February to April is prime time for Christians, Jews, and Muslims seeking children's books for the forthcoming holy days that are quintessential for their religion—Easter, Passover, or Ramadan. Religion publishers are ready with titles that highlight the spiritual significance of these days and the value of experiencing their rituals and traditions with family and friends.
Easter tales of resurrection and salvation
On Easter Sunday, April 5, when Christians rejoice that Christ has risen, there are books for young ones from tots on up. Many feature diverse characters with fresh perspectives and invite families to interact with the Easter story in prayers and activities.
Tyndale Kids drew a new book, God's Colorful Easter: The Good News is for Everyone (out now, ages 5-8), from God's Colorful Kingdom Storybook Bible, published in September. Both are by theologian and biblical scholar Rev. Esau McCaulley, with illustrator Rogério Coelho. Their Easter book continues their focus on portraying diversity by presenting the story from the perspective of Simon of Africa who, the Bible says, was forced to carry the cross for Jesus.
Images drawn from an animated film of the same name illustrate the Light of the World Bible Storybook Bible (Tyndale Kids, ages 4-7) by Mary DeMuth and her daughter Sophie DeMuth. It traces the story of salvation through accounts of light throughout all scripture to convey that Jesus "is the light that leads to life," according to the publisher.
A young boy who wants to dress perfectly for Easter church service is the central character in Elijah’s Easter Suit (Doubleday Books for Young Readers, out now, ages 3-7) by Brentom Jackson, illustrated by Emmanuel Boateng, The publisher calls Elijah's story "full of style, sass, and significance" in conveying "the importance of Easter traditions to his family, his ancestors, and the Black church."
In The Great Waking Up (WaterBrook Children's, out now, ages 3-7) by Sarah Shin and illustrated by her husband, Shin Maeng, the Easter story is told through a young girl's eyewitness account. The publisher calls it "a theologically rich yet accessible" introduction to "the core beliefs of Christianity."
The Easter Storybook: 40 Bible Stories Showing Who Jesus Is (David C Cook, out now, ages 4-8) by Laura Richie, illustrated by Ian Dale, relays his life from his time in the Temple as a child through his teaching, death, and resurrection. Each story includes a Bible passage and a prompt for parents to discuss with their children about Christ as their friend and redeemer.
Everyone from kids to critters are in on the Easter action in Paraclete's Happy Easter, Risen King!: An Early Learning Board Book of Colors (out now, ages 3 and up) by Laura Sassi, illustrated by Gabi Murphy. The rhyming text follows friends and animals who go to the tomb to look for Jesus and rejoice when they hear the good news from an angel.
Passover stories of freedom, compassion, and courage
The evening of April 1 is the first seder meal where Jews retell the story of Passover. It's the Exodus story of how, at God's hand, the Israelites were freed from bondage in Egypt and it inspires believers to offer compassion and promote freedom for others. The Haggadah, the guidebook to the seder's symbolic foods, prayers, blessings, and songs, includes a moment when celebrants open the door to welcome anyone in need.
In All Who are Hungry, Come and Eat! (HarperCollins, out now, ages 3 and up) written by Leslie Kimmelman and illustrated by Alyssa Russell, a young boy helping his family prepare for the seder finds that their house keeps filling up with guests joining in on the festivities.
Another HarperCollins title is centered on the game adults play to keep children engaged in the long seder meal, in which one adult hides the "afikomen"—a piece broken off from the matzoh that is a key part of the Passover story. In The Mysterious Missing Matzoh (out now, ages 4-8), written by Alan Katz and illustrated by Adam Auerbach, children scramble throughout the house hunting for it because the seder cannot be completed until the afikomen is found.
For the youngest ones at the Passover table, Green Bean Books' board book My Passover Seder (out Feb. 28, ages 4 and younger) covers the entire event. Author Claire Freeland and illustrator Aviel Basil include all the key elements of a seder—the special foods, storytelling, prayers, and songs.
Older children are author Monique Polak's target audience for her comprehensive guide to the holiday in Passover: Festival of Freedom (Orca Origins, Feb. 16, grades 4-7). She focuses on two of the key messages of the holiday—the gift of freedom and the call to be courageous in caring for one another.
Marking Ramadan's fasting days and feasting finale
The Islamic holiday—observed with a month of days of fasting from sunrise to sunset, prayers, and giving charity—begins this year on Feb. 17 and ends with Eid al-Fitr, a celebratory feast with family, friends, and community that follows the last fast day.
For young Muslims, Ramadan's long days can be both challenging and inspiring. Author and comics artist Wahab Algarmi's debut graphic novel, Almost Sunset (Harper Alley, Feb., ages 8-12), follows a young Muslim American boy finding ways to balance his usual secular life of school, homework, soccer, and gaming with the traditions of faith and family, according to the publisher.
The Little Golden Book Ramadan: A Holy Month by Malik Amin and illustrated by Debby Rahmalia (Feb., ages 2-5) explains the tradition of fasting, the authority of the Qur'an, and how a modern family observes the fast days.
Other books zero in on the Eid, the happy fulfillment of faithful observance. Even bad weather on this special day doesn't dampen the joy of a family in Ramadan Rain (Random House Studio, Mar., ages 4-8) by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, illustrated by Aliaa Betawi. And in Rabia's Eid (Random House Books for Young Readers; Feb., ages 4-6) by Rukhsana Khan, illustrated by Debby Rahmalia, a young girl, who has observed the fast for the first time, delights in dressing up for Eid and making a charitable donation at the mosque.
