Happy Easter!

PreS-Gr 1—In the springtime, the sun shines, flowers bloom, baby animals are born, and the Easter Bunny prepares for the approaching celebration. "But, who exactly is the Easter Bunny?" He lives in a little house in the woods, where he gathers eggs to decorate from the chickens, who are happy to help. On Easter, he fills his basket with "painted eggs, eggs with ribbons, and lots of chocolate eggs." Early in the morning, he hides them for the children to find when they wake up. Once his job is done, he hops back home ready for a long sleep. Told in straightforward, easy-to-read language, this story highlights some popular Easter traditions like making crafts, dressing up, and hunting for eggs. The illustrations, drawn with childlike simplicity and featuring thick black outlines and cheerful primary colors, echo the optimistic tone of the story. Children will appreciate this unadorned salute to the new beginnings of spring and the fabled bearer of Easter treats. However, Charlotte Zolotow's classic The Bunny Who Found Easter (Houghton Mifflin, 1998) presents a more compelling portrait of the Easter Bunny.—Linda L. Walkins, Saint Joseph Preparatory High School, Boston, MA