“God wrote “I love you”—He wrote it in the sky, and on the earth, and under the sea. He wrote his message everywhere! Because God created everything in the world to reflect Him like a mirror—to show us what He is like, to help us to know Him, to make our hearts sing.”— Sally Lloyd-Jones, from The Jesus Storybook Bible
This month we celebrate Easter and new life seems to be all around. There is nothing more beautiful than seeing trees blossom and birds build nests. What is dormant is now vibrant and full of life! It’s such a lovely time for us all to look around at nature since it is neither too hot nor too cold to be outside. Children love this time of year and they are so observant, aren’t they?! It is for this reason I’ve put together this list of books in which we can praise our Lord who has given us such beautiful gifts in the world around us, encourage our children to look carefully at the intricacies of what He has made, learn about people who have aided in His creative powers, and become inspired by what could happen when we make the tiniest effort to take care of His gifts for us. Loving our planet and all that it holds means nothing if we forget who gave it to us.
I’ve divided the list into sub-sections to help break it up a bit. Click on the picture of the book for our affiliate link!
In Praise of Nature and God’s Wonderful Creations
God Gave Us Easter is a great story for sharing the reason for Easter in simple terms. It shows ‘new life’ found where things are seemingly dead and it reiterates the story of Jesus and the promise that he would come to take care of our sins. (Ages 3-7)
Humphrey’s First Palm Sunday is a sequel to Humphrey’s story as a young camel when he first met Jesus when he was just a baby. Now he is much older and wiser and is present during Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. The pictures are beautiful and the camel’s goofy nature brings fun to the story. This story stays true to the story of Palm Sunday and is great for kids. (Ages 4-8)
The Donkey That No One Could Ride is a simple story about a young, scared donkey. He meets a man who asks him to carry him on an important ride. The little donkey does not feel he is worthy, but the man gives him courage. He agrees to the job and as he carries the man through Jerusalem and people call him a prophet, the donkey feels special. (Ages 3-7) For a full review of this book and other Anthony DeStefano books, read our blog post 
The Parable of the Lily tells the story of a farmer’s young daughter who receives a bulb as a gift. She is disappointed and the gift is forgotten and eventually thrown into the garden. She is surprised when she wakes up on Easter morning to find a Lily blooming in its place. Part of a series of parables for little children, this story shares the message of forgiveness and new life. (Ages 3-8)
The First Easter Bunny is simple story that shares the story of Jesus’s death and resurrection told through the eyes of a rabbit. Perfect for an Easter gift! (Ages 4-8)
Grade Level: 
Reading Level: 3.7; grade 7 [There are two very different suggestions for the reading level.]
Reading Level: 5.2 [according to Scholastic which reflects the grade level at which a student reading on grade could read the book independently]
Reading Level: 2.7 [according to Scholastic – reflects the grade level at which a student reading on grade could read the book independently]
Reading Level: Grades 1-3