Easter CatEaster has always felt a bit strange to me – at least during my Edinburgh years. Back in Greece, it’s such a big thing, lasting for the best part of a fortnight and culminating on Easter Sunday, with roast lamb rotating on spits in every garden. Like I said, a big thing.

In the UK, though, there was a certain kind of awkwardness surrounding it. It could be the chocolate and the bunnies, that bear little resemblance to anything I had witnessed in Greece growing up. Or the fact that Easter played second fiddle to Christmas – whereas in Greece it’s the other way around. Whatever it was, it just felt… weird.

So, when I came across these suggestions for Easter books on Modern Parents Messy Kids, I thought it’d be a good idea to share. Who knows, maybe this way, some of the awkward will dissipate!

  1. Here Comes the Easter Cat by Deborah Underwood and Claudia Rueda. Noticing how grumpy Cat is, the owner asks what’s going on. Imagine the surprise when Cat reveals that he wants to be the Easter Cat, taking the place of the Easter Bunny. And he will not be dissuaded. With the text acting as the voice of the owner and the Cat communicating with hand-drawn signs, this is a perfect book to read with your child, who will love interpreting Cat’s signs.
  2. Owen’s Marshmallow Chick by Kevin Henkes – I love the simple holiday board books Kevin Henkes does. It’s so nice to have festive books for even your youngest children. In this one, Owen determines that each new Easter treat is “my favorite.” But the yellow marshmallow chick might be his most favorite.
  3. The Night Before Easter by Natasha Wing and Kathy Couri – A fun spin on the Christmas classic poem, you’ll love reading this one aloud. Plus, kids will love looking for the eggs hidden on each page.
  4. The Biggest Easter Basket Ever by Steven Kroll and Jeni Bassett – In this sweet book, two little mice learn that the best way to compete in the contest for the biggest Easter basket is to work together. This is a really nice story of cooperation and friendship, perfect for right before an Easter egg hunt (which can turn competitive).
  5. The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes by DuBose Heyward and Marjorie Flack – Written in 1939, this Easter classic is about a little country bunny who desperately wants to grow up to be an Easter bunny. Of course, everyone tells her she can’t be, but when she grows up and organizes her 21 children to help, the longed-for title is eventually bestowed upon her.
  6. Rechenka’s Eggs by Patricia Polacco – You can always count on Patricia Polacco to deliver a masterful picture book. This one tells the story of Babushka who always wins the prize for her painted eggs in Russia each Easter. But when she rescues a wounded goose, the goose accidentally breaks all the eggs Babushka has been working on all winter long. Is there any chance for her to still win the prize?
  7. Heidi Heckelbeck and the Tie-Dyed Bunny by Wanda Coven and Priscilla Burris – In this early chapter book, Heidi is thrilled when she gets to bring home the class rabbit. But the rabbit escapes (of course!) and gets itself dyed in all the Easter egg colors. Now Heidi has to figure out how to catch and un-dye the rabbit before it’s time to return it to school.
  8. The Story of the Easter Bunny by Katherine Tegen and Sally Anne Lambert – a delightful story about how the Easter bunny came about. According to this brightly colored picture book, it was originally a sweet elderly couple that wove baskets and dyed eggs for the local children. But as they get older and more frail, their rabbit takes over the operation.

Link to Modern Parents Messy Kids for more!