Celebrate Easter – April 24, 2011
As with many religious holidays, Easter celebrations often extend outside of the church. More secular Easter traditions are decorating and hunting for eggs, baskets filled with treats like chocolate bunnies and jelly beans, greeting cards, and feasting with family and friends.
For children the Easter Bunny has long been a special symbol of the holiday, bringing baskets of eggs, candy, and toys on the night before Easter, and sometimes hiding the eggs for children to find. The Easter Bunny's origins can be traced back to the early 1600s and the German fertility goddess Ēostre. Then German settlers in the Pennsylvania Dutch country introduced the Easter Bunny to America in the 1700s. Rabbits, hares, and eggs are still symbols of fertility and, in this case, are also associated with the arrival of spring.
Browse through these titles and those from previous years for some selections to share with your family or students.
For more information about Easter visit:
http://www.history.com/content/easter
http://crafts.kaboose.com/holidays/easter
Contributor: Emily Griffin
Reviews
Benny's Chocolate Bunny
Janee Trasler
When children think of Easter they instantly think of treats, lots of sweet treats. In this unusual look at the relationship between a boy and his "treat," the reader watches as Benny's class gets lots of colorful and tasty treats for Easter. When Benny receives his chocolate bunny he instantly falls in love. Watch how the other children gobble up their treats while Benny finds a friend in his chocolate bunny. Children will find the humor in this newly formed friendship. Benny and Bunny become such good friends that they play zombies, run a race, and even watch their favorite TV show together. But what happens when Benny gives Bunny a hug and smells the sweet chocolate? Will Benny eat Bunny, his new friend, or can he resist the temptation? Children will wait anxiously to see what he will do next. This is a sweet story that will delight the youngest reader up to preschoolers. Trasler's images are colorful and depict real emotions through whimsical characters. Benny's Chocolate Bunny will certainly be the sweetest treat in Easter baskets this year! 2011, Scholastic, $7.99. Ages 2 up. Reviewer: Denise Hartzler (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 9780545261272
Big Bunny
Betsey Gail Rand and Colleen Rand
Illustrated by C.S.W. Rand
Easter bunnies are born in the spring and grow together. One grows bigger than the others. She likes being big until she breaks eggs while learning to paint them and sits on baskets. She goes off and is lonely. The other bunnies form a Bunny Circle under the moon where: "Their ears touch and noses twitch, and they know what to do." They then search and find Big Bunny. They form another weird Bunny Circle under the stars. Then Big Bunny knows what to do and comes back. The bunnies make a big basket for Big Bunny's back, fill it with eggs, and climb in to distribute Easter eggs in the night. Children find them in the morning. The bunnies snuggle next to Big Bunny and sleep. The colored illustrations are stylized. This seemingly simple story of bunny circles in the moonlight insinuates a sense of Celtic magic into the celebration of Easter. 2011, Random House Children's Books/Random House, Ages 3 to 5, $14.99. Reviewer: Carlee Hallman (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-58246-376-6
Bunny Days
Tao Nyeu
Mr. and Mrs. Goat inadvertently create problems for six likable bunnies, and Bear comes to their rescue in three appealing little stories. In "Muddy Bunnies" Mr. Goat drives his tractor through a mud puddle and splashes the bunnies. Bear knows just what to do: he puts them in the washing machine (delicate cycle) and hangs them up to dry overnight. In the second story, the bunnies are taken up into Mrs. Goat's vacuum cleaner as she cleans her yard. She takes the broken vacuum cleaner to Bear who rescues the bunnies and knows just what to do to get the dust off them. Mr. Goat clips his hedges and the tails of the bunnies who are playing hide-and-seek in the third story, "Bunny Tails." With tender, loving care Bear reattaches their tails and reads them a story while they get a bit of bed rest. Each story is illustrated in separate colors, which relate to the tale. Blue is the predominant