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The Easter Rabbit's Parade
Easter is coming! The farmyard animals are planning a surprise for Ann Eliza, the little girl who takes care of them. Everyone contributes—Little Brown Hen lays the eggs, the chicks and goslings gather flowers, and White Rabbit and his family paint the eggs. Easter morning, the animals have a parade and give Ann Eliza her very own Easter basket . . . a very happy Easter, indeed!
40 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1936
16 people want to read
About the author
Lois Lenski
187 books197 followersLois Lenore Lenski Covey was an influential American author and illustrator whose work reshaped twentieth-century children’s literature through its combination of artistic skill, documentary realism, and deep empathy for childhood experience. Beginning her publishing career in the late 1920s, she went on to write and illustrate nearly one hundred books, ranging from picture books and historical novels to regional fiction, poetry, songbooks, and literary essays. She is best known for the Mr. Small picture book series, her meticulously researched historical novels, and her groundbreaking Regional books, which portrayed the everyday lives of children across diverse American communities.
Born in Ohio and trained formally as both an educator and an artist, Lenski studied at Ohio State University, the Art Students League of New York, and the Westminster School of Art in London. Although she initially aspired to be a painter, exhibiting work in New York galleries, she gradually turned to illustration and then to writing, encouraged by pioneering children’s editor Helen Dean Fish. Her early books drew heavily on her Midwestern childhood, while later works reflected extensive travel, field research, and close observation of family and community life.
Lenski achieved major critical recognition with her historical novels Phebe Fairchild: Her Book and Indian Captive, and with her Regional novel Strawberry Girl, which won the Newbery Medal. These works were notable for their commitment to authenticity, incorporating dialect, material culture, and social realities often avoided in children’s books of the era. She believed that literature for young readers should neither sentimentalize nor sanitize life, but instead foster understanding, tolerance, and empathy.
Alongside her own writing, Lenski illustrated works by other major authors, including Watty Piper’s The Little Engine That Could and the early volumes of Maud Hart Lovelace’s Betsy-Tacy series. Her influence extended beyond publishing through lectures, teaching, and advocacy. In 1967 she established the Lois Lenski Covey Foundation, dedicated to providing books to children facing social and economic disadvantage.
In her later years, Lenski continued writing while living in Florida, publishing her autobiography Journey into Childhood shortly before her death. Her legacy endures through her books, her educational philosophy, and ongoing efforts to expand access to literature for children.
Born in Ohio and trained formally as both an educator and an artist, Lenski studied at Ohio State University, the Art Students League of New York, and the Westminster School of Art in London. Although she initially aspired to be a painter, exhibiting work in New York galleries, she gradually turned to illustration and then to writing, encouraged by pioneering children’s editor Helen Dean Fish. Her early books drew heavily on her Midwestern childhood, while later works reflected extensive travel, field research, and close observation of family and community life.
Lenski achieved major critical recognition with her historical novels Phebe Fairchild: Her Book and Indian Captive, and with her Regional novel Strawberry Girl, which won the Newbery Medal. These works were notable for their commitment to authenticity, incorporating dialect, material culture, and social realities often avoided in children’s books of the era. She believed that literature for young readers should neither sentimentalize nor sanitize life, but instead foster understanding, tolerance, and empathy.
Alongside her own writing, Lenski illustrated works by other major authors, including Watty Piper’s The Little Engine That Could and the early volumes of Maud Hart Lovelace’s Betsy-Tacy series. Her influence extended beyond publishing through lectures, teaching, and advocacy. In 1967 she established the Lois Lenski Covey Foundation, dedicated to providing books to children facing social and economic disadvantage.
In her later years, Lenski continued writing while living in Florida, publishing her autobiography Journey into Childhood shortly before her death. Her legacy endures through her books, her educational philosophy, and ongoing efforts to expand access to literature for children.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 15, 2019
I'm an old book aficionado so to find a 1964 copy of the 1936 The Easter Rabbit's Parade at my library is like finding a treasure. The entire barnyard, complete with a grumpy, greybeard old goat, step up to give the little farmers daughter a wonderful Easter parade.
Wonderful!
Wonderful!
May 5, 2023
Here on Goodreads, this fabulous book by Lois Lenski averages just THREE STARS? Shocking!
Could the ratings problem involve how many of you younger readers have never heard of The Easter Parade"? Google it! Maybe think fond thoughts about the greatness of Fred Astaire's dancing. Plus, you'll see how even the title, "The Easter RABBIT'S Parade" is clever.
Anyway, on to reviewing this clever for-many-reasons, sweetly poignant picture book. So deserving FIVE STARS imho.
* Here's to the spunker rabbit who could win "The Frog and Turtle Race."
* Here's to the barnyard animals who were so eager to celebrate Easter by giving good things to the tender of their farmyard, Ann Eliza. Really, volunteering to give, celebrating a sacred holiday!
The goodnatured bickering among all these animals is adorb. While the ending is what I'd call... nothing less than... the spirit of holiday.
Could the ratings problem involve how many of you younger readers have never heard of The Easter Parade"? Google it! Maybe think fond thoughts about the greatness of Fred Astaire's dancing. Plus, you'll see how even the title, "The Easter RABBIT'S Parade" is clever.
Anyway, on to reviewing this clever for-many-reasons, sweetly poignant picture book. So deserving FIVE STARS imho.
* Here's to the spunker rabbit who could win "The Frog and Turtle Race."
* Here's to the barnyard animals who were so eager to celebrate Easter by giving good things to the tender of their farmyard, Ann Eliza. Really, volunteering to give, celebrating a sacred holiday!
The goodnatured bickering among all these animals is adorb. While the ending is what I'd call... nothing less than... the spirit of holiday.
April 17, 2014
I was just thrilled to see this in my library's Easter display of children's books. I'm usually not keen on Easter Bunny-type stories for this time of year, preferring books about the real reason we celebrate the Passion of Christ. However, Lois Lenski is one of my favourite old-time writer/illustrators and I didn't know this had been put back into print at one time. The story is quite simple and not terribly unique but it is cute and fun for the little ones. Repetition is used nicely as at the end of each decision about planning Ann Eliza's Easter, the always gloomy Old Graybeard Goat has to make a negative remark (somewhat akin to Eeyore from WTP). Lenski's illustrations are adorable and just what I had expected. A lovely, simple story that does not show it's age but rather is accessible throughout the ages.
April 16, 2011
As we approach Easter, we are looking for Easter-themed books at our local library. This one caught our eye; it had an old-fashioned look to it, and I wondered if it had been written many years ago. I discovered that it was written before my parents were born, so it was even older than I thought.
The story is pretty good, although the narrative is a bit long and somewhat random. The illustrations are fun - we really liked the fish with a top hat. We enjoyed the story, but our youngest fell asleep in the middle of it, so it couldn't have been too riveting .
The story is pretty good, although the narrative is a bit long and somewhat random. The illustrations are fun - we really liked the fish with a top hat. We enjoyed the story, but our youngest fell asleep in the middle of it, so it couldn't have been too riveting .
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February 16, 2019Read our review of this seasonal book at the Reading Tub website.
January 30, 2021
Cute Easter story.
April 11, 2015
A rather cute, rather long, Easter Rabbit story, with adorable illustrations.
April 15, 2013
Longer book than the Mr. Small books, not as simple or easy to read.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews