Reading, Writing & Pondering

  Are you looking for a new Easter book for a child? The Great Waking Up by Sarah Shin is a colorfully illustrated picture book aimed at children ages 3 to 8. This Easter book measures a little less than 9 inches squared. It is bright and colorfully illustrated. I love that it is so inclusive--including Jesus looking fairly historically accurate. The illustrations are so beautiful that they bring to mind stained glass windows when I look at them. Anastasia loves dreams. In The Great Waking Up she talks about her dreams with her mother. Her mother tells her that there will come a day when there is the Great Waking Up with no more death. In this book, they live in the time of Jesus. They see Jesus do miracles. Then they see Jesus is crucified and become confused about his role--until He wakes up himself. This whole book is the story of Jesus and Easter told through the eyes of a young girl. The Great Waking Up is this author's second children's book. In the back of the book, t...

  Are you looking for books for a child's Easter basket? Zonderkidz has some good choices. Mostly What God Does is Love You by Savannah Guthrie is a beautiful, large hardcover children's book aimed at children ages two to seven but that can vary by the child. This is a timeless message that we are all loved by God. I like that the illustrations by Morgan Huff are so inclusive of people of all colors and including some with disabilities. It is a lovely book with a positive, encouraging message. The Easter Lamb by John Greco is another large hardcover book aimed at children ages 6 to 10. This book tells the Easter story in simpler terms, from the Bible, so children can understand what Easter is really about and why we celebrate Easter.  Hey-O! Stories of the Bible from Saddleback Kids is a thick book that is full of vibrantly illustrated stories from the Bible aimed at children ages 4 to 7. It is 384 pages and included stories from the Old and New Testaments that are sha...

  The Say and Pray Easter Stick and Activity Book by Diane Stortz is a fun activity book for children ages three to six to help them learn Bible stories centered around Easter. This book is 32 pages long and full of fun activities for little ones. There are about fifty activities and 100 stickers. Wow! This book is brightly illustrated and has fun activities that would help little children learn. I do think they might need some guidance, depending on the age, for putting the right stickers from the middle section on the right pages. Older children wouldn't but the little ones might. Along with the stickers, there are mazes, hidden pictures, tracing, dot-to-dot, matching, drawing and coloring activities. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions within this review are my own.