I have been filling my kids’ Easter baskets for twenty-six years. Wow, that makes me feel ancient in some ways! But I still love the fun of filling those baskets each year. I have had at least one daughter in college for the last eight years, so I always send their baskets full of treats ahead of time. When they were little, I always filled baskets with sidewalk chalk, bubbles, new sunglasses, flip flops, markers and crayons, some candy and always new books!
As my children grew, baskets evolved to include scratch-off lottery tickets, make-up, fun socks, a new bathing suit for spring break, sports gear, more candy and chocolate, but I always included at least one book! I loved the years of new board and picture books but watching their reading levels advance and new interests develop meant books on puppies, horses, sports heroes, biographies and series like Magic Tree House, Diary of A Wimpy Kid and The Rainbow Fairies.
Whether you are looking to fill an Easter basket or find something for yourself, the choices are endless. Books about the Easter Bunny and spring, religious or rhyming, craft or coloring books make excellent reads for toddlers and young children. They entertain, educate and instill a love for reading. Good choices for older children can include introducing them to a young adult series, puzzle books, and even the occasional Mad Libs, which my kids always loved!
Easter and spring also provide many options for books for the adults in your lives (and yourself, of course!). Subjects such as gardening, baseball, golf, nature and cooking. Some books I recommend in these genres are the following: A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson, Summer of ‘49 by David Halberstam, and The Defined Dish by Alex Snodgrass - which has become my new favorite cookbook. Authors such as Bill Bryson, Pat Conroy, David Halberstam, James Patterson and Margaret Renkl are a few of my favorites who have large collections to choose from with numerous themes and subjects, so hopefully, reading one leads to many more!
Just as there is no shortage of candy for the Easter Bunny to choose from, there are so many books to help you and your family enjoy spring and the hope of new beginnings it brings each year. But, if you need some inspiration or ideas to help you get started, here are some of my favorites for all ages.
Board Books
I love You, Honey Bunny
by Sandra Magsamen
The Itsy Bitsy Bunny by Jeffrey Burton
Llama Llama Easter Egg by Anna Dewdney
Duck & Goose, Here Comes the Easter Bunny by Tad Hills
Five Little Bunnies by Dan Yaccarino
Picture Books
How to Catch the Easter Bunny
by Adam Wallace and Andy Elkerton
Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Pete the Cat Big Easter Adventure
by James Dean
Thank You God, Good Night
by Marianne Richmond
The Best Easter Egg Hunt Ever
by Katy Hudson
Early Readers & Young Adult
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Try Not to Laugh Challenge,
Easter Joke Book for Kids
The Rabbit Ate My Homework
by Rachel Elizabeth Cole
Emma the Easter Fairy,
Rainbow Magic by Daisy Meadows
Captain Awesome and t
he Easter Egg Bandit by Stan Kirby
Adults
The Defined Dish by Alex Snodgrass
Bomb Shelter by Mary Laura Philpott
No Bad Days by JT Jester
Finding Franklin by Katie Shands
Easter Stories, Classic Tales
for the Holy Season
EMILY EVANS
@LETSREADTHERAINBOW
Emily Evans lives in Franklin with her husband and their three children. She teaches at The Little School and, in addition to reading, she loves walking, working out, monogramming, baking and spending time with her family. Follow Emily at @letsreadtherainbow on Instagram as she reads and recommends books.
