That Grand Easter Day!

Bookended by quotations from the Gospel of John, this Easter tale uses cumulative verse to recount the buildup to and aftermath of the resurrection of Jesus. Lord sneaks in a few lighthearted moments—a rabbit munches on a flower nearby, and the tomb is guarded by a man “quite grumpy with gloom” who later flees “with a zoom” after being startled by an angel. But by and large, the emphasis is on the miracle and its ramifications: “This is Jesus Christ,/ who gives life anew,/ who rose up on Easter/ for me and for you!/ He left the tomb empty,/ just linens as clues/ found by disciples/ who’d heard the good news.” Trunfio’s cinematic cartoons contrast deep violet shades with bright, golden sunlight, visually underscoring the sadness of the opening scenes with the blinding light of the angel’s appearance and the subsequent joy among Jesus’s disciples. Ages 4–7. (Feb.)