To end our "Favorite Easter Books" series, I thought I would briefly describe a book that puts a unique spin on an ordinary item -- a sand dollar. You will never look at a sand dollar in the same way after you read this story!
The Legend of the Sand Dollar: An Inspirational Story of Hope for Easter
In this story, eight year old Kerry explores the beach with her cousin Jack. She finds a sand dollar and Jack explains how its markings tell the story of Jesus’ life. You and your children will never look at the sand dollar in the same way after reading this story! The illustrations are delightful too. My children now love telling everyone they meet about the markings on the sand dollar.
Why not create a beach themed Easter basket and include this book? You could use a new sand bucket for the basket. (Use a paint marker and personalize it with your child's name.) Then fill it with sand toys, sunglasses, an inflatable beach ball, a sand dollar (of course), shells, sunblock (the colored kind that kids love to use as body paint), and any other items that your child would enjoy. Don't forget this book!
Showing posts with label favorite books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label favorite books. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Our favorite Easter books: The Thornbush
We are blessed to have so many good books available for Easter! I have two more that I would like to tell you about. Today's entry is about a book called The Thornbush; tomorrow we will learn a special story behind the sand dollar.
The Thornbush
This book provides another unique perspective on Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection. It is told from the point of view of a little thorn bush growing near a big palace in Jerusalem. The thorn bush feels sad and neglected because people avoid it, not wanting to hurt themselves with its prickly branches. But one day, a man stops and shows kindness to the little bush. The bush sees how the people mistreat this gentle man. One day, some of his branches are cut off, and a little while later he recognizes those same branches on the head of the kind man. That same man leaves a symbolic little gift on the bush’s blossoms, turning them from a dull yellow to beautiful, multi colored flowers. The water-color type artwork in this book is gorgeous, and the story will enchant adults and children.
The Thornbush
This book provides another unique perspective on Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection. It is told from the point of view of a little thorn bush growing near a big palace in Jerusalem. The thorn bush feels sad and neglected because people avoid it, not wanting to hurt themselves with its prickly branches. But one day, a man stops and shows kindness to the little bush. The bush sees how the people mistreat this gentle man. One day, some of his branches are cut off, and a little while later he recognizes those same branches on the head of the kind man. That same man leaves a symbolic little gift on the bush’s blossoms, turning them from a dull yellow to beautiful, multi colored flowers. The water-color type artwork in this book is gorgeous, and the story will enchant adults and children.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Our favorite Easter books -- The Jesus Garden: An Easter Legend
The Jesus Garden: An Easter Legend
This book personally touches my heart every time I read it! It tells the story of the Passion of Christ through the eyes of the flowers and animals in the Garden of Gethsemane. We learn why the robin’s breast is red, why the morning glory blooms only in the morning, how bleeding hearts got their name, and why the dogwood tree has blossoms shaped like little crosses. These are skillfully interwoven into the story of Jesus passion, death and resurrection in such a way that it does not scare young children. The crisp yet gentle illustrations will truly touch your heart, too. This book deserves to become a classic!
Find out more here:
This book personally touches my heart every time I read it! It tells the story of the Passion of Christ through the eyes of the flowers and animals in the Garden of Gethsemane. We learn why the robin’s breast is red, why the morning glory blooms only in the morning, how bleeding hearts got their name, and why the dogwood tree has blossoms shaped like little crosses. These are skillfully interwoven into the story of Jesus passion, death and resurrection in such a way that it does not scare young children. The crisp yet gentle illustrations will truly touch your heart, too. This book deserves to become a classic!
Find out more here:
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Our favorite Easter books -- The First Easter Bunny
The First Easter Bunny
I must admit that I moaned when I read the title of this book. I thought “oh no, not another book commercializing Easter and disguising its true meaning.” But I should not have been so hasty in passing judgment, because this is actually a sweet little book that successfully meshes the bunny legend and Christ’s passion and resurrection. Written by a Catholic priest, it tells the story of a rabbit who is the silent observer during Jesus’ last week on Earth. In the story, Jesus himself gives the bunny a special role each Easter. The child-like crayon drawings will especially appeal to young children. My daughter is entranced by the simplicity of this book.
