The Easter Story

by Brian Wildsmith

An illustrated companion to the author's A Christmas Story tells the story of the Resurrection, narrated by the little donkey who carries Jesus to Jerusalem.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Christian, Religion, Christianity, Holiday, Animals

34 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Brian Wildsmith (1930-2016) was raised in a small mining village in Yorkshire, England, where, he says, "Everything was grey. There wasn't any colour. It was all up to my imagination. I had to draw in my head..."

He won a scholarship to the Slade School of Fine Art where he studied for three years. For a while he taught music at the Royal Military School of Music, but then gave it up so that he could paint full time.

He has deservedly earned a reputation as one of the greatest living children's illustrators. In 1962, he published his first children's book, ABC, for which he was awarded the Kate Greenaway Medal, Britain's equivalent to the Caldecott Medal. He was also a runner up for this medal for The Owl and the Woodpecker.

Wildsmith has said: "I believe that beautiful picture books are vitally important in subconsciously forming a child's visual appreciation, which will bear fruit in later life."

In 1994, the Brian Wildsmith Art Museum was established in Izukogen, a town south of Tokyo, Japan. Almost one and a half million people visited a traveling exhibition of his work in 2005. Eight hundred of his paintings are on loan to the museum.

Brian is married, has four children, and currently lives in the south of France.

— Source

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Celebrated British children's author and artist Brian Wildsmith turns to the Easter story in this gorgeous picture-book, telling the tale of Easter Week from the perspective of the donkey which bears Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Jesus' actions at the Temple, his Last Supper with the disciples, his betrayal by Judas and trial before Pontius Pilate, all these are covered, as are his Crucifixion, Resurrection and eventual Ascension...

I had hoped to get to The Easter Story before the recent holiday, but my library request for this and a few other titles was delayed, and I read it a few days after Easter. It scarcely matters, I suppose, as I think I would have enjoyed it, no matter the time of year. From a visual perspective, I found it an astonishingly beautiful book - the art is simply breathtaking, with vivid colors, brilliant use of gold tones and accents, and wonderfully stylized scenes. I loved pretty much everything about these paintings, from the angels to the landscape depictions of Jerusalem. If judged upon artwork alone, this would easily be a five-star title for me. Unfortunately, I found the narrative a little less appealing. Although I understand the choice to tell this story from the donkey's perspective, as a means of adding child appeal, I don't think it really works here. I recently read two different picture-books about Palm Sunday, specifically - Marni McGee's The Colt and the King and Michelle Medlock Adams's Little Colt's Palm Sunday - in which the story was told from the asinine perspective. It worked in those books, because the donkey does play a central role in Palm Sunday. But here, the presence of the donkey in various scenes - peering in the window at the Last Supper, observing the trial - strained my suspension of disbelief, and made me wish that Wildsmith had chosen a different focus for his retelling. I still would recommend this one, for those seeking children's retellings of the Easter story, but I recommend it more for the artwork and the general story, than for the specific storytelling focus.

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am just blown away by all of Brian Wildsmith's religious picture books, and this one was no exception.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Describing his process of writing this book, Wildsmith writes, "It is the world's greatest story, burning with history, passion, and tragedy. I decided that the best way of expressing this epic drama was to treat it like grand opera, to create the sets and place the characters within them, capturing the symbolism of the Crucifixion and Resurrection in color, shape, and form." He succeeded in capturing the grandeur of the Easter story while also telling the story simply in a way accessible even to young children. His story, told from the perspective of the donkey rides on Palm Sunday, who continues to observe Jesus throughout the week, invites the reader to observe along with the donkey, feeling sorrow for Jesus' suffering and glory in His Resurrection. Jesus is ever the king as colors of glowing gold, purple, and red surround him. A single angel keeping watch over him is joined by a multitude as He is crucified and then resurrected. A child introduced to the reason for Easter in this way will sense the importance of the resurrection and the way Christ relates to even the humble and simple, even the donkeys among us.

[Isobel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This easter story should be recommended as a reader for children because it teaches children about the easter story. The children learn about Palm Sunday and how Jesus rode on a donkey and the people placed palms and clothes in front of him. They then learn about Jesus getting cross with the crowds destroying the temple into a market area. They learn about the last supper when Jesus took bread and broke it and said to the people this is my body and took wine and said this is my blood. The children also learn that the king of the Jews wanted to kill Jesus ; so they crucified him. The children then learn that Jesus rose from the dead and taught the people for forty days about the kingdom of god.

[Irini · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. Awards the book has received: None
2. Appropriate grade level(s): 1st-4th
3. Original summary: This book tells the beautiful story of why we celebrate Easter. It's such a great informational and traditional book to read to children to get to know the background story of Easter.
4. Original review: I think The Easter Story is a special book. I am not sure about the illustrations... I would kind of wish to see something more "beautifully drawn"? It was an okay book. Great story yes! A really important book to teach about Easter!
5. 1-2 possible in-class uses: Think of other celebrations that we celebrate and relate to personal stories

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apparently, Brian Wildsmith has a Bible that goes like this: "In the beginning was the donkey..." I really wish this were not so made-up. The illustrations are really wonderful, better than in Wildsmith's Mary and Jesus books. But stuff like: "If only I could help him," thought the donkey sadly. - that just has to go. Is the implication that children can't identify with this story as it stands, and we need to introduce some kind of sentient animal for them to get it? I think that is an unfortunate underestimation of children.

