Easter Books

My kids love Max and Ruby. Max and Ruby books are great quality, and I like them as much as my kids. Rosemary Wells knows how to make books appealing to kids of all ages. I can recommend any of her books without hesitation. They are family friendly, kid-safe, and just a lot of fun. They are classics! My kids also like to count, and this book is especially fun for Easter.

My three year old granddaughter has loved Max and Ruby books since I bought her Tea for Two when she was six months old. She grabbed this Christmas morning and said, as she hugged the book, "My Max!". It was a huge hit.

This book was really cute. My kids love all the Max and Ruby books, and this one was no disappointment! The pictures are wonderful and brightly colored almost like an easter egg itself! And the unique eggs Max created in the book sparked my kids' imaginations with new inventions for their own easter eggs and decorations! :)

This is a cute Max and Ruby book. The story is nice and pleasant. Max wants to go to an Easter Parade but Rudy has other ideas. The parade is supposed to be the next day. How will Max deal with the wait? The story is nice but the stories actually written by Rosemary Wells are better.

Michael Le Souffle and the April Fool is the imaginative account of the start of April Fools Day. The mayor of Bakonneggs in France is a horribly grouchy man who doesn't want anyone to have fun. He has even outlawed laughing! But when the mayor decides to change the date of New Years Day, everyone is sure he is pulling a prank.

Michael Le Souffle and the April Fool tells an entertaining, humour filled story while teaching children a little about French culture and vocabulary. Throughout the pages of the story are French words for the objects shown. The book even includes an easy to use French- English translation and pronunciation guide at the back.

This is Pete Welling's best book yet. Although I didn't think he could top Andrew McGroundhog and His Shady Shadow, I think Michael Le Soufflé's illustrations are the best of any children's book I have seen in recent memory.

The story, a comical tale about a happy-go-lucky rooster and an irritable pig, is original to say the least. While I think children (and adults) will enjoy the story, it's the illustrations that steal the show. I was laughing more at the illustrations than at the story. Each page is packed full of humor within humor; the book may be a short 32 pages but it took me half an hour to get through it because I spent so much time on each page looking at the complex, yet fanciful, drawings.

If you have a young child just learning to read or an older child who still enjoys being read to while looking at great illustrations, then buy this book. It will be cherished for years to come.

My 5-year-old wants to check this book out at the library nearly every time we go. She checks out a ton of books at a time, but at bedtime, this is the one she always wants me to read to her. It is a lovely little story about a squirrel who (temporarily) gives up the home that she loves to go care for 4 little squirrels who have no mother. This book teaches children how to be selfless and caring. Each time we finish the book, my daughter says, "That's such a nice book." The illustrations are also wonderful. I can see how any child would love this story.

This story features the same squirrel from Miriam Young's book "Miss Suzy". I loved Miss Suzy as a child and now enjoy reading the stories about her to my daughter. Miss Suzy is a very kind and compassionate squirrel. In this story she rescues a family of orphaned juvenile squirrels. Then she makes them easter baskets out of a easter hat she had been making for herself. The nicest gift she gives the little squirrels I will leave as a suprise. She is a happy, busy squirrel and is always thinking of others. I gave this book only four stars because I just love the original story "Miss Suzy", a bit more.

With "New Proclamation Year B, 2006 Easter through Pentecost" I have completed the 6 books of the 3 year lectionary. The contributors change with each issue which gives each book its' own character. Some editors offer illuminating insight and ideas while others tend to state the obvious. It has been, these past three years, the first source I consult when in need of directional guidence for sermon preparation. In theory, I now have all the 6 books I need but I went ahead and ordered the two books for the now-current Year C. I think I will enjoy have two different perspectives to chose from. Although this particular volume left me wanting at times, the series has enough excellence to lead me to continue using it as the best resource for interpreting the Word.

This entire series is one based on excellence and innovation. One cannot go wrong with any of the texts: older editions for ideas and lectionary focus, and the current editions for ongoing sermon and service plans, studies and liturgy. The authors are to be commended for the diligence they have shown in being faithful to the needs of churches to worship in a style of fullness and effectiveness when they created this wonderful resource.

This book is ideal for the busy person as it gives one a reason to pause and reflect. The short, readable inspirational passages also include the scripture references upon which the reflection is based.

This year's version of the Lenten favorite from Liturgical Press emphasizes hope through such topics as passion for the possible, gentle as dew, choose life, and a positive view of penitence. "No matter how awful or beyond the pale we believe ourselves to be," writes Ashwin, "God's forgiving love will cleanse and purify us." Daily Reflections is a pocket-sized resource with a two-page spread for every day from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday. Each entry includes a list of day's readings, an excerpt from one of the passages, a brief reflection, a meditation question, and a closing prayer. The content is rich, yet brief enough for individuals, families, and faith sharing groups.