color in the first story where the bunnies are seen in the water. Earth tones of tan, brown and orange effectively illustrate the dust around the bunnies in the second story. The green of the trees, hedges and grass is the ruling color in "Bunny Tails." The illustrations were silkscreened using water-based ink and have soft, flat tones. The frog, bird and butterfly are a nice little touch. One shows up in each of the stories, and all are shown in the final picnic scene. Robust personalities come through in the illustrations. They are a perfect complement to the simple, brief text. Both together create a fanciful storybook full of unpredictable events. Keep this in mind for a spring or summer storyhour. Parents will delight in this as much as their preschoolers. This will be equally entertaining for beginning readers. 2010, Dial Books/Penguin, Ages 3 to 7, $16.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-8037-3330-5
Bunny's Easter Egg
Anne Mortimer
Illustrated by Anne Mortimer
Bunny has been working hard all night to hide beautiful eggs for the hunt on Easter morning, and now she would like nothing better than to take a long quiet nap. She has one egg still in her basket, but it is very plain, and anyway, she is too tired to hide any more eggs. But try as she might, she cannot find a good place to sleep. The birds are chirping, the frogs are croaking, the mice are squeaking...how will she ever get any sleep? After trying a series of likely spots--the garden, the boat at the pond, a hollow in some tree roots--she finally ends up back in her own egg basket and finds that she now has a new companion in place of the plain brown egg. The story line is simple with lots of repetition, which can appeal to young listeners. This is definitely a book to read aloud since the vocabulary is often beyond the target audience age range (e.g., wheelbarrow, burrowing, etc.). The illustrations are exquisitely executed with beautiful colors and engaging depictions of small animals, flowers, and brightly colored eggs. There is even a challenge in the beginning of the book to find all the eggs hidden in the illustrations. A timely edition for the Easter season, this book would make a nice personal gift, but is of limited utility for classroom discussion or group work. 2010, Katherine Tegen Books/Harper Collins, Ages 4 to 7, $12.99. Reviewer: Paula McMillen, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-06-136664-2
ISBN: 1-932425-58-6
Bunny My Honey
Anita Jeram
The illustrator of the best-selling book, Guess How Much I Love You, Jeram seems to create the most appealing animal characters. The mommy rabbit in this story has a baby who looks just like her, only smaller. Mommy Bunny calls her baby Bunny, my honey. Bunny makes friends easily and becomes bosom buddies with a little duckling and a mouse. They play games and sing songs, and usually stay out of trouble. But alas, one day Bunny wanders off and gets lost. He is alone, scared, and crying in the big woods. Soon Mommy Bunny finds her baby and comforts him and he returns to his world of love and security. The predictable story and repetitive text make this a must read for toddlers and preschoolers (and mommies!). All will identify with the love felt between the mommy and baby bunny, and the happy ending will make you cheer every time. Now available in a board book format just right for those sweet little hands. 2010 (orig. 1999), Candlewick Press, $7.99. Ages 18 mo. to 3. Reviewer: Susan Hoyle Fournier (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7636-4645-5
ISBN: 0-7636-4645-8
Clifford's First Easter
Norman Bridwell
Emily Elizabeth is celebrating Easter with her new little puppy, Clifford. She shows him things in the garden and they color eggs. The next day they have an Easter egg hunt. Each turn of the page of this lift-the-flap book gives toddlers and preschoolers a chance to actively participate. Under the flowers they will find a bird, a snail and an ant. Little Clifford goes to sleep in an empty egg carton that says, "1 DOZE 'N.'" More signs of spring and symbols of Easter are found under a watering can, a pail, a potted plant, and under a tree. Clifford is a popular character, familiar to most preschoolers. He presents a simple introduction to Easter. This is more a listing of activities rather than a story.