[Linda M · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I think of my childhood and religious books, it is not the words but the images that I remember and cherish. This author, Brian Wildsmith, is a master of creating beautiful images of what really matters. Check out his others on St. Francis and Mary, as well as Christmas. Beautiful, gentle books.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ages: 4 - 8

#easter #christian

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[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art is stunning. It's a great story too.

[Miri Gifford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think it even matters what the text says in Brian Wildsmith's books. His illustrations are the entire point of reading them, and they are just gorgeous.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stupendous illustrations. Use of gold makes it special. I think this is a great book for the rendition of the Easter story as children will love the pictures.

[Clwseattle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the illustrations are what make The Easter Story a special book. The story itself is told by the donkey Jesus road into Jerusalem. I feel the story has been a little too loosely simplified, which I find disappointing for such an important story.

[Ebookwormy1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Illustrations are key to engaging young children, and Brian Wildsmith's work is a feast of drama and color. I love the use of gold to give depth and weight to the illustrations. Kids also like to find the angel in each illustration.

The story told from the perspective of the donkey is good, but not exceptional. Other than the insertion of the donkey in scenes following Palm Sunday, the story does follow the Biblical account. I like that Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Silent Saturday and Resurrection Sunday are each covered in a simple way.

There is one page, however, that never ceases to disappointment me. Architecture is fairly true to setting, with a bit too much emphasis of the Greco-Roman style. In the scene of Jesus' trial before Pilate, this is niggling. However, the scene of Jesus walking into the Temple is disconcerting. The Temple is pictured as a Greek Parthenon. Corinthian columns rise to a triangle cornice inhabited by Greek figures. This is completely historically inaccurate. The Hebrew style was dictated by divine fait in both the construction of the Tabernacle and the Temple - you can read the directives in the Bible today. Human figures would not be permitted, nor would a Greek facade. All illustrations attentive to history that I have seen show the entryways of Herod's Second Temple as simple doors, with the largest entryway having simple, non-uniform columns with a flat roofed entryway. There are accounts that Herod had a Roman eagle placed on that roof - an insult protested by Jews that Herod summarily executed. This is no small oversight. It is unfortunate that Mr. Wildsmith failed to research the many accounts of this structure, which was famous throughout the ancient world.

With the caveat about the Temple, we have used and will use this book. However, if a new edition were to come out with a correction, I would be happy to substitute it for the original.

[Bethany Sutherland]

The Easter Story is the story about Jesus riding the donkey into Jerusalem. It tells how Jesus was about to calm the donkey and ride him into the city where he taught and helped out the people at the temple. Then, Jesus met with his disciples and did the Lord's supper. Later, Judas deceived Jesus and Jesus was taken capture and then crucified, but he rose again.

I loved this story a lot. One reason is because it is the story of Jesus and the other reason is because this story was told in the eyes of the donkey.

I would put this book in my classroom for the students to be able to read since I personally cannot promote religion in a public school, but I can put books about Christianity and God in my library.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son kept saying throughout this book, "This is boring!" However, he doesn't like anything religious, so I wouldn't take his word for it.

The text is simple, nothing special. Thank goodness it wasn't too long or my son wouldn't have stood for it.

The illustrations are gorgeous. They are really the reason to buy this book. They are superior to what is normally pictured in religious books for children.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated book for children that tells the story of Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection in a way that is not too scary for children. This is a perfect story to read about during Easter that is more than just bunnies, chocolate and Easter eggs.

[Jfrlewis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this book up at the library, drawn to the illustrations. I was disappointed upon reading it at home. The narrative includes the presence of a donkey at all of the events during Christ's last week of mortality. I found it distracting and a little silly.

[Buxmont Uu]

PBBT 15

[Shasta · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated and told version of the Easter story. Follow Jesus and the small donkey he road on Palm Sunday all through Holy Week to the Cross and beyond.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The donkey was featured way too much.

[Izzy]

Really nice book! I loved it and the illustrations were beautiful!

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian Wildsmith is amazing. The artwork is somehow simplistic but profound. I thinks it's the colors he uses mixed with a grand scope. It's like a Richard Scary book but less annoying.

[Camdyn Dahman · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's about the first movie on Paton the bear

[Carina · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mom teaches Sunday School, so she was looking for a book that told the whole story of Easter, but wasn’t super long! This book has beautiful illustrations, and feels extra fancy with the gold highlights (although adults will probably admire the artwork more than kids). My mom liked this book the best out of several she looked at online and in the library. She used it for her lesson.

[Pug · Rating 5 out of 5]

This old book knocked my socks off. I thought it might be dated, but it was beautiful: the story was well-written and the illustrations were vibrant, unique, colorful, shiny, detailed. The donkey sharing his perspective and involvement with Jesus during Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday was a cute and sweet addition to the story (I liked him climbing the steps to the Upper Room - lol). But the week of Easter is an extremely intense and emotional story. I felt sad for the little donkey; he must habe been confused and frightened.

[Thomas · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book struggled with telling the Easter story by inserting the donkey at each step in the plot. The inclusion seemed forced as opposed to flowing in a natural way.
But the illustrations are vibrant.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the illustrations, love the focus on the donkey.

[Millie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations.

[skcocnaH · Rating 2 out of 5]

The illustrative style is interesting. The Easter Story is wonderful, but I feel that this version was dull.

[Alana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The essentials of the story, but narrowed down for a child's understanding. I love the illustrations, invoking the illuminated manuscripts of medival times. Colorful and eye catching!