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The Week That Led to Easter
Holy Week is celebrated by Christians around the world as a momentous occasion leading up to the miracle that is Christ’s resurrection. Take children through the steps that Christ took to the cross, leading up to that jubilant Easter morning when He defeated Satan and sin! Following Matthew 21:10-28:10, Mark 11:1-16:8, Luke 19:29-24:12, and John 12:12-20:10, you can show children the wonderful week that is Holy Week. Easy language, accompanied by bright graphics, helps your child see, hear, and engage with Biblical narratives. Also included within the book is a note to parents, to help guide through the teachings of the story and to offer ideas on how to enrich children’s understanding. First published in 1964, Arch Books captivate children with colorful pictures and creative poems. Each book presents a complete Bible story in a fun-to-read way that children ages 5-9 will understand and remember. Known for their biblical and historical accuracy, Arch Books are accessible, engaging, affordable, and collectible - perfect for assisting teachers and parents as they teach children the Bible and how God works in all aspects of life.
16 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
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April 2, 2023Wonderful book and series these are!
April 2, 2023
Arch books are always great.
5/11/17 Read with Naomi & Julia
9/30/18 Read with Naomi & Julia
4/22/22 Read with Julia
4/2/23 Read with my preschool class
5/11/17 Read with Naomi & Julia
9/30/18 Read with Naomi & Julia
4/22/22 Read with Julia
4/2/23 Read with my preschool class
February 1, 2022
I was shocked at just how awful this book is. I grew up on Arch books, and although I haven't read them in years, I'm certain the quality of the ones I grew up on far surpasses this one of recent publication.
The jingles are incredibly amateurish, the kind of "poetry" I was writing when I was eight years old. Take this as one example:
Jesus asked to be remembered
For the sins He'd take away.
He told them of God's final plan.
And that He could not stay.
The rhymes are not only dreadful, but sometimes also nonsensical. Several times in the minute or two it took me to read this book I paused to try to figure out what the author was trying to say, with no success.
In short - this silly book is a waste of time, remarkable only for being so poorly done in every way.
The jingles are incredibly amateurish, the kind of "poetry" I was writing when I was eight years old. Take this as one example:
Jesus asked to be remembered
For the sins He'd take away.
He told them of God's final plan.
And that He could not stay.
The rhymes are not only dreadful, but sometimes also nonsensical. Several times in the minute or two it took me to read this book I paused to try to figure out what the author was trying to say, with no success.
In short - this silly book is a waste of time, remarkable only for being so poorly done in every way.
July 14, 2017
We used 6 of the Arch Book series for Easter contemplation with preschool and early elementary children.
It was valuable to me to have separate books for each part of the Holy week celebration. It's easier to break things up for a little one via individual covers. "The Week that Lead to Easter" provides an overview. "Jesus Enters Jerusalem" focus' on Palm Sunday. "The Very First Lord's Supper" presents Maundy Thursday events. "Good Friday" covers the crucifixion. "He's Risen! He's Alive!" chronicles Resurrection Sunday. "A Surprise in Disguise" is a great book for the post-holiday let down, as Jesus' followers try to make sense of all that had happened.
These books are helpful in outlining the events of the last week of Jesus' life for youngsters. Each book opens with a list of Biblical references on the title page. As children age, these passages can be found and read, allowing the book to reinforce the Biblical account. The rhyming format is generally well done and occasionally sacrifices rhythm for clarity of expression - which I would prefer than the reverse. The illustrations are colorful, but not particularly amazing or inspiring, and the layout is uncrowded with pictures covering more than 50% of the page, sufficient to hold my child's interest.
So why only 2 stars? Well, the books in themselves are not memorable. Part of that is the sing songy format, part of it is the bland illustrations, part of it is these books are one tool of many to reinforce the Bible story and part of it is the age at which children are engaged by the books. Now that my children are older, we seldom return, and I'm thinking of passing them on via Salvation Army. While they were valuable on an annual basis for the short term, now that we are in the long term game, they are easy to part with, and one suspects there are many other resources that would be just as effective. They worked for us but didn't WOW! us.
Books that DID WOW us that we will never be able to part with include:
The Jesus Storybook Bible, Lloyd-Jones, 2007
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Read-Aloud Bible Stories, Lindvall, 1982
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
It was valuable to me to have separate books for each part of the Holy week celebration. It's easier to break things up for a little one via individual covers. "The Week that Lead to Easter" provides an overview. "Jesus Enters Jerusalem" focus' on Palm Sunday. "The Very First Lord's Supper" presents Maundy Thursday events. "Good Friday" covers the crucifixion. "He's Risen! He's Alive!" chronicles Resurrection Sunday. "A Surprise in Disguise" is a great book for the post-holiday let down, as Jesus' followers try to make sense of all that had happened.
