This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure here.
It’s hard to believe that Easter is just a few weeks away! One of my favorite ways to help my kids celebrate a holiday is through books. However, if you’ve ever spent time browsing books at the library or the bookstore, you know that not all books are created equal. When it comes to Easter, it’s also especially important to me that we’re spending our time reading about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and not just Easter egg hunts. To save you some time, here’s a list of 20 Christ-centered Easter books for kids.
Note: The Jesus Storybook Bible is not just about Easter, but reading the sections that surround the Easter story would also be a great way for you and your kids to prepare!
20 Christ-Centered Easter Books for Kids
A Very Happy Easter by Tim Thornborough
This is a very simple retelling of the Easter story. Although the illustrations are not complicated, I love the facial expressions on the people in the story.
First Easter by Susana and Owen Gay
This board book is perfect for babies and toddlers. It will spark conversations about the basic truths of Easter in ways young children can understand.
The Garden, the Curtain, and the Cross by Carl Laferton
This book is perfect for older children and explains the whole story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation through the lens of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Consider reading through this with your kids over the weeks leading up to Easter!
At Jerusalem’s Gate by Nikki Grimes
A beautiful portrayal of the events leading up to Easter with unique artwork and poems that focus on different aspects of the Easter story.
The Tale of Three Trees by Angela Elwell Hunt
It might be worth purchasing this one, because it can be read at Christmas or Easter! This story is based on a traditional folktale about how three trees end up being used as wood for three parts of Jesus’ life: the manger, the boat in which he calmed the storm, and the cross.
Lily’s Easter Party: The Story of the Resurrection Eggs by Crystal Bowman
This book explains the story of Easter using the concept of Resurrection Eggs, which you can make for yourself as an object lesson.
The Legend of the Sand Dollar by Chris Auer
In this book, two cousins learn more about the true meaning of Easter by exploring a sand dollar on the beach.
Bunny’s First Spring by Sally Lloyd-Jones
Written by the same author as the Jesus Storybook Bible, this is a perfect book for young children that explains how Jesus brings new life through the eyes of a bunny in springtime.
The Legend of the Easter Robin by Dandi Daley Mackall
A little girl is worried about the robins outside her window, and her grandma uses the opportunity to explain the original Easter story to her granddaughter.
Easter in the Garden by Pamela Kennedy
This book is out of print, though there are some very cheap used options on Amazon and you should check your local library. This book tells the Easter story through the eyes of a young boy named Micah who witnesses Jesus’ death and resurrection firsthand.
The Easter Story by Gennady Spirin
This book is essentially the accounts of Jesus’ death and resurrection from the biblical narrative, but the illustrations add a component that may spark conversations with your kids.
The Story of Easter by Kim Mitzo Thompson and Karen Mitzo Hildebrand
This is another book suitable for young children that comes with a CD so that they can read along with the recording.
The Very First Easter from the Beginner’s Bible
This is the Easter story pulled out of the very popular Beginner’s Bible. The illustrations are perfect for young children and the retelling is very simple for little ears.
He is Risen by Elizabeth Winthrop
This one is also out of print, but there are some used copies on Amazon for just a few dollars. I was also able to find it at our library! This is a straightforward adaptation of the Easter story from the Bible.
The First Easter Bunny by Allison Schuetzler
This is a very interesting take on the Easter story, with the story told through the eyes of a small rodent native to the Middle East. The animal doesn’t look much like a rabbit at all, but the story and illustrations are sure to start some interesting conversations with your kids.
Good News! It’s Easter byGlenys Nellist
Isn’t it funny how even Easter books about Jesus tend to include chicks and bunnies? The author of this book uses illustrations from nature to explain the good news of Jesus Christ to young readers.
The Story of Easter by Helen Dardik
I love the illustrations in this book! And it’s a board book, which means it will hold up for many years of Easter reading.
He is Risen: Rocks Tell the Story of Easter by Patti Rokus
This book is very different from some of the others on this list, but I think it’s such a compelling way to explain the story of Easter. The author uses rocks arranged in different ways to portray the story!
Easter from Little Words Matter
A friend recommended this whole series of books to me, and I think it’s such a sweet idea. Each book in this series just has one word on each page. This is perfect for toddlers, who after a few read-throughs can probably remember most of the words and “read “the book on their own.
Jesus is Risen! An Easter Pop Up Book by Agostino Traini
Another fun book to add to your collection is this pop-up book.
Other Favorites Submitted by Readers:
The Best Thing About Easter by Christine Tangvald
Follow the young narrator as she learns that although Easter is fun with eggs, candy, and dressing up in a special new dress, the real reason we celebrate Easter is the resurrection of Jesus.
What are your favorite Christ-centered Easter books for kids? Share them in the comments!
From the archives: Easter Crafts for Kids