2010 (orig. 1995), Cartwheel Books/ Scholastic, Ages 2 to 4, $6.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-545-20010-3
Easter
Lynn Peppas
Easter is a Christian holiday which celebrates the day that "Jesus was resurrected, or came back to life." Long ago people held a festival to celebrate the goddess Eostre who brought spring to Earth. Her animal was the hare which looks like a rabbit. Eggs, baby animals such as chicks and lambs, stand for new life and are symbols of Easter. The cross is also a symbol because Jesus died on a cross, "Then God forgave people's sins, or wrong doings." Clear, colored photographs show a church, a child decorating an Easter egg, and children rolling eggs on the White House lawn. A picture of a passion play shows Jesus wearing a crown of thorns and carrying the cross. Children with various racial features are shown. An inset at the bottom of even numbered pages gives an interesting fact such as: "Most people call baby rabbits bunnies, but the real name for them is kittens." This is one of the "Celebrations in My World" series. A glossary of words in bold print and an index are included. This slick paperback clearly explains and beautifully illustrates the holiday and its traditions. 2009, Crabtree Publishing Company, $26.60 and $8.95. Ages 6 to 8. Reviewer: Carlee Hallman (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 9780778743071
ISBN: 9780778742890
ISBN: 077874289X
Easter Bunny's Basket
Lilly Kar
Illustrated by Kyle Poling
The Easter Bunny is on his way to help young readers find all the good things that need to go in their Easter basket. Through the use of Lift-the-flap reading, the bunny helps youngsters to find eggs, chocolate candy, jelly beans and cuddly stuffed animals to put in the basket. Each double page offers hidden secrets under four or five flaps. The locations are easy to discover for young readers. As with all picture books, the text is limited to one or two sentences with a picture of whatever that page is searching for shown at the top of the page. The delightful bunny also appears on each page and when the book is closed, the items searched for appear at the top of the book, which is created in the shape of a basket with a handle. The glitter and texture of the front cover will be especially appealing to young readers. A banner across the "handle" of the basket states that this is a Lift-the-Flap Adventure book. The drawings and the use of pastel colors throughout, shown against the dark green colors of nature make this a beautiful picture book to share with grandchildren and in daycare settings. Lift-the-flap books are often overlooked in academic settings because of the wear and tear from the flaps, but this volume would be worth the cost, if only for a short life. This is an excellent addition to pre-school collections for the holidays. 2011, Cartwheel Books/Scholastic, Ages 4 to 6, $6.99. Reviewer: Joyce Rice (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-545-27940-6
The Easter Egg
Jan Brett
It's springtime. Hoppi, a young bunny, would like to win the right to help the Easter Rabbit hide the eggs by decorating the winning egg. He needs an "amazing idea" for his first egg ever. Searching, he passes other bunnies at work, making eggs with flowers, from carved wood, chocolate; Granny Ireney makes "fabulous story eggs." Overwhelmed by the possibilities, Hoppi decides to, "...just make an egg I am proud of." Just then, an egg tumbles from Mother Robin's nest. It must be kept warm until it hatches. Through days and nights, Hoppi never leaves it. For this, the Easter Rabbit chooses him for a place of honor on Easter. The front jacket/cover portrait of our nattily jacketed hero surrounded by a frame of decorated eggs, plus the five bunnies at work on the eggs in a similar frame on the back introduce the double pages of the highly detailed, naturalistic scenes. Additional vignettes along with frames bursting with plants, flowers, and other busy bunnies attend the drama of the egg. Watercolors and gouache with added airbrush background produce these delightfully attractive characters and settings. A foldout is needed to display the Easter Bunny's wagon pulled by golden chickens. And the moral should be clear to young readers. 2010, G.P. Putnam's Sons/Penguin Young Readers Group, Ages 3 to 6, $17.99. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-399-25238-9
Emmaline and the Bunny
Katherine Hannigan.
