cover image The Legend of the Easter Robin: An Easter Story of Compassion and Faith

The Legend of the Easter Robin: An Easter Story of Compassion and Faith

Dandi Daley Mackall, illus. by Richard Cowdrey. Zonderkidz, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-310-74964-6

New artwork from Cowdrey accompanies this faith-centric Easter story, first published in 2010. A golden-haired girl named Tressa is concerned about the robin’s nest on her grandmother’s windowsill: “A million things could go wrong when a robin tried to nest this early.” As Tressa and her grandmother dye Easter eggs, her grandmother tells her the Pennsylvania Dutch legend behind the robin’s red breast, dyed by a drop of Jesus’ blood after the robin plucked a thorn from his crown. Dramatic sepia-colored scenes emphasize the weight of Jesus’ cross and the violence of his procession through Jerusalem, creating a startling and powerful contrast against the cozy, present-day domestic scenes. Ages 4–8. [em](Jan.) [/em]