The First Easter Ever
Author: (not named) Editor: Mary Hassinger
Illustrator: Dennis Jones
32 pages
Language: English
ISBN 13: 978-0-310-74084-1
List price: $1.99

Reviewed By: Janice D. Green

Rating:   

The illustrations in The First Easter Ever are clever and children will enjoy looking at them. The text moves along in a kid-friendly voice and is neat and tidy. But I feel the passion is missing from this book about Easter – the most passionate account in all of scripture. The illustrations have the feel of a super-hero comic book where nobody really gets hurt. Even Jesus’ flogging, his struggle to carry the cross, and his crucifixion include not one drop of blood. Jesus trailing red sash gives the impression of a Superman cape. I don’t think Jesus ever portrayed himself as a flashy hero.

So much is left out of this story. Granted, it is intended as an easy to read book, not a scholarly work, but even children need something deeper than this. Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemene before there was even a hint that anyone wanted to kill him. When Judus betrayed Jesus in the Garden, he was identified as “one of his old friends,” not one of his twelve disciples. In Matthew the soldiers guarding the tomb became like dead men when the angel rolled away the stone and sat on it. But in The First Easter Ever they run away when they see the angel because they don’t know what to do.

This book may be popular with children, but it will do little to increase their faith in God. I give this book a generous three smileys out of a possible five.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”