The unique voice of Emmaline is introduced in this second novel from the author of the acclaimed Ida B. Emmaline is a young and exuberant girl who has the misfortune to live in the town of Neatasapin, where everything messy is forbidden by its tyrannical mayor. Outlawed, among other things, are jelly doughnuts, spaghetti, skateboarding, puddle jumping, mud pies, trees, weeds, and songbirds. Everyone is expected to be quiet and tidy. Emmaline, unfortunately, is most untidy and certainly not quiet. She likes to dig holes, puddle jump, scoot-skedaddle under shrubs and shout "hoopalala" and "dinglederrydee" when she is happy. She also longs for a bunny, although animals are definitely not allowed in the town. Her adventures begin when she discovers the world of Untidy and meets up with Bunny, whom she is determined to have come live with her. With some help from her parents, who help rid Neatasapin of its nasty Mayor, Emmaline finds a way to attract not only Bunny, but other wildlife back to the rejuvenated and newly lush town. Adding to the delight of this story is Hannigan's deft use of language--including repetition, onomatopoeia, and rhyme. She also cleverly combines words to create striking images. For example, there is the description of a meadow as "warm golden" and Emmaline as "cold-shivery" after sitting in the shade. All the wonderful sound makes it a good candidate for a classroom read-aloud. A plea for beautiful green space can be read into the book, although Hannigan never explicitly states her environmental concern. There is some question as to whether Emmaline's discovery of Untidy and her encounter with Bunny is a dream or not. This ambiguity adds to the charm of this highly imaginative story. Delicate, full-color drawings by the author are found throughout the book. 2009, Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins Publishers, $17.99. Ages 7 to 12. Reviewer: Margaret Orto (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 9780061626548
ISBN: 9780061626555
ISBN: 0061626546
ISBN: 0061626554
Happy Easter, Curious George
R. P. Anderson
Illustrated by Mary O'Keefe Young
George and the Man with the Yellow Hat drive to the park. It is Easter and children are flying kites, decorating eggs, and rolling eggs in races. George feeds a white bunny a carrot. When George goes to dye eggs, the bunny runs away. George mixes colors to make new ones and even juggles the dyed eggs. When he sees a man hiding eggs, George thinks the man is losing them and collects all the eggs. When he sees a white egg, it turns out to be the bunny's tail. The man in the yellow hat has George re-hide the eggs so the children can find them. "It was the best egg hunt ever!" The pictures show George hiding eggs in a bird nest, in a boy's pocket, and a squirrel hole. At the back are sparkly egg-decorating stickers. The pictures are in the style of H.A. Rey, the original creator of Curious George. 2010, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Ages 2 to 5, $9.99. Reviewer: Carlee Hallman (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-547-04825-3
Happy Easter, Mouse!
Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond
Mouse from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie is back to help our young readers find out who is hiding Easter eggs in his house. On the night before Easter, Mouse decorates some eggs to put in his Easter basket. The eggs are in all colors and all kinds of patterns. When Mouse wakes up on Easter morning, he finds that someone has left painted eggs all over his house, but they are not the eggs he decorated the night before. There are blue eggs under the rocking chair, red eggs on the counter and green eggs on the table. The mystery is solved when Bunny pops out from behind the stash of eggs that Mouse has gathered. Children have fallen in love with Mouse and have followed his antics through the series of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and will be delighted to find this Easter adventure in their baskets on Easter morning or on their library shelves. Numeroff and Bond make a creative team in words and drawings for these young readers. Be sure this title is in your child's basket on Easter morning. Other titles in this series include "If You Take a Mouse to the Movies" and "If You Give a Moose a Muffin." Visit the author's webpage for a complete listing of her books and to listen to an interview with the author (lauranumeroff.com). 2010, Balzer and Bray/HarperCollins, Ages 4 to 6, $6.99. Reviewer: Joyce Rice (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-694-01422-4
Here Comes Easter
Caroline Jayne Church
A little red-haired girl in pigtails holds a basket as she anticipates an Easter egg hunt. She is looking for five eggs. Her kitten follows her as she goes through the house looking for them. A single line of text on each page offers a clue as to where to find the egg. Parents can name each room and have the child point to items in it. Concepts, such as on, in and under are presented. Each turn of the page offers a tactile experience: the woven basket, the terry-cloth towel, and the fuzzy kitten, to name a few. In the final spread, the reader lifts the flap to reveal a chocolate bunny. This board book is just right for the toddler set: brief text, clear and simple drawings, and a few extra items on each page to stimulate vocabulary. It would be a fine addition to an Easter basket. 2010, Cartwheel Books/Scholastic, Ages 1 to 3, $7.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-545-11816-3
I Love Easter!
