I am beyond excited to tell you about a new Easter book (that you may have already heard of!) But rather than having me tell you all about it, I am letting the author, Sally Cressman, give you a behind-the-scenes look at how this sweet, whimsical book came to be published.

How did you get the idea for The Dance of Easter? 

I’ve always wanted to publish a Christmas and Easter picture book because those are the two foundational stories of the Bible. I initially showed a Christmas book called The Song of Christmas to a well-known author and told her I had a companion Easter book called The Song of Easter. She thought the Easter book should have a different name. I wanted to capture the joy of that morning and remembered how Jesus said that even the rocks would cry out if people didn’t praise him. I wondered how creation would have responded, specifically the animals, to that morning. The word “dance” kept coming to mind, so I landed on The Dance of Easter. An agent I admire hesitated on the title because of the word “dance.” I looked up the different kinds of dance styles and discovered I could take several of the dances and have the animals naturally perform them. My favorite spread is when the frogs hip-hop. I’m glad we stayed with the title, for I think the cover page and title are attracting interest. And that well-known author who guided me? She was Michelle Medlock Adams, Senior Editor of Wren & Bear Books—my publisher.

How is this book different from other Easter books for children?

It’s frustrating to go online or in bookstores and see books touted as Easter when there is no mention of Jesus. On the other hand, it is difficult to write a story for young kids about Jesus’s death and resurrection. The Dance of Easter starts with the somberness of Jesus in the tomb and builds to the jubilation of Resurrection morning. I included a refrain repeated throughout the book, hoping kids will remember: “He lives! He lives! God’s Son is not dead! Yes, Jesus arose in three days, like He said.”

What do you like best about the illustrations?

The illustrator Angela Edmonds, a former Disney employee, perfectly captured the animal’s joy of Jesus’s resurrection. At the beginning of the book, sorrow blankets the scenes as even the animals know Jesus died. But as the news spreads that Jesus is alive, the animal’s expressions and eyes light up. When I first saw the illustrations, I loved the badgers dancing, but the frogs became my favorite when the book finished. The frogs hip-hop to the music, and their eyes are hilarious. They make me smile every time I see them. (For the record, my book has no Easter bunnies, but you will find some adorable bunnies rejoicing over Jesus’s resurrection.)

How do you hope readers will respond to the story?

I hope they, too, will capture the joy of Jesus’s resurrection like the animals in the book. I pray that a seed of truth will be planted in young readers—that Jesus is alive. That one day, it will be apparent to kids that Jesus is active in their lives. Because of that reason, they can live joyfully even when life intermingles with the sorrows and hard times that will come. I also hope the adult reader will approach the book with childlike wonder and recapture the joy and delight of Jesus’s resurrection.

Where can our blog followers learn more about you and your books?

My website (www.sallycressman.com) is the best place to learn more about me and The Dance of Easter. Parents can download three activity sheets that relate to Easter and the book. I have another book coming out with Wren & Bear Books in May 2025, so if readers sign up for my email newsletter, they’ll be the first to find out more about my next picture book. I also like to connect with readers on Facebook or Instagram. To purchase the book, go to https://www.sallycressman.com/preorder/.

Thank you, Sally, for telling us about this beautiful Easter book. I know kids as well as adults will enjoy the Dance of Easter as they celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.

Crystal

Be sure to sign up to receive updates of each new post on our Christian Children’s Authors blog. Follow us for new book news, free resources, parenting tips, and encouragement!

#christianchildrensauthors #easterbooksfor children #easterbookreview