These books are helpful in outlining the events of the last week of Jesus' life for youngsters. Each book opens with a list of Biblical references on the title page. As children age, these passages can be found and read, allowing the book to reinforce the Biblical account. The rhyming format is generally well done and occasionally sacrifices rhythm for clarity of expression - which I would prefer than the reverse. The illustrations are colorful, but not particularly amazing or inspiring, and the layout is uncrowded with pictures covering more than 50% of the page, sufficient to hold my child's interest.
So why only 2 stars? Well, the books in themselves are not memorable. Part of that is the sing songy format, part of it is the bland illustrations, part of it is these books are one tool of many to reinforce the Bible story and part of it is the age at which children are engaged by the books. Now that my children are older, we seldom return, and I'm thinking of passing them on via Salvation Army. While they were valuable on an annual basis for the short term, now that we are in the long term game, they are easy to part with, and one suspects there are many other resources that would be just as effective. They worked for us but didn't WOW! us.
Books that DID WOW us that we will never be able to part with include:
The Jesus Storybook Bible, Lloyd-Jones, 2007
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Read-Aloud Bible Stories, Lindvall, 1982
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
November 11, 2018
Another Arch book and another great little read this one about the week that led up the the crucifixion of Jesus and what we remember in our Easter festivities now. An important story is an understatement as this is the lynchpin of our modern civilisation here, all be it in a children's book. The beauty of the gospel is it is foolishness to the wise as Paul said, and a most profound message can be put in terms that children can still grasp the meaning.
December 11, 2021
The Week That Led to Easter (Arch Books) by Joanne Larrison – Jenny Williams’ illustrations are lovely! Happy Reading!
February 21, 2024
This was read as the Children's moment during a worship service the first Sunday in Lent, the weeks leading to Easter.
The book in itself, feels and looks very dated! I was surprised it was written / illustrated in 2001, as it looks almost 1970's with presentation of the characters - though very nicely done for what it is. The poetry is basic, geared toward a very young audience, but the lessons are heavy and very (!!!) orthodox and doctrinal. Way over, say, a 5-year-old's head, and well beyond their developmental capacity. It felt like the book was trying to be 'correct' in belief statements. Having taught middle / high school students, it felt like we spent much time deprogramming the rigid, impersonal knowledge this book presented when these statements were getting in the way of personal growth and faith - comments we heard from them often were that this simply wasn't relevant to their lives or our world. We were trying to help the students experience the Holy instead of just repeat back doctrine, and this book was solid doctrine.
Though not this book directly, how it was used is interesting as this was the first Sunday of the Lenten season, and the book was clearly designed for the time just before and for Easter, itself.
Nice book if you like hard, correct doctrine, but I would leave more room for kids to explore and understand relationship before laying on rigid creedal doctrine. It felt like the books was written for adults who are more worried about what the kids were being taught, than how children actually learn.
The book in itself, feels and looks very dated! I was surprised it was written / illustrated in 2001, as it looks almost 1970's with presentation of the characters - though very nicely done for what it is. The poetry is basic, geared toward a very young audience, but the lessons are heavy and very (!!!) orthodox and doctrinal. Way over, say, a 5-year-old's head, and well beyond their developmental capacity. It felt like the book was trying to be 'correct' in belief statements. Having taught middle / high school students, it felt like we spent much time deprogramming the rigid, impersonal knowledge this book presented when these statements were getting in the way of personal growth and faith - comments we heard from them often were that this simply wasn't relevant to their lives or our world. We were trying to help the students experience the Holy instead of just repeat back doctrine, and this book was solid doctrine.
Though not this book directly, how it was used is interesting as this was the first Sunday of the Lenten season, and the book was clearly designed for the time just before and for Easter, itself.
Nice book if you like hard, correct doctrine, but I would leave more room for kids to explore and understand relationship before laying on rigid creedal doctrine. It felt like the books was written for adults who are more worried about what the kids were being taught, than how children actually learn.
April 21, 2025
If you are looking for a Christian kids' series, I highly recommend the Arch Books. I grew up reading several of these children's books, and I remember being gifted this book for Easter one year at church. I think two items make this book memorable- the beautiful illustrations and the rhyming text. One complaint I have is it should definitely discuss how it was 3 days later and Jesus rose again, and it could discuss Mary Magdalene as the first one to see Jesus. Her illustration is there as you can see from the cover, but she is never discussed specifically by name, and I think these details are important and could easily fit in the book. For these reasons, I had to give this four stars instead of five. However, I would still recommend this book for young kids as a yearly read out-loud tradition. You could pair this with the actual passages from the Bible as they are included on the very first page.
September 2, 2019
Good to use with CCD class, overview of Holy Week.
Want to read
March 19, 2014something
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews