“Celebrating A Christ-Centered Easter”
by Emily Belle Freeman and David Butler. Illustrated by Ryan Jeppesen.
Ensign Peak, Salt Lake City, 2018, 32 pages, Pre-3.
Easter is the most important feast day in the Christian Religion. Whereas Christmas is intimate and comforting, Easter is the holiday where Christ broke the bonds of death and opened the way back to God the Father.
Beginning on Palm Sunday, Holy Week begins with Our Lord entering Jerusalem on a donkey amid shouts of hosannas. This changes during Holy Week as we enter the Triduum, or the three days before Easter. These sacred days consist of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. Then on Easter, Jesus rises from the dead and heals the breach caused by mankind’s sin.
Emily Belle Freeman and David Butler have written a beautiful picture book about Holy Week. The title of this important book is “Celebrating A Christ-Centered Easter.”
Most Christians have heard the gospel accounts of Holy Week many times, so there is little need to cover them sequentially in this review. Freeman and Butler choose various passages from the gospels to describe Holy Week. These use the actual biblical passages and then on the next page describe the events in a comforting description. All four gospels have given us extensive accounts of the Passion. The authors use these passages to draw readers into a deeper understanding of Our Lord’s Crucifixion, Death and Resurrection.
Throughout the text, they also give teaching ideas and activities of how to spark the interest of children in these sacred events. An example of this is the running border on the bottom of each page. At first, we see people holding palm branches on Palm Sunday. Then, as we turn the pages, we see Christ carrying His cross. The line is next expanded by two men representing Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea during the burial of Jesus. The last two figures on the line are those of Mary of Magdalene and Doubting Thomas.
Importantly, Freeman and Butler include learning activities that deepen the understanding of children at the conclusion of most of the Holy Week stories. These lessons could deepen the awareness of the love of Christ for us. As well, the authors show the betrayal of Jesus by Judas and the marvelous help that Simon of Cyrene gives to Christ on His painful journey to Golgotha.
All of the illustrations contain teaching moments for the adults sharing this book with their family. The artist, Ryan Jeppesen, uses simple drawings in each of the events of Holy Week. Children will be drawn to Our Lord through these pictures.
This book is unlikely to be found in most public libraries. It can be ordered online or through a bookstore. Through its use of biblical passages, clear discussions, activities and lovely drawings, the authors achieve their goal of describing Holy Week and drawing us close to the heart of Christ. If you are tired of only finding Easter books about Peter Cottontail and Easter eggs, this book will be very valuable in your family. Have a Happy Easter. He has Risen, He has truly Risen!
