The kids and I have been reading some Easter books over the last three weeks. It has been a wonderful time of reflecting on Christ's sacrifice, learning more about Easter traditions, and thinking about the season in new ways.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis: Of course, many are more familiar with this book after the Narnia movie and the upcoming Prince Caspian movie. But, I believe reading the book is always effective even if one has seen or is planning to see the movie version. If three boys can stay riveted during its reading, you know it's a good book! But, why during Easter? This story is an allegory about Christ's sacrifice. Younger children simply enjoy the fantasy side of this story, but there are greater truths for older children and adults to study that are spiritually fantastic!

Lilies, Rabbits, and Painted Eggs: The Story of the Easter Symbols by Edna Barth: I found this book to be incredibly helpful to me in understanding why we have certain Easter traditions. It was also a great opportunity to talk about how different cultures and religions celebrate spring. Some parental discretion may be needed if children are very young, but because of the balanced approach of the book it lends itself to providing wise interjections and valuable discussion.

At Jerusalem's Gate: Poems of Easter by Nikki Grimes: As a poet, I love incorporating poetry into my reading with the boys whenever I can. This book is very beautifully written and helps the reader see Christ's crucifixion from various perspectives. I highly recommend it.

Vinegar Boy by Alberta Hawse: We are still reading this book, but so far I recommend it. It is a fictional account of the Easter story told from the perspective of the Vinegar Boy who brought the bitter wine to the crucifixion. The book is very well-written and provides a new way of looking at this significant event in Christian history.

Happy reading and Happy Easter!