Easter is such a joyful celebration. It is a time to rejoice in the positive aspects of human nature. Finding books and stories to share with children at this time can be difficult though, especially if you’re looking for a story that is about more than eggs and egg hunts. Religiously, the story of Easter is not a pleasant one so it is understandable that authors steer clear of it as a children’s storyline. Easter is not only celebrated in a religious manner either. There are many Easter traditions and origins.
What does Easter mean to you and your family and what type of Easter book are you looking for?
We’ve put together this list of beautiful books suitable to read at Easter. Some of the books are classics while others are simply an introduction to the traditions of Easter. Some are meaningful while others are just a lot of fun. You will find books under the following headings: Easter Board Books, Here Comes the Easter Bunny, Novelty Easter Books and It’s All About the Eggs. Hopefully, you can find a sugar-free gift that is right for you and your family.
My Easter Egg Hunt
Author: Rosie Smith
Illustrator: Bruce Whately
ISBN: 978-1742837772
Format Hardback
Publisher: Scholastic Australia, March 2013
RRP: $16.99 (aud)
Suitable for ages 2+
Following in the style of their loveable books, My Mum’s the Best and My Dad’s the Coolest, Rosie and Bruce bring you another delightful themed picture book. Cute creatures, pastel illustrations and simple text full of fun prepositions will have your children excited about taking part in an Easter egg hunt of their own.
The Easter Bunny’s Helpers
Author: Anne Mangan
Illustrator: Tamsin Ainslie
ISBN: 978-0732295769
Format: Hardback
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers, March 2013
RRP: $14.99 (AUD)
Suitable for ages: 2+
Coupled with sweet illustrations, Anne Mongon interweaves Easter traditions into an Australian-set story. The Easter Bunny is looking to recruit a helper, and the native animals of Australia all know how to impress the Easter Bunny.
The Smallest Bilby and the Easter Tale
By Nette Hilton and Bruce Whately
ISBN: 978-1921504426
Format: Hardback
Publisher: Working Title Press, April 2012
Suitable for ages 3+ (★★★★)
Nette Hilton has written a beautiful Easter Tale perfect for Australian children.
After winning the Easter Games (see The Smallest Bilby and The Easter Games), Billy Bilby and his band of bilbies set off to deliver the Easter eggs, promising not to miss anyone.
They encounter a problem when Brush Bilby falls down a hole. With sunrise approaching, the bilbies must work together to rescue Brush. Billy Bilby saves the night by using his long tail to reach Brush.
Quickly and quietly, the bilbies finish the job just in time and make the bunnies proud.
Out of the Egg
Author: Tina Matthews
ISBN: 9781921529559
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Walker Books Australia, March 2011
Recommended age: 3+ (★★★★★)
This reworked version of the traditional tale of the Little Red Hen continues until her own baby chick befriends the offspring of the lazy cat, rat and pig. By the end of the day each baby learns a new lesson in forgiveness and sharing. It has been beautifully illustrated with black and white Japanese style woodcuts.
Happy Easter, Peter!
Author: Beatrix Potter
ISBN:9780723266686
Format: Board book
Publisher: Frederick Warne Publishers Ltd/Penguin UK, March 2011
Recommended age: 0+
Peter Rabbit has a huge colourful basket of eggs to hand out to his friends, but he has to find them first! He makes his way through gardens, hedges and woods in search of them, delivering eggs as he goes. Peter is so generous that there are no eggs left for him! Luckily his mother is waiting for him at home with a special Easter surprise just for him!
I Love Easter
Author: Anna Walker
ISBN:978-1741696448
Format: Hardback
Publisher: Scholastic, March 2011
Recommended age: 1+ (★★★★)Meet Ollie ( a gorgeous, lively zebra), Fred the dog and all of Ollie’s friends. In I LOVE EASTER, join Ollie and Fred as they visit the Easter fair, make hats for the Easter parade, and have fun on the egg hunt. N.B. This is not a board book, but is perfect for Toddlers.
Here Comes Easter
Author: Caroline Jayne Church
ISBN:978-0545118163
Format: Board Book
Publisher: Scholastic, 2010
Recommended age: 0+ (★★★★)
There are coloured Easter eggs hidden all over the house. Help this little girl find them all! Glitter, flocking, and fancy touch-and-feels on every spread will keep toddlers enthralled.
