Easter is coming up, and what better way to prepare for and celebrate the holiday than by reading an Easter book to your children. Whether you’re looking for a religious book to help explain the meaning of the holiday, or a book to explain the Easter Bunny, or simply a spring book to add to an Easter basket, some of the best Easter books for kids are featured here.
We’ve separated out the books into two sections below: religious books about Easter and non-religious, or secular books, about Easter that center around the Easter bunny, or other spring-related themes. If you’d like to skip the religious books about Easter for kids, click here to jump to the secular books about Easter.
Religious Books About Easter
Easter is a Christian holiday to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection and commemorate the last few days leading up to his death. We’ve compiled 13 of the best religious Easter books for kids. There are religious Easter books featured for each age range and many moving stories surrounding Jesus’ last week, his death and resurrection.
Easter is Coming!
Written by Tama Fortner, Illustrated by Wazza Pink
Ages: 2 – 6 years | Padded Board Book
In this story, a mother tells her children a bedtime story of God’s plan throughout the Bible, leading up to the resurrection. The great, hopeful message is that all of the Bible points to Jesus and the resurrection is the culmination of Christianity. If a family is celebrating Lent together, this would be a great companion book to read together as you anticipate Easter and the celebration to come.
The Berenstain Bears and the Easter Story
Written and Illustrated by Mike and Jan Berenstain
Ages: 4 – 7 years | Picture Book
The little Berenstain Bears are looking forward to Easter, but all they can think about is the candy. In this story, they learn the real meaning of Easter at church and hear about the resurrection. This book would be perfect for families who are familiar with the Berenstain Bears and want to incorporate the real meaning of Easter to their season. Plus, the book comes with stickers. Always a crowd-pleaser with my kids!
Easter Love Letters from God
Written by Glenys Nellist, Illustrated by Sophie Allsopp
Ages: 2 – 6 years | Picture Book
If you want to celebrate and remember Holy Week, the week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, this book is perfect for that. There are seven Bibles stories, each followed by a love letter to a child from God. It contains beautiful illustrations, rich biblical message, and stories that will make parents tear up as they read to their children. Highly recommend for Christian families to read the week before Easter!
The Story of Easter
By Thomas Nelson
Ages: 0 – 4 years | Padded Board Book
This simple book explains Jesus’ death and resurrection in an accurate, biblical perspective, but without too much darkness or gloom for your child. If you give your child an Easter basket, this padded board book would be great for babies and toddlers.
The Story of the Empty Tomb
Written by Bryan Davis, Illustrated by Len Ebert
Ages: 4 – 9 years | Picture Book
This rhyming picture book includes details that other Easter books may not, such as Mary discovering the empty tomb and Jesus appearing to the disciples in the Upper Room. The story has a clear message that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the grave because he loved us.
Amon’s Adventure
By Arnold Ytreeide
Ages: 8 – 13 years | Chapter Book
Follow along as fictional Amon encounters and witnesses events in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Arnold Ytreeide writes fictional stories set during biblical times, and this one is a great read during Lent leading up to Easter. It contains 25 short chapters but would be something middle-grade children could read on their own or a great read-aloud book as a family.
The Legend of the Easter Robin
Written by Dandi Daley Mackall, Illustrated by Richard Cowdrey
Ages: 6 – 12 years| Picture Book
This is a heartwarming story of a little girl whose grandmother tells her the legend of how the Robin got its red breast. Tressa’s grandmother shares about the bird who witnessed and tried to help Jesus as he suffered and was crucified. It is one of the few Easter books for kids that touches on the crucifixion without it being too gory or dark. But of course, if you have a sensitive or young child, its somber themes may be better for an older audience (6 – 9 years). There is a great page at the back that helps explain some of the symbolism throughout the book and used in our culture to celebrate Easter.
The Tale of Three Trees
Written by Angela Elwell Hunt, Illustrated by Tim Jonke
Ages: 7 – 12 years| Picture Book
The story begins with three trees who have their own grand dream. Over time, each tree begins to question their purpose and whether their dream will actually come true. In the end, though, they all realize they were used in unexpected, but powerful ways. The message resonates with children and adults alike, sharing how the trees were used in Jesus’ life and an allegory for how each of us can likewise be used for God’s glory.
Peter’s First Easter
Written by Walter Wangerin, Illustrated by Tim Ladwig
Ages: 4 – 9 years| Picture Book
Follow along the last few days of Jesus’ life on earth through the eyes of Peter, one of Jesus’ closest friends. In this story, you see the disciples gathered at the last supper, Judas’ betrayal, Peter’s own denial, the sorrowful crucifixion of his friend, and the redemptive resurrection. The illustrations are lovely and the message is filled with feeling and depth. Wonderful Easter book!