This series of hymns is outstanding. They include recordings of some of the most classic hymns, with good recordings, the basic sheet music, all the lyrics, as well as stories related to the topic of each hymn and a suggested prayer for use during devotional or family worship time. The recordings are of kids singing the hymns alongside the music -- and they don't mess with the melody or introduce cheesy instruments typical of much contemporary Christian music or other CDs of hymns (sorry, had to be said). They are sung pretty much the way you'd sing them in Sunday worship. They are good for me (the dad) as well, because I didn't grow up in the church and have always wanted to learn these hymns.

We try to set aside 15 minutes a day as a family - to pray, practice the kids' catechism, read Scripture and then we use these books: perhaps read (or paraphrase) one of the stories related to a hymn, sing the hymn to God and talk about what we sang. The kids also love to listen to these CDs during their play time, and we frequently hear them singing the hymns to themselves at random times. Most of the classic hymns have good theology, which they can understand more over time. All in all, these are a great tool for facilitating either personal or family devotional time. I highly recommend them.

I am very pleased with this book and CD combination. A selection of hymns and devotionals that focus on the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ and his resurrection.

For each hymn the author is presented, a devotional beautifully relating the spiritual truths the hymn's contain in a way that is understandable for children. Be prepared to cry.

Also included is music, complete lyrics, a bible verse to contemplate/memorize, and a prayer. There is also a beautiful illustration accompanying each hymn - truly lovely, realistic paintings, full of light (and often children).

The music on the CD is wonderful, a combination of children singing and a female vocalist. Some of the songs sound a bit keyboardy or synthetic, I can't quite put my finger on it, but they are very lovely. Be prepared to cry. My daughter is always more encouraged to sing when there are children singing on a recording.

The only things I could have wished for are the historical background of the hymn (I suppose that would have made the book too long, and I do have some other resources I can use to hunt this information down), and the scripture presented in KJV (our family uses the KJV exclusively - and particularly for memorization).

We have been able to introduce some of these hymns in our church fellowship (I can't read music, so I learn by ear), as we sing hymns (seems to be a fading practice in many churches), and many are in our hymnal - as these are true classics. Our favourite is At the Cross.

Recommended for both adults and children, any Christian family, and particularly homeschoolers! I'm now slowly purchasing the rest of the series.

It helps you prepare yourself during Lent with scripture and reflections

He gives us little challenges every day to grow stronger and understand more about the paschal mystery.

Our family has enjoyed this book.
We spent 8 months living in beautiful Antigua last year and this book brought back memories for us!
As a mother of 5 Guatemalan children - I found this book a delightful way to introduce our children to the tradition of Semana Santa ( holy week).
We have enjoyed Ms. Carling's book and would recommend it to anyone hoping to introduce young children to the traditions found in Guatemala.

The girl's family is visiting her aunt's family in Antigua for Holy Week because her baby cousin is going to be baptized on Easter. The tradition of glorious sawdust carpets, temporary art (like Navajo sand paintings) meant to be destroyed by the processions, is seen though her eyes. She is sad at her carpet's destruction, but able by Easter to plan next year's design. The rugs, a neighbor tells her, are "offerings to life."

There are very few good picture books about Easter, outside of retellings of the Easter story itself, that give a hint at the feast's religious depths (Eric Kimmel's The Birds' Gift, Patricia Polacco's Chicken Sunday). This belongs on that select list. It's not for the sort of conservative Christian who looks negatively at other religious traditions. (On a shelf in the cousins' house, there "stood the Virgin of Guadalupe next to the Kuan Yin, our Chinese goddess. I thought they looked like friends. Incense swirled around them, bringing them together.") Liturgical Christians will appreciate it as the only picture book that connects Easter with baptism!

As a non-Christian mother married to a Catholic man and raising a preschool daughter with a spiritual and philosophical (almost prophetic) bent toward Jesus, this book was a wonderful "meant to be" find. Written in the spirit of lovingkindness, compassion, honesty, respect and education toward and about all cultures, Fisher explains the story of Jesus' death and resurrection with great finesse, tact and mastery. Additionally, she includes the "pagan" symbols (Easter bunny, eggs, etc) that were embraced by early Christians in an effort to include all beliefs and the people who shared them. Stefano's Vitale's serene, luminous illustrations provide the perfect complement to Fisher's well-written text.

This book explains clearly Christ's role in Easter, and how Easter traditons relate to him. This book is able to get this message across in a very easy-to-understand way. I read this book to my sunday school class and they enjoyed the book very much. We also had fun doing some of the activites the book included. I liked this book very much, and I would suggests this book to anyone who is trying to explain the meaning of Easter in a very fun and understandable way.