Spot’s First Easter
Author: Eric Hill
ISBN:978-0723266105
Format: Hardback
Publisher: Frederick Warne Publishers Ltd/ Penguin UK, March 2010
Recommended age: 1+
Refreshed LUX edition of the original Spot classic. A flap book in which the Easter bunny has hidden some eggs for Spot and his friend, Helen, to find. The search for the eggs becomes a counting game.
My First Easter
Tomie De Paola
ISBN: 9780448447902
Format: Board Book
Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap/Penguin USA, January 2008
Recommended age: 0+ (★★★★)
The importance of both family and sharing are emphasized in this board book with simple descriptions about Easter celebrations. Sparkling glitter and velvety flocking highlight Tomie dePaola’s bright illustrations, while his easy-to-follow text explains the special traditions associated with the holiday.
Happy Easter Maisy!
Author: Lucy Cousins
ISBN:9781406304145
Format: Board book
Publisher: Walker Books Ltd, March 2007
Recommended age: 1+ (★★★★)
Maisy collects some eggs from the hen house and paints them with the help of Eddie, Cyril and Tallulah. Then Charley hides them in the garden… and the Easter Egg Hunt begins! Everyone has lots of fun finding the hidden Easter treasures!
The Odd Egg
Author:Emily Gravett
ISBN: 9780230750487
Format: Board Book
Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books, February 2011
Suitable for ages 2+ (★★★★★)
Duck is delighted to find an egg of his own to look after: it’s the most beautiful egg in the whole world! But all the other birds think it’s a very odd egg indeed – and everyone’s in for a BIG surprise when it finally hatches. With split pages that allow the visual jokes to unfold, this is another witty and lively book from an award-winning creator.
The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes
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Author: Dubose Heyward
Illustrator: Majorie Flack
ISBN:978-0547144184
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, February 2010
To celebrate the seventieth anniversary of The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes a special gift edition has been created. This beloved tale of a mother bunny who dreams of being one of the official Easter Bunnies but must first prove herself to old Grandfather Bunny, has won the hearts of generations and continues to appear on our best-seller list every Easter.
The Story of the Easter Bunny
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Author: Katherine Tegen
Illustrator: Sally-Anne Lambert
ISBN:9780060587819
Format: Paperback
Publisher: HarperCollins, February 2007
Suitable for ages 4+ (★★★★)
Everyone knows that the Easter Bunny comes every year with a basket of painted eggs and chocolates. But who is the Easter Bunny, and what is his story? A little white rabbit watches and helps an old couple make chocolate and paint Easter eggs. As each year passes, the little white rabbit helps out a little bit more until he becomes the Easter Bunny, with the help of a few furry friends.
The Bunny Who Found Easter
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Author: Charlotte Zolotow
Illustrator: Helen Craig
ISBN:978-0618111275
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, February 2001
Recommended age: 5+ (★★★★)
In print for more than forty years, Charlotte Zolotow’s The Bunny Who Found Easter has delighted generations of readers. Now, newly illustrated with Helen Craig’s luminous art, the story of a lonely bunny who goes on a search for Easter continues to warm readers’ hearts with its gentle charm.
Author: Jane O’Connor
Illustrator: Robin Preiss Glasser
ISBN:9780061703799
Format: Paperback/Novelty
Publisher: HarperFestival/HarperCollins, April 2011
Suitable for ages 3+
Nancy prepares an elegant Easter affair in this fancy new lift-the-flap book! Throwing a fabulous and fancy Easter party is a very big job—and Nancy and Bree are in charge of decorating! This book includes thirteen flaps that open to reveal hidden surprises that will delight all festive Fancy Nancy fans!
Chick
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Author: Ed Vere
ISBN:978-0141384863
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Puffin, March 2009
Recommended age: 1+ (★★★★★)
It’s time for Chick to meet the world! Join in the fun as he emerges from his egg and meets his mummy. Follow him through his very first day – right up until he snuggles down under his mum’s wing at bedtime. In a clever parallel to the daily routine and anxieties of a toddler, this funny and delightful novelty combines Ed’s signature bold colours, lovable characters and graphic simplicity. Seven kinetic pop-ups move from the spine of the book as the pages are turned making this clever novelty strong and sturdy for the very young.
