Easter Advent
Advent is the time leading up to the celebration of the birth of Christ. However, it can also apply to Palm Sunday (the beginning of Holy Week) and the events leading up to the crucifixion of Christ and the joyous resurrection. While our focus at Christmas has been on doing act of kindness for others, our focus at Easter is a time of reflection. Check out some of the resources we have for you below to help your family focus this Easter.
Check out these water color Easter egg cut-outs (painted by one of our very own Advent Kids age 16!) and our Easter Devotional for Holy Week!
Book Recommendations
This is my absolute favorite storybook Bible for children. Get it, buy it, share it. Sally Lloyd Jones is such an incredible writer and connects all the stories of the Bible to the coming of Christ (“every story whispers His name…”). There are four stories in this storybook Bible specifically about Easter: “The Servant King”, “A Dark Night in the Garden”, “The Sun Stops Shining”, and “God’s Wonderful Surprise”. I cannot recommend it highly enough
As Little Cub celebrates Easter with Papa, Mama, and her brother and sister, she begins to ask her papa questions about this very special day of the year. Papa lovingly explains God’s plans for his children, while taking Little Cub on a memorable walk through her stunning Arctic world, and he shares how Easter came about in clear, simple terms that even the littlest cubs can understand.
This traditional folktale tells the tale of three trees and their connection to the life of Christ. Beautiful illustrations and touching tale. This story is one of our favorites to read at Christmas and Easter.
What are the treasures in Benjamin’s Box? Come along with Benjamin and see. Like all boys and girls, Benjamin is very, very curious. When Jesus comes to Jerusalem, Benjamin decides to follow him and find out who he really is. At first, Benjamin thinks Jesus is a teacher, then a king. At last, he learns the good news―news that every child (and grown-up!) will want to share
Spring brings April showers, rainbows and the promise of new life in this Easter Celebration book. Playful rhymes leap off illustrated pages and give thanks to God for the wonderment created in Spring.
Just as a little boy named Sam and an old man named Henry remind the town of Easterville, best-selling author Melody Carlson reminds us as well that the true meaning of Easter is not Easter bonnets, baskets, colored eggs, candy, or decorations, but the story of the Cross.
(Focusing on Jesus as the Good Shepherd) The day has ended; it’s time for sleep.
By name the shepherd counts his sheep.
But when he finds that one is gone
He knows exactly what must be done.
His search that lasts the whole night through will teach you how much God loves you. Out of print, but worth the find!
As soft April showers make our hearts sing, let’s find the sweetness of God’s gentle spring. Discover both God’s world and the alphabet through the refreshing newness of springtime experiences. Beautiful illustrations and playful poetry fill this book with everything spring from A to Z.
Brand new book from Sally Lloyd Jones (author of The Jesus Storybook Bible). Based on Psalm 23 (focusing on Jesus at the Good Shepherd), little ones will fall in love with this padded cover board book that reminds them of God’s Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love.
Maggie, the farmer’s youngest daughter, loves getting gifts, especially mysterious ones. One wintry day, she receives a package in the mail. She excitedly opens the package to find a bulb buried in a crate of dirt. This was not what Maggie expected. She had hoped for a doll or a game, not a bulb that would one day become a plant. When spring comes, she finds the bulb in the cellar and tosses the lifeless thing into the garden, never to think of it again. . . . Until she walks outside on Easter morning and finds the most beautiful lily she has ever seen. Through the unique gift of a bulb, Maggie discovers the power of grace and forgiveness and the true meaning of Easter.
The Bear cubs are candy-crazy this Easter! But Missus Ursula and some Sunday school students tell the cubs about Jesus’s resurrection and show them that salvation is much sweeter than candy! Includes a sheet of colorful stickers!
Easter is coming, and Sam loves Easter! But this year, he is upset about a lie he told his parents. Even though he apologized and they forgave him, Sam can’t shake the feeling that he is a bad kid for what he did. Meanwhile, his parents help him make a special Easter craft called a Sparkle Egg. His mom tells him to write anything he feels sorry about or ashamed of on a piece of paper and put it inside his Sparkle Egg.
The Legend of the Sand Dollar tells the story of Kerry, as her cousin Jack reveals to her the deeper meaning of Easter hidden within something as small as a sand dollar. This Easter tale reminds everyone everywhere that when Jesus died for us and was resurrected, he promised hope for all.
The Legend of the Easter Robin tells the story of Tressa, whose grandmother reveals to her the story of a small robin who saw Jesus struggling and soared to help him. This Easter tale reminds Christians everywhere how much Jesus sacrificed for us and how much He loves us.
Grammy Award-winning music artist, Chris Tomlin, and Pat Barrett (Housefires), team up to tell the story of a little bear named Tucker whose life and townspeople are forever changed when they learn just how great the King’s love is for them. When Tucker’s friends need help, he goes to see the King who lives in a castle where the door is always open.
Wild and creative illustrations pair with lyrical verse in this message of a God-made light that cuts through darkness to bring vision and hope to all young readers. This light radiates, chasing away the shadows, providing the wonder and fun of stargazing or firefly chasing. Most important, this light appears in each child–an inner God-given spark that grows and will be used to change the world.
Let There Be Light combines the extraordinary talents ofNew York Times bestselling author Nancy Tillman and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu in this retelling of the biblical story of creation. The pairing of Archbishop Tutu’s lyrical text and Tillman’s wondrous illustrations bring the pages of this board book to life for readers young and old.