Easter Reading

The message of the cross is important to our family and so is reading. So I try to compile a stack of books that we will read together as a family and that the kids and others visiting our home, will pick up and look at, especially during Easter and Christmas. Here are my current Easter findings.

I shared yesterday about Benjamin's Box by Melody Carlson. What a conversation starter to have a pile of eggs in a bowl waiting for someone to open them up and ask what the symbol means.

He is Alive by Helen Haidle is another good book to read with the kids concerning the story of Christ's death and resurrection. The pictures are well illustrated, one scene over a page and a half. It gives the kids something to reflect on while listening; images that will not be forgotten. You may want to read it over several days so as to let the story take hold.

The Robe by Lloyd Douglas is an interesting novel I read by recommendation. It is the fictional account of a Roman soldier who was put in charge of Jesus' actual crucifiction and later as the soldiers cast lots for Jesus' garmets, he wins the robe. Killing someone, no less, crucifying them is not something done and forgotten, especially to this Roman soldier, who's previous encounters with Jesus leave something amiss in the soldier's life. His quest to understand the person behind the robe, takes him to a point he would have never considered. Though I think this book is not quite a clear depiction of Jesus as Holy God and leaves large gaps where a person unfamiliar with Scripture and could be mis-lead (as in miracles possibly being somewhat watered down by way of human reasoning in the soldier's mind), the story is captivating. It gave me a new insight into the culture surrounding Jesus' time on earth and thus, deeper understanding of Scripture. It motivated me to be more, be inspired, be lead by the power of Jesus.

Chicken Sunday and Rechenka's Eggs, both by Patricia Polacco, are new ones I picked up this year. Patricia Polacco is one of my favorite authors (well, I have several) as her stories touch a part of you, no matter what nationality you are that make you hold your children close. Her illustrations are simple, yet bursting with character. Chicken Sunday is the story of 3 children who want to buy an Easter hat for their grandma. It shows the level of respect honest, diligent children can garner from adults. And it makes you want to hug your grandma and buy her a hat, even though here in Iowa, Easter hats are pretty much non-existent these days. After I read this one, I told Audrey that I have to stop getting these kinds of books since I always cry while reading them. Rechenka's Eggs is the story of Babushka (read Thunder Cake and you will love Babushka) and her eggs for the Easter Festival. Since Polacco's heritage is from the Ukraine, both of these stories are rich with tradition.

In this picture you see Ben reading to Luke. I think the book was Rechenka's Eggs and it was so fun to see these two together. And in Chicken Sunday, a store keeper says the children have "Chutzpah", which means courage. It is so funny, yet so amazing to hear Luke say "Chutzpah". This was certainly not a word we have used before in our home, but now because of these books, we just might!