This title is a companion book to French's BETHLEHEM (Harper, 2001) about the birth of Christ.  Like that title, the illustrations in this one are inspired by stained glass church windows.  French has edited the text from the authorized version of the King James BIBLE.  The book begins with Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on Psalm Sunday, then moves on to the last supper, the betrayal, the trial, wearing a crown of thorns, carrying the cross to Golgotha, the crucifixion, burial, resurrection, visiting the disciples eight days later, visiting the fisherman at sea, and ends with the ascension into heaven.  This book is great for personal giving, church libraries, and public library collections.
    Mary Ann Paulin; Director, Superiorland Preview Center, Marquette, MI
    32 years of experience as a school library/media specialist

Hague, Michael, ed.  FAMILY EASTER TREASURY. Illus. by Michael Hague.
    New York: Holt, 1999.  134p.  0-8050-3819-1; hb., $19.95.     95-46916
    Gr.3+   808.8  or  394.26

    Hague's illustrations have a 19th century look that is in keeping with the tone of the stories and poems.  There are three different Gospel stories;  19 poems or carols by Blake, Dickinson, Kilmer, Rosseti and others; and 9 stories, many of them sentimental, like Wilde's "The Selfish Giant."  Most have a religious tone except for some that are about spring and Easter bunnies.  Pochocki's  "Bramble and Buckwheat," about a kitten adopted by a rabbit family, would be good to read aloud to primary school students.  Invaluable for research are 8 pages called "In the Easter Basket" in which Sechrist shares many customs dating back to Egyptian times.  As the title indicates, this is a book that will be checked out by families from the public library or purchased by families.
    Mary Ann Paulin, Director, Superiorland Preview Center
    32 years of experience as s school library media specialist

McGee, Marni.  THE COLT AND THE KING.  Illus by John Winch.  New York:
    Holiday, 2002.  32p.  0-8234-1695-X; hb., $16.95.  20021-039235   K-Gr. 3  E
     PAULIN’S PICKS

    The end papers show the garments that were strewn in the path of Jesus as he entered Jerusalem on Psalm Sunday.  Winch uses impasto acrylics and unusual perspective to tell McGee’s story.  McGee begins with an author’s note to provide historical background for this picture book: the prophecy from Zechariah, the symbolism of palm trees, and the Jews’ hope that a king would save them from the Romans.  Told in the first person by the donkey whose owner sent it to the “place where olives grew” for the man they said was a king.  The donkey trembled and Jesus touched him and talked quietly to him and he was no longer afraid.  This meeting is shown eyeball to eyeball between the king and the donkey.  The donkey carried Jesus triumphantly and wanted to take him home but he never saw Jesus again.  This is a good addition to Easter collections.
    Mary Ann Paulin; Director, Superiorland Preview Center, Marquette, MI 49855
    32 years of experience as a school library-media specialist

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SECULAR

     The pages and half-pages are very sturdy and will stand up to the use that children will make of this riddle book.  The nine riddles are presented in a double-page spread that includes one side of a half page.  When the half page is turned, the answer appears.  The yolks/jokes about chicks, eggs, and bunnies are suitably funny for the audience and holiday.  Parents will have no trouble placing this book in Easter baskets but public libraries will have to decide whether to place it in holiday or in riddle collections.
    Mary Ann Paulin, Director; Superiorland Preview Center, Marquette, Michigan
    32 years of experience as a school library/media specialist

Kimmel, Eric. A.  THE BIRDS  GIFT: A UKRAINIAN EASTER STORY.
    Illus. by Katya Krenina.  New York:  Holiday, 1999.  unp.  0-8234-1384-5; hb.,
    $16.95.  97-50209     PreS-Gr. 3     398.2

    This is a pourquoi story about how the pysanky eggs came to be.  Katrusya and her grandfather find a little golden bird in the snow and take it home to warm by the stove.  They bring home other birds and talk neighbors into doing the same until the birds are everywhere, including the church.  In spring the birds are released.  At Easter time they find beautiful eggs in the grass, one was blue and gold with birds flying over sheaves of wheat.  No two were alike just like "each is beautiful and precious in its own way."  Today,  in memory of the birds' gift, people make pysanky eggs. More information is given in the Author's Note about the symbols of rebirth and the Resurrection.  The decision is not whether this book should be purchased but whether it should be in the holiday  folklore collection.
    Mary Ann Paulin, Director, Superiorland Preview Center
    32 years of experience as a school library media specialist

Lark, Carrier.  GIVE LITTLE CHICKS.  New York: HarperFestival, 2003.  16p.
    0-06-008299-3; bd. bk., $6.99   2002-100412     BB   or    394.26

    This holiday counting book is about five chicks who wear their holiday bonnets and hats.  Shorter pages within this board book share the activities of the first through fifth chicks and on the last page they are all shown together with the Easter Bunny who has been watching them.  This is a satisfying Easter book that is also a clever counting book.  Add to holiday board book collections in preschool and public libraries.
    Mary Ann Paulin, Director; Superiorland Preview Center, Marquette, Michigan
    32 years of experience as a school library/media specialist

Modesitt, Jeanne.  LITTLE BUNNY'S EASTER SURPRISE.  Illus. by Robin Spowart.
    New York: Simon and Schuster, 1999.  32p.  0-689-82491-2; hb., $12.95.
    98-28841   PreS-Gr.1      E

    Little Bunny is happy to receive a pink basket filled with candy and Baby Brother received a yellow basket.  Little Bunny's surprise is that he has baskets for his parents but they must find them.  The parents need two hints before they find the baskets in a tree.  The hints are "outside" and "above."  At the end of the day there is a surprise for Little Bunny from Baby Brother.
While reading the book to preschoolers and kindergarteners, ask them to guess where the baskets might be after each hint is given. Have something hidden in the library and give hints so the children can make intelligent guesses.  School children can hide items in the room during recess and can give hints to classmates.  Those who use this book in conjunction with Spowart's INSIDE, OUTSIDE CHRISTMAS (Holiday, 1998)  will notice that the rabbits look very much like the mice.
    Mary Ann Paulin, Director, Superiorland Preview Center
    32 years of experience as s school library media specialist
 

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