The Easter Story

Image Source: Collins Dictionary

The Christmas story from the Bible is a fairly easy one to share through a picture book for young children but Easter is more complex.

The author needs to include:

• Passover
• The Last Supper with the disciples
• The betrayal by Judas
• The Crucifixion
• The resurrection
• The Ascension to heaven 

Here are three books you could share with a child. Each contains bright illustrations - Brian Wildsmith; Christina Balit; and Sophie Allsopp. 

Here are a set of teaching ideas to use with The Easter Story by Brian Wildsmith.

Taking a closer look at these three books. I have included text quotes to give you an idea of the level and style of the writing:

Opening lines: "Once, a long time ago, a little donkey was brought to Jesus. The little donkey had never been ridden before, bu Jesus spoke gently to him, and soon he stopped being afraid."

Closing lines: "But Jesus knew it was time for him to leave this earth. As the sun rose one morning, he went up to his father in Heaven. The next day Jesus' friends took the little donkey back to his home. And the little donkey stayed there for the rest of his life, remembering the kind and good man he had carried on his back to Jerusalem."

Review: Publishers Weekly

Recommended for ages 8+  You can view the whole book here. 

Opening lines: "One springtime, long ago, everyone was talking about Jesus of Nazareth. 'He is a wonderful storyteller,' said the children. 'He welcomes everybody,' said the outcasts. 'We believe he can work miracles,' added those who were sick. 'But how can the son of a carpenter be a teacher?' asked the religious leaders. 'Who is this Jesus? Who can he be?"

Closing lines: "We are the followers of Jesus - the one who was crucified and who I declare has been raised from the dead. He is the Messiah, the one sent by God to save us. ... In this way Peter began the work of spreading the message of Jesus: the message to bring people into God's everlasting kingdom."

Recommended for ages 10+

Opening lines: "Long ago there lived a man named Jesus. He was a storyteller and a miracle worker and a preacher. 'And he tells us the good news,' said the children, 'that God loves us."

Closing lines: "One day when Jesus's followers were together, they heard a noise like blowing wind. They saw flames of bright fire blazing above them. They felt brave and strong as never before. That very day they began to spread the good news about Jesus. The news about God's love: the love that will last for ever."

Recommended for ages 5+