Hans Wilhelm
In this amusing tale from the "Noodles" series loveable Noodles, a white floppy-eared dog with a winning smile, is excited that it is Easter morning. A peek out his window shows Easter eggs in the yard and Noodles hustles to get his friendly stuffed toy, Teddy, to accompany him on his hunt. However, Teddy is missing! Noodles searches everywhere inside the house and finally decides to hunt eggs alone. A double-spread illustration shows dejected Noodles who appears to have lost his hunting spirit. However, after he ventures outside and discovers eggs of all colors his excitement returns. Because Teddy is still missing, Noodles decides to share his eggs with his friends Scottie, Cat, and Baby. When he scurries after the egg Baby drops, Noodles finds his faithful friend Teddy on the steps. Noodles shares his one remaining egg with Teddy and the story ends happily. The simple story is well-suited for emerging readers. It allows them to recognize sight words and sound out words while reading simple sentences. This book is a level 1 beginning reader. All books in level 1 contain 50-250 words, and offer a successful reading experience in a fun way. Delightful pastel colored illustrations add to the fun of the tale. 2010, Cartwheel/Scholastic, $3.99. Ages 4 to 7. Reviewer: Nancy Garhan Attebury (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 9780545134767
Juanita
Leo Politi
Juanita lives with her mamacita and papacita on Olvera Street in old Los Angeles. Like many of her neighbors, Juanita's parents own a small puestos from which they sell pretty handmade dresses and bright colored baskets. On her fourth birthday Juanita celebrates at a festive party with all of her neighbors. Her mother makes her a lace-trimmed, rose-colored dress and from her father she receives a little dove. Juanita lovingly cares for the little bird and on the Sunday before Easter, dressed in her finest, she parades with her friends to the Old Mission Church for the annual Blessing of the Animals. Cats and dogs, burros and birds, lambs and rabbits all walk in silence to the soft tunes played on a harp. That night Juanita's mother sings a gentle lullaby as the little girl falls asleep and dreams of the joyous Easter Sunday to come. First published in 1948, this reissue of the Caldecott Honor book is as pertinent today as it was sixty-one years ago. The Los Angeles Mexican community still thrives as do many other such communities across this nation and priests still bless the animals. This happy celebration honors their culture and traditions. Music and lyrics for the birthday song and lullaby are included. Politi's illustrations have the warm patina of age and invoke nostalgia for a simpler time. For a new generation of children this classic is still a must. 2009, Getty Museum, Ages 4 to 7, $16.95. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-89236-991-1
Last One in Is a Rotten Egg!