The Very First Easter
By Zondervan
Ages: 3 – 8 years| Picture Book
This easy-to-read story of the Holy Week is told in a vibrantly illustrated book. It covers Palm Sunday, the Last Supper, Jesus’ arrest, and his death and resurrection in a way that children will understand.
Humphrey’s First Palm Sunday
Written and illustrated by Carol Heyer
Ages: 2 – 6 years| Board Book
Humphrey is a silly, self-absorbed camel that met Jesus when he was first born, and sees him again as he enters Jerusalem. This would be a great book to read on Palm Sunday to get a different perspective on the holiday, and a great companion book to Humphrey’s First Christmas.
The Donkey That No One Could Ride
Written by Anthony DeStefano, Illustrated by Richard Cowdrey
Ages: 3 – 7 years | Padded Board Book
This story is told from the perspective of the donkey who thought he was useless and ends up carrying Jesus into Jerusalem. It is a heartwarming message on how no one is too weak to be used by God. This is another great Palm Sunday book, with charming rhymes and vivid illustrations.
What is Easter?
Written by Michelle Medlock Adams, Illustrated by Amy Wummer
Ages: 2 – 5 years | Board Book
With playful art and rhyming text, this book shares that Easter is not just a time for hunting eggs and chocolate bunnies, but about God’s son Jesus who came to die and rise again. It is perfect for families who want to cover the commercialism of Easter along with the real message of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Non-Religious Books About Easter
While Easter is originally a Christian holiday, many non-religious families still celebrate by dying Easter eggs, having an Easter egg hunt, or gifting children with an Easter basket. These books below have non-religious Easter themes and would be great to read to children in the springtime approaching Easter or to include in a child’s Easter basket.
Fancy Nancy’s Elegant Easter
Written by Jane O’Connor, Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser
Ages 4 – 7 years | Lift-the-Flap Book
Nancy is getting ready for an Easter party and is decorating with her friend Bree. In true Fancy Nancy fashion, the vocabulary is great and expansive, and children will love to find fancy things hidden under flaps on each page. This would make a sweet addition to a little girl’s Easter basket.
The Biggest Easter Basket Ever
Written by Stephen Kroll, Illustrated by Jeni Bassett
Ages 4 – 8 years | Picture Book
Two mice learn to work together to make the biggest Easter Basket contest. This is a fun story on collaborating with your friend with detailed, colorful illustrations. Perfect to read around Easter.
The Easter Egg
Written and Illustrated by Jan Brett
Ages: 3 – 6 years | Picture Book
The Easter Rabbit hosts a contest to see which bunny can make the best-decorated egg, and the winner will help with his delivery on Easter morning. A young bunny Hoppi is eager to impress but becomes discouraged when he’s not able to decorate as intricately as the others. It’s a story on kindness, compassion, and how selfless acts go a long way. As always, Jan Brett’s illustrations are detailed and as delightful as the story.
How to Catch the Easter Bunny
Written by Adam Wallace, Illustrated by Andy Elkerton
Ages 3 – 8 years | Picture book
A fun, silly book narrated from the Easter Bunny on how to catch him on Easter day. The rhyming is catchy and the illustrations are cartoonish. It would be a great book to read as you prepare your child for Easter morning.
Here Comes the Easter Cat
Written by Deborah Underwood, Illustrated by Claudia Kueda
Ages 2 – 6 years | Picture Book
Why should the Easter Bunny get all the attention? That’s what this cat with lots of personalities wants to know. In an effort to try to become the Easter Cat, he comes to find out decorating and delivering eggs is harder than he originally realized. A fun and engaging Easter book for kids.
The Golden Egg Book
Written by Margaret Wise Brown, Illustrated by Leonard Weisgard
Ages 2- 6 years|Board Book
A classic children’s book about a little bunny who finds an egg and wonders what could be inside. The illustrations are sweet and the story is charming. This would be a lovely book to include in a toddler’s Easter basket.
Marshmallow
Written and illustrated by Clare Turlay Newberry
Ages 3 – 6 years | Picture Book
An endearing story about a bunny who comes to live at a home with a cat. Their interactions are playful and they end up being adorable friends. The rhyming is lovely and the illustrations are soft, simple and pastel, perfect for spring.
Happy Easter, Mouse!
Written by Laura Numeroff, Illustrated by Felicia Bond
Ages 2 – 4 years | Board Book
Follow along with the mouse from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie as he goes on an Easter egg hunt and learns his colors. The story is simple, but the illustrations are detailed and it’s a great lesson for toddlers on colors and counting.
Thomas and the Easter Eggs
By Golden Books
Age 2 – 5 years | Picture Book
A cute story about some eggs that don’t make it to an Easter egg hunt and how Thomas helps others to solve a problem. This is a great Easter book for Thomas fans!
These are only a handful of hundreds of great Easter books for kids. If you have a favorite book that you would like considered to be featured, please feel free to contact us!
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