Easter Day Alphabet
From springtime “Animals” to an Egg hunt “Zigzag,” vibrant, vintage illustrations illuminate a standard children’s theme in this fine follow-up to the author’s previous books, St. Patrick’s Day Alphabet, A Mardi Gras Dictionary, and A Christmas Dictionary.
Using the alphabet as a guide, the author weaves together Easter’s Christian origins, the roots of secular traditions such as egg hunts and the Easter bunny, and the beautiful celebration of spring. These facts are presented in a lively and engaging way, and should give opportunities for discussion with interested children even after the book is closed.
“D is for date,” Vidrine writes. “Easter falls on a different day every year, somewhere between March 22 and April 25. First comes spring, then a full moon, and the next Sunday is Easter.”
Readers will also learn about the origins of the Easter Parade, the journey of the white lily plant from Bermuda to the United States one hundred years ago, and the importance of the Easter celebration in the Christian Church.
Lyne’s illustrations, drawn from a bright pastel and primary color palette, are a perfect complement to the book’s springtime and historical focus. Each page bursts with brightly colored eggs, holiday finery, blooming flowers and letters of the alphabet painted in a calligraphic style. The clothing, hairstyles and backgrounds that she paints depict eras when many of the customs mentioned in the book were born.
The book begins with a lighthearted challenge to readers to find the golden egg included in every illustration. The eggs are easily located, and children should find this a fun addition to the story and illustrations.
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