Diane deGroat
Gilbert and Lola are excited that their cousin Wally is coming for an Easter visit. But when he arrives, he is much bigger than before and rather pushy. Every action is preceded by his shout of "last one is a rotten egg." Mother announces an afternoon egg hunt. Wally reluctantly joins in because he thinks egg hunts are for babies. Once they arrive at the scene though, Wally plunges in with his usual enthusiasm and pushiness. Little Lola is not finding eggs, but her brother Gilbert helps her out even when she spots the out-of-reach golden egg. However, Wally takes over and walks off with it while having more eggs than anyone. Gilbert teaches him a valuable lesson when he uses Wally's favorite phrase against him. In the end, Wally becomes a nicer, sharing hedgehog. DeGroat's colorful illustrations are typical of those in the rest of the "Gilbert and Friends" series about the young hedgehogs. Preschool and kindergarten ages will thoroughly enjoy this Easter story. 2011 (orig. 2007), Harper/HarperCollins, Ages 3 to 8, $6.99. Reviewer: Shirley Nelson (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-545-23756-7
ISBN: 978-0-545-28926-9
My Story Bible: 66 Favorite Stories
Jan Godfrey
Illustrated by Paola Bertolini Grudina
Stories from the Old and New Testaments are told with young children in mind. The stories have imaginative titles such as: "The Best Way to Live," for Moses receiving the Ten Commandments; and "The Enormous Picnic," for the feeding of the 5,000. The picture that goes with "Joseph and His Brothers" shows the back of the brother's heads looking down on Joseph at the bottom of the well. Free renditions of the "Twenty-third Psalm" and "The Lord's Prayer" are given. In "A Lonely Garden," about Jesus' betrayal, it says: "Jesus was sad because Judas, one of his special friends, didn't want to be his friend anymore." A picture shows a bird's eye view of Jesus suffering on the cross with sad people and sheep around him. "It was the saddest day there had ever, ever been." When women see angels at the empty tomb, "It was the happiest day there had ever, ever been." A picture of Saul's conversion shows him on the ground while holding the reins of his dappled horse with sunbeams streaming down on him. Each story has the Bible citation at the end. A table of contents and an index are included. This wonderful combination of text and colored pictures will be loved by parents and small children alike. 2008, Tyndale Kids/Tyndale House Publishers, Ages 3 to 6, $12.99. Reviewer: Carlee Hallman (Children's Literature).
FORMAT: Picture Book
ISBN: 978-1-4143-2671-9
Ollie's Easter Eggs
Olivier Dunrea
The little chicks are hard at work preparing their Easter eggs! Gossie, Gertie, BooBoo, and Peedie are gathering the eggs and dying them vibrant colors. Ollie, on the other hand, is too busy hopping around wearing bunny ears. But...there is a problem. He wants Easter eggs, too. The chicks find just the right spot for their beloved eggs. Beneath the soft straw, tucked away in the tulips, and even right under a turtle! Until Ollie comes along. One by one he rolls them to his special spot. The little chicks begin to look for their eggs. No luck! Ollie hops by. They follow him and low and behold, there are the eggs! This charming story will delight young readers. This would make a great tool to introduce reading strategies, such as making predictions and sequencing events. The illustrations, created by using ink and watercolor, are colorful and engaging and are sure to elicit giggles from adults and children alike. Affordably priced, this would make a wonderful addition to any young person's reading library. 2009, Houghton Mifflin Books for Children/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Ages 4 to 8, $9.99. Reviewer: Summer Whiting (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-618-53243-9
A Small Child's Book of Prayers
Cyndy Szekeres
Illustrated by Cyndy Szekeres
This collection of short prayers has traditional and attributed poems. They cover subjects that appeal to children. Traditional prayers with first lines such as: "Father, we thank Thee for the night," and "Now I lay me down to sleep," are included. One by A.W.I. Chitty says: "Thank God, who sends the gentle rain/ That thirsty flowers may drink again--for puddles on the garden path,/ Where little birds may take a bath." The complete poem of "All Things Bright and Beautiful" by Cecil Frances Alexander is another favorite. The accompanying picture shows a daddy rabbit with an open book and three young bunnies. One bunny brings a bouquet of purple clover, one is coloring, and another sits on a kiddie-car. One illustration is reminiscent of "Peter Rabbit." The padded cover, simple prayers with bright, colored pictures of cheerful mice, bunnies and other animals will make this a favorite of children. 1999, Little Shepherd Books/Scholastic, Ages 2 to 5, $8.99. Reviewer: Carlee Hallman (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-545-15624-0
