurrection. Does not show Jesus' face.
Cons: The gospel is not explicitly stated.
The Donkey Who Carried a King - R.C. Sproul
This is a story inside of story. A grandfather tells the story of Davey the donkey who feels unimportant because he was never given a big job—until he was chosen to carry Jesus. He learns about the suffering servant and Jesus' sacrificial love.
Pros: Beautiful illustrations and story that show Jesus' servant heart for his people. It gives a deeper meaning to the Easter story. Jesus' face is never shown.
Cons: If you know R.C., you know this is a lengthier book and more suitable for older children.
The Good News of Easter: Celebrating the Glory of the Resurrection —Rousseaux Brasseur
I was so excited to discover The Good News of Christmas. It quickly became my favorite Christmas story. The same is true for The Good News of Easter. It is beautifully written in lyrical rhymes, filled with deep theological truths, and tells the full story of Christ's death and resurrection.
Pros: Helpful, engaging illustrations. Theologically deep. Beautiful lyrical rhymes.
Cons: None. (Good to note, Jesus is visually depicted in this book).
Easter is a time of sorrow. The weight of sin and shame is heavy and was placed on Jesus, the perfect, son of God. Christ died on our behalf, paying the penalty of all the wrong we've done, all the pain we've caused and all of the wrong and pain that we've experienced. But, he don't have to stay sad, because Jesus didn't stay dead! Jesus rose again from the dead, conquering Satan, sin, and death and reigns victorious.
His love and victory is worth celebrating!
If you want to extend your book reading into an activity, I have the perfect Easter craft. Easy, meaningful, simple, and beautiful.