Let’s be honest, explaining death to small children can be a little tricky. You don’t want to scare them, but you also want to paint a realistic picture of Jesus’ death and resurrection and what he endured for us.
The Easter story books listed below do a great job of telling this Christ-centered story in a way children can comprehend. These Easter picture books are geared toward toddlers, but would also be good Easter books for preschoolers.
Read these to your children during Lent too, to better prepare them for what’s to come Easter morning!
The Easter Story Egg
(It even comes with a set of 7 hand-painted nesting eggs!)
“Celebrate the true meaning of Easter with The Easter Story Egg.™ This family activity includes a hardcover book and 7 wooden nesting eggs. The Easter Story Egg™ book begins on Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Sunday. Each egg within the set of nesting eggs has a story that relates to a particular day in Holy Week, leading up to Easter Sunday. As the children open each egg they will discover the Easter story and the journey of Jesus through Holy week.”
Easter Bunny’s Amazing Day
Easter board books are perfect for little hands (no tearing!) “Meet the Risen Jesus with an amazing bunny—and his amazing tale—in this beautifully illustrated hardcover children’s book. Children will learn about Jesus’ friendship and comfort through the eyes of a timid bunny rabbit who experiences firsthand the love and joy Jesus brings.”
The Easter Story
“Parents can use this little book, with its simple words and colorful illustrations, to gently introduce even very young children to the meaning of Easter. From Jesus’ ministry to his miraculous Resurrection, the events surrounding the first Easter are explained in a way that little ones will understand.”
The Story of Easter Carry-Me-Along Board Book
“The Story of Easter introduces Catholic children to the Resurrection of Jesus .” The book features:
- “an integrated carry handle ideal for small hands
- vibrant illustrations
- Imprimatur that’s ensures that the contents all comply with official Catholic Church doctrine”
Jesus, Savior of the World
This book was written by a nun, so you know it has to be a good one!
“The very youngest children will delight in this book about Jesus that places him within the context of the Holy Family and completes the trilogy by Sr. Marlyn Monge, FSP, that began with Mary, Mother of Jesus and continued with Joseph, Guardian of the Holy Family. It uniquely exemplifies to very young children the importance of recognizing Christ’s humanity, bestowed by his mother and protected by his foster father.”
The Easter Cave
“This story is told in the format of “This Is the House That Jack Built.” Rhythm, rhyme, and soft illustrations teach the miraculous Easter story. Line by line and rhyme by rhyme, the story builds, covering often-overlooked details. Children learn about Joseph of Arimathea, the crowing rooster, and the crown of thorns. Through repetition and colorful illustrations, the joyful story unfolds on every page until it reaches the empty tomb, reminding families of Gods greatest gift and the Good News to share.”
There you go! Six books that tell the REAL story of Easter to help you explain this wondrous story to your children.
