Books to Enrich Your Eastertide

The Tale of Three Trees: A Traditional Folktale

Retold by Angela Elwell Hunt

This folktale retelling tops my list of Easter books, though in fact it isn’t exclusive to Eastertide. It tells the story of three ambitious trees, each of whom has lofty worldly goals: to hold great treasure, to sail the seas and carry mighty kings, and to point to God as the tallest tree in the world. These ambitions initially seem to be crushed, but in the end are fulfilled on the most supernatural plane. Without being at all didactic, Hunt here shows the reader how God takes our noble desires and, despite and even through suffering, fulfills them in ways we could never imagine. This one brings me regularly to tears!

Petook: The Rooster Who Met Jesus

By Caryll Houselander, Illustrated by Tomie dePaola

Tomie dePaola writes in the introduction to this book that when encouraged to realize the dream of illustrating one of Caryll Houselander’s books for children, he “chose Petook because of its Easter message of birth, rebirth, and resurrection.”  Certainly, this story brings to life many of these themes, and portrays the egg as truly symbolic of Easter (rather than merely a conduit for candy!). Petook the rooster and his wife Martha encounter Jesus as a child, and later witness from afar to his death and Resurrection. Their joy at the Resurrection on Easter is doubled by the joy of new life: the birth of a baby chick. 

Rachenka’s Eggs

by Patricia Polacco

This lovely folktale is set in Russia and centers around the traditional art of painting beautiful eggs for Easter. Babushka, an elderly woman who lives in the countryside, adopts and cares for an injured goose. Her kindness is repaid in miracles, and it is her own recognition of the miracles of daily life that give this book a particular grace. Featuring traditional Russian textile patterns and icons, Rachenka’s Eggs is greatly enhanced by Polacco’s highly individualistic illustrations.

Peter’s First Easter

By Walter Wangerin

I appreciate this Easter retelling for its very particular perspective: Wangerin tells the story in the first person, using the voice of Peter. In doing so, he brings the story to life for the reader and helps us to see it as a very personal narrative. I must admit that the illustrations are not my favorite style for Gospel retellings; I tend to prefer iconic or stylized illustrations when touching the life of Jesus, as they leave the viewer more scope for imagination. However, in this case, the life-like quality of the illustrations certainly matches the goal of the book: to help children see this as a true story, a personal history, and to make the struggles and joys of Peter their own. 

The Glorious Impossible

by Madeliene L’Engle

This book is a series of retellings of the essential Gospel mysteries, accompanied in truly glorious style by frescos from the Scrovegni Chapel by Giotto.  It is very much a meditative work; both text and artwork draw the reader in and highlight the wondrousness of the Gospel message. Because of this meditative quality, The Glorious Impossible isn’t necessarily a book to read cover to cover in one sitting, but rather to take in bits and pieces. Often this is the book we bring to the Triduum services for the child who needs something to help his meditation of the mysteries during the long hours in church. 

The Selfish Giant

by Oscar Wilde

Though it does not directly reference Easter, this fairy tale is such a beautiful story of self-gift that children and adults alike will hear the echo of the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary throughout its pages. A selfish giant learns the beauty and joy of self-gift through kindness to a child, and this kindness becomes the turning point of his conversion. There are many beautifully illustrated versions of this story (published both as solo versions and as part of Oscar Wilde’s Stories for Children); I recommend PJ Lynch, Lisbeth Zwerger, and Jesse Wilcox Smith, amongst others. 

The Velveteen Rabbit

by Margery Williams

This classic children’s fairy tale has close ties to the Easter themes of self-giving love, rebirth, redemption—and bunny rabbits! So, although it isn’t directly related to Easter, this is an excellent season to pull it off the shelf and give it a(nother) read. Be sure to find a version with the original art by William Nicholson; in my mind the book is as valuable for its charming illustrations as for its poignant story.