Let’s Make Rabbits
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Author: Leo Lionni
ISBN:9780679840190
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Dragonfly Books/Random House USA Kids, July 2010
Recommended age: 4+
“Let’s, make rabbits,” say the scissors to the pencil, and, before the reader’s eyes, two rabbits appear—one drawn by the pencil, the other cut from brightly patterned paper by the scissors. When the rabbits are hungry, the scissors and the pencil provide paper carrots. But one day the taste of a real carrot leads to a magical surprise.
Fair Dinkum Aussie Easter with CD
Author: Colin Buchanan
Illustrator: John McIntosh
ISBN:978-1741699210
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Scholastic Australia
Recommended age: 3+ (★★★)
There are so many truly Aussie Easter activities, from going on holiday with the family to giving and receiving Easter eggs to hot cross buns and Easter hat parades! This book is a celebration of the Australian Easter experience with songs for all the family to enjoy. Colin Buchanan’s often humorous lyrics are sung to original compositions as well as to such favourite tunes as Click Go the Shears, Little Peter Rabbit and Advance Australia Fair.
The Smallest Bilby and The Easter Games
Authors: Nette Hilton and Bruce Whatley
ISBN:9781876288785
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Working Title Press, March 2009
Recommended age: 4+ (★★★★★)
When the rabbits decide to stop delivering Easter eggs, all the bush animals want to be the new Easter Bunny. To choose which Australian animal will be best for the job, the bunnies devise the Easter Games. Go to our inspired activity
The Easter Egg
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Jan Brett
ISBN:978-0399252389
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: PUTNAM/Penguin USA, February 2010
Recommended age: 3+
If Hoppi can make the best Easter egg, he will get to help the Easter Rabbit deliver the eggs on Easter morning. But it is not so easy. Discouraged, he goes into the woods to think when a blue robin’s egg tumbles out of its nest. Hoppi keeps it safe and warm until the baby bird hatches, and when the Easter Rabbit arrives, he chooses the empty blue eggshell to reward Hoppi for his kindness.Spring is everywhere in gorgeous illustrations framed with pussy willows, flowering vines and flowers. Side borders feature busy rabbits making their unusual eggs and, in a border above, the Robin’s family drama unfolds.
The Odd Egg
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Emily Gravett
ISBN: 9780230531352
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books, February 2011
Suitable for ages 3+ (★★★★★)
Duck is delighted to find an egg of his own to look after: it’s the most beautiful egg in the whole world! But all the other birds think it’s a very odd egg indeed – and everyone’s in for a BIG surprise when it finally hatches. With split pages that allow the visual jokes to unfold, this is another witty and lively book from an award-winning creator.
An Egg Is Quiet
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Author and Illustrator: Dianna Aston and Sylvia Long
ISBN:978-0811844284
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Chronicle Books, April 2006
Suitable for ages 5+ (★★★★★)
A gorgeous and informative introduction to eggs. From tiny hummingbird eggs to giant ostrich eggs, oval ladybug eggs to tubular dogfish eggs, gooey frog eggs to fossilized dinosaur eggs, it magnificently captures the incredible variety of eggs and celebrates their beauty and wonder.
The evocative text is sure to inspire lively questions and observations. Yet while poetic in voice and elegant in design, the book introduces children to more than 60 types of eggs and an interesting array of egg facts.
The Golden Egg
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Author: A. J. Wood
Illustrated by Maggie Kneen
ISBN:9780811828376
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Chronicle Books, March 2000<
Recommended age: 2+ (★★★★)
Little Duck is hunting for a very special Easter egg. She searches high and low with the help of her forest friends, but where will they find the golden egg? Children will be delighted by this fun Easter egg hunt as they discover colourful foil-stamped surprises hidden under gatefold flaps on each page. Accompanied by beautiful watercolor illustrations, this simple rhyming story and hide-and-seek game is the perfect addition to any Easter basket.