Somebunny Loves You
Rachael Hale
This is an adorable board book, which uses baby animals to tell a story of the preparation for Easter. On each of the pages many new baby animals are in a setting that allows for conversation with a young child about the animal and the events involved in the holiday. The pictures will appeal to an emerging reader who is imagining the expressions and situations for the animals photographed on the page. The photos are staged well and the animal's faces in some instances are rich with emotion. The simple poem engages the child while allowing for the richness of language. The poem that surrounds the pictures is cute and simple with alliteration that will fill the mouth with sounds as it is read. An appropriately framed, holiday board book to be shared with the young observer to encourage conversation about the complexity of the idea that everyone is loved by someone. This is part of a series of board books by Rachael Hale called "Paw Pals." 2008, Little Brown and Company/Hachette, Ages 1 to 3, $6.99. Reviewer: Patricia Williamson (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-316-11370-0
ISBN: 978-0-316-11370-0
This Little Bunny Can Bake
Janet Stein
Illustrated by Rachael Cole
New students arrive at Chef George's world famous dessert school to study with the master pastry chef. Some of the students do not know what an ingredient is so Chef George decides to begin at the beginning. He shows the class what a pot looks like. Then a spoon. He shows them what an egg looks like and shows them how a pot looks on a stove. With his arms loaded with cookbooks, Chef George begins to teach. First he trains their noses by blindfolding them and giving them various fruits, vegetables, and desserts to tantalize their sniffing senses. "A dessert must smell as good as it tastes." Let the baking begin! Chef George shows the class how to measure, how to work together, and how to keep the kitchen neat and orderly. Chef George has the class get creative and reminds them that presentation is everything. The class makes wonderful dessert surprises and one bunny makes a huge layer cake. This book has great art work, which carries the story along more so than the words. Younger children will giggle at the animals used in the story and the desserts they make. 2009, Random House Children's Books, Ages 4 to 8, $15.99. Reviewer: Beverly Melasi (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-375-84313-6
Who Hid the Easter Eggs?
Pirkko Vainio
Harry the squirrel "could feel the sun warming his fur and smell the fresh green leaves all around him." He watches a grandmother hiding Easter eggs. Then he sees Jack the jackdaw taking the eggs. Harry follows Jack to his nest and explains that the eggs belong to the children. Jack tells him that he wants some eggs like the other birds. Harry assures him that he shall have some soon. They hide the eggs again just before the children arrive. Harry introduces Jack to Jackie, a lady jackdaw, and Jack invites her to his nest. Later when Harry visits he finds they have their own nest of eggs. Like the crow, the jackdaw is in the habit of carrying things off to its nest. The soft watercolors of the red squirrel, jackdaw, decorated eggs, and beautiful scenes of trees and flowers convey the joys of spring. Children will enjoy the story and pictures. 2010, NorthSouth Books, Ages 3 to 6, $16.95. Reviewer: Carlee Hallman (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7358-2304-4
You're My Little Bunny
Claire Freedman
Illustrated by Gavin Scott
Parents looking for a quiet bedtime share will find little bunny just the right companion to settle down with after their own busy day. Children will follow the small white bunny as he bounces from bed ready to experience a brand new day. Bunny leaps and jumps with the sheep, slides down a molehill, makes a mess digging a burrow, stretches out next to mama for a nap, creeps up behind the cows to shout "boo," and squeezes in some time for his bunny buddies. In all of his day's busy activities, watchful mother is never far from sight. As night falls, he snuggles up close to his mother's side for a quiet nighty-night. Warm cozy watercolors aptly depict the pastoral setting and the rhyming text conveys the bunny's joi de vivre. Each picture is alive with energy and the bunny's endearing charm will make him a favorite of little ones. The soft padded cover and round corners make this book a perfect choice for toddlers who will delight in turning the heavy board pages all by themselves. 2010, Scholastic, $8.99. Ages 1 to 3. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 9780545207218
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