The Easter Story as Retold by Russell Punter |
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The Easter Story as Retold by Russell Punter
The Easter story is one that I have read since early childhood. I can still picture the little Sunday School room where I first learned who Jesus is. I attend a large baptist church now, but my first memories of what we called Sunday School are from that little room in that little Methodist chapel that meant so much to my daddy's family. My grandmother was the pianist there and some of my daddy's family sang in the choir. It wasn't uncommon for me to step into the isle during church and prance my way up to the choir area so that I could sit near my grandmother as she played the piano.
Memories are precious, but back to the Easter story. Many of us have been reading the story since childhood but it really isn't always the easiest story to tell to children. As I sit here on this Good Friday, I'm reflecting back on the reality of what happened to Jesus. It's a graphic story and one that is hard to explain to children in a way that they will understand and respect it without scaring them or leaving them with pictures in their minds that are too vivid and horrible for them to process at such a young age. The Easter Story as retold by Russell Punter is a wonderful book that will help children understand the meaning of Jesus' betrayal, death, and resurrection in a child friendly story that they can read over and over again all year long. Later on, parents or other caregivers can tell them more when they are old enough to understand all the details.
The Easter Story as Retold by Russell Punter |
The Easter Story is illustrated by John Joven. The cover depicts the day Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Jesus arrives on a donkey while the people of Jerusalem cheer him on while waving palm branches.
Jesus' Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem |
Jesus shares The Last Supper with His disciples. |
The story tells children about what we have come to know as "The Last Supper." Punter tells them that Jesus shared a meal with His friends and that Jesus asked them to remember Him.
The Soldiers take Jesus away. / Jesus caries His cross. |
The stone is rolled away. |
Now we get to the good part. Children will read that Jesus' body was sealed into a tomb with a big stone. Then comes Sunday! The stone has been rolled away and Jesus' body is gone.
Jesus lives forever! |
The last page of the book tells children that Jesus is alive and He appeared to His friends several times before He rose up to Heaven. The story tells children that Jesus will live forever. I wish the story went on for one more page to tell children that this means they can live forever in Heaven with Jesus too. This would lay a foundation for understanding salvation.
Although I feel like this book left out a few meaningful parts of the story, I do think it is a good Easter book that children will love. Parents can fill in more details as the child grows in understanding and maturity.
Of course, the actual Bible is the best source for children's Bible stories. My first Bible was a full King James version of the Bible spanning from Genesis to Revelation. I was so young when my parents gave it to me but I loved it. I understood it because my parents took me to church when I was only days old. I'm 50 years old now and I've rarely missed church (until now under shelter-in-place orders). My parents did more than just take me to church. They spent a lot of time reading the Bible with me. We talked about the stories. My parents and grandparents always discussed the Bible with me at age appropriate levels so that I grew into the deeper stories as I grew older. I don't recall ever owning a shortened children's version of the Bible but I did have a Bible story book. Now, there are so many options for young children. It's OK if you want to start your younger children off with a children's version of the Bible, but they need to grow into a full version as soon as they can.
Of course, stand alone Bible stories like this Easter Story are perfect for daytime story times, bed times, or to carry along for car rides, etc. Any time you can help your child soak in stories from the Bible and absorb their meanings is important for building a foundation for application of Biblical principals to their own lives.
I think your children will enjoy this story for many years to come. Usborne books are well made. As long as they aren't abused, they should last a very long time. Maybe your child can someday pass the book along to his or her child.
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