Celebrating a Christ-Centered Easter

by Emily Belle Freeman

This is a children's picture book edition of the best-selling adult book of the same title. Using illustrations and age-appropriate text, this children's edition features passages of scripture along with original text to tell the Easter story and provides ideas for family traditions that young children can understand to make the holiday more Christ-centered. Each spread uses at least one person from the Easter story—including Simon, Joseph and Nicodemus, Mary Magdalene, the disciples on the road to Emmaus, and Thomas—to illustrate a theme.

For example, the story begins with Jesus' entry into Jerusalem before Passover and describes the scene as Jesus' followers filled His path with palm branches and leaves. Then the book presents a question for the child to ponder: "On the first Easter, people found ways to celebrate Jesus. Could you?"

Combining biblical text with a beautiful story line and wonderfully charming, full-color illustrations, this book will help make Christ the focus of your celebrations this year.

Genres: Picture Books, Holiday

32 pages, Hardcover

Published February 13, 2018

About the author

Emily Freeman and Simon Dewey collaborated on the bestselling book The Ten Virgins. For nearly 20 years, Emily has addressed groups of women as a writer, songwriter, and motivational speaker. Her deep love of the scriptures comes from a strong desire to find their application in modern-day life. Emily and her husband, Greg, are the parents of four children and live in Lehi, Utah.

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book for me to read today. Easter is just 4 days away. I've barely thought of it this year. Life is busy, my kids are getting older, time is passing so quickly... how can this important holiday have almost come and gone with no notice from me except for the welcome appearance of Cadbury Creme and Mini Eggs in the grocery store?

My youngest is 12 so we are beyond the picture book stage in my home. I personally still thoroughly enjoy looking through and reading picture books and this one was no exception. I'm grateful to have seen it sitting on my shelf this afternoon. It only took a few minutes to read through it but I found myself motivated to focus more on Christ and serving other during the next few days. Filled with examples, questions and suggestions this is a great book to help one of any age focus on Christ this Easter Season.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easter has always kind of seemed like a tricky holiday to me. How do you make the day not all about rabbits and eggs, but really about Jesus. That's really what this book does. And it doesn't just make the day about Jesus, but really the whole week before as well. I love that!

I loved that each day has a scripture story, you can read it from the scriptures and use the book to kind of explain the story to kids easily. Then there's an activity to go with it. There are also downloadable ornaments that can go with it. When you see them, you can remember the story, you can remember the person the story talked about and what you are supposed to do because of the story.

I love this whole book! It will be a perfect way to bring the Savior into our Easter celebration! Make sure to grab your own copy!

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a sweet story for children. I love Easter. I love to teach my kids the real meaning of Easter. Not that having eggs hunts and Easter baskets aren't fun, I just want them to recognize the reason for the season.

This book has such beautiful illustrations about the Easter. Each scripture reference comes with an activity that you can do with your family to make Easter more meaningful. I wish my kids were still little, but I am still going to make them do some of them with me anyway.

If you have children this is a great book to pick up and read with them, and then do the activities as a family.

Easter is beautiful. The Savior is beautiful. This is such a sweet story.

[Shauna Ludlow Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an exquisite book for older children and adults. The illustrations are simple. Easter symbols, people, and scriptures are explained with activities of how to implement principles in your personal celebration of Easter.

[Marge Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful! We gave this book to our married Children so they could enjoy and build on their Easter Traditions!

[Amelia Kotlowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful book to read to your kids. Loaded with scripture, precious illustrations, and engaging thought provoking questions to discuss. They even have Easter activities/ craft ideas to do. Such a refreshing Easter book.

[Monica H at The Readathon · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Rating: 4.5 Stars!

[Dayna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how this can be adapted to all ages. The activities are perfect compliments to the stories.