Lent, Holy Week, and Easter offer an excellent opportunity to strengthen or restart rhythms of time with God as a family. This can be as simple as gathering around a story or passage of scripture together weekly or every day throughout the season. Whether you’re looking for a book your family can read as you journey through Lent together or trying to find a Jesus-centered story to add to your child’s Easter basket, we’ve got what you need right here!
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Lent & Holy Week Books
Scripture is full of stories of waiting and preparation. In Lent, the church joins this story as we make room and prepare to receive the gift of Easter. Historically, Lent centers on three practices: prayer, fasting, and giving. The resources below will help you enter into the season of Lent and Holy Week as a family.
Make Room: A Child’s Guide to Lent & Easter
This beautiful picture book walks children through stories from Jesus’ life and the practices of Lent to help paint a picture of the waiting, anticipation, and emptying that accompany Lent. The book ends with a gentle introduction to Holy Week so that children can connect the observance of Lent to the eventual celebration of Easter.
Bare Tree and Little Wind
This beautifully illustrated picture book tells the story of Holy Week from the perspective of a tree and the wind. Imaginative and delightful, this book is perfect for young children just beginning to get acquainted with the story of Holy Week.
Holy Week: An Emotions Primer
This brightly colored and illustrated book provides a gentle introduction to Holy Week for very young children. Perfect for an Easter Basket or to take along to church for Holy Week or Easter services.
Easter Blocks
Families with elementary-age children will enjoy walking through the story of Holy Week in a creative and engaging way. A set of Easter Blocks with images corresponding to each day of Holy Week is accompanied by a devotional book that retells the stories of Jesus’ life leading up to his death and resurrection. Easter Blocks are a simple, easy way for parents or grandparents to share the story of Holy Week with children.
Easter Books
These resources will help your family celebrate the season of Easter together. Consider choosing one or two and make reading them a family tradition. These books also make excellent Easter basket gifts!
Rise: A Child’s Guide to Eastertide
Through several poems, Laura Alary invites readers to experience the wonder of Easter anew. Young and old alike will benefit from reflecting on the Bible stories woven together with a description of the common Easter celebrations and an explanation of the season of Easter.
The King of Easter
Have we mentioned that our whole team loves FAT CAT? We love how this series integrates playfulness and beautiful illustrations to invite children into the great truths of faith. The King of Easter has a simple premise, “Jesus is the King of Easter! He finds who is lost. Who is lost, he saves.” The book then highlights various New Testament characters as people saved by Jesus, ending with the reader of the book as one who also has been lost, found, and saved by Jesus. Rich theological concepts and illustrations that invite reflection and discussion, The King of Easter is an excellent book to read with children throughout the Easter season.
Christ is Risen, Indeed!
Whether you pick something from this list, we hope you’re inspired to enjoy this special season of the church year with kids. Remember that the ideal Lent, Holy Week, or Easter resources for your church or home will suit the particular people you are caring for, and they should offer a springboard to your own special time of connection around the person of Jesus as a family or group. Enjoy anticipating and celebrating the resurrection of Jesus with the kids you care about this year!