Check it out here:
I must admit that I moaned when I read the title of this book. I thought “oh no, not another book commercializing Easter and disguising its true meaning.” But I should not have been so hasty in passing judgment, because this is actually a sweet little book that successfully meshes the bunny legend and Christ’s passion and resurrection. Written by a Catholic priest, it tells the story of a rabbit who is the silent observer during Jesus’ last week on Earth. In the story, Jesus himself gives the bunny a special role each Easter. The child-like crayon drawings will especially appeal to young children. My daughter is entranced by the simplicity of this book.
Check it out here:
Friday, March 27, 2009
Our favorite Easter books -- Peter's First Easter
I will continue the series of blog entries about our favorite books with another cherished volume.
Peter's First Easter
This Zonderkidz book tells the story of Jesus’ last days through the eyes of his apostle Peter. That point of view makes the story especially poignant, as it mixes the feelings we all have when we think of Jesus’ brutal death -- the guilt of betrayal, the intense pain of seeing a friend suffer so needlessly, and the devastating sorrow of experiencing the death of a person close to us. At the same time, it is written at a level that children can understand. The story is depicted through the luminous paintings of Timothy Ladwig who also worked with author Walter Wangerin Jr. on the popular Christmas book Mary’s First Christmas.
Find out more about the book here:
Peter's First Easter
This Zonderkidz book tells the story of Jesus’ last days through the eyes of his apostle Peter. That point of view makes the story especially poignant, as it mixes the feelings we all have when we think of Jesus’ brutal death -- the guilt of betrayal, the intense pain of seeing a friend suffer so needlessly, and the devastating sorrow of experiencing the death of a person close to us. At the same time, it is written at a level that children can understand. The story is depicted through the luminous paintings of Timothy Ladwig who also worked with author Walter Wangerin Jr. on the popular Christmas book Mary’s First Christmas.
Find out more about the book here:
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Our favorite Easter books
Each Easter our children receive a heirloom quality book about Easter to build their personal libraries. My husband and I scour bookstores to find the perfect book. I must admit, we are a bit picky. We are looking for a book with a good story line that will become classic, and art museum quality artwork. Over the next week or so I will share some of our finds; all which have become "must-reads" in our home during Lent and Easter.
If you are looking for a good book to include in your child's Easter basket this year, be sure to check back daily for more ideas.
I will start this series by discussing the book Rechenka's Eggs.
Rechenka’s Eggs
Written by Patricia Polacco, this book tells the story of Babushka, an old lady who lives in the Russian countryside. Babushka is renowned for her beautifully decorated eggs, or pysanky, which win first prize every year in an Easter contest in Moscow. One day she takes in an injured goose, who mistakenly breaks all her decorated eggs. To make up for her error, the goose begins laying a gorgeous decorated egg each day until Babushka has enough to take to the contest. The simple drawings in this book are enchanting with their bright colors and folk art feeling. This book is a subtle lesson in kindness and gratitude, which makes it a perfect Easter gift.
You can read more reviews about this book by clicking on this link:
If you are looking for a good book to include in your child's Easter basket this year, be sure to check back daily for more ideas.
I will start this series by discussing the book Rechenka's Eggs.
Rechenka’s Eggs
Written by Patricia Polacco, this book tells the story of Babushka, an old lady who lives in the Russian countryside. Babushka is renowned for her beautifully decorated eggs, or pysanky, which win first prize every year in an Easter contest in Moscow. One day she takes in an injured goose, who mistakenly breaks all her decorated eggs. To make up for her error, the goose begins laying a gorgeous decorated egg each day until Babushka has enough to take to the contest. The simple drawings in this book are enchanting with their bright colors and folk art feeling. This book is a subtle lesson in kindness and gratitude, which makes it a perfect Easter gift.
You can read more reviews about this book by clicking on this link:
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