J Is for Jesus: An Easter Alphabet and Activity Book [Paperback]

Debbie Trafton O'Neal (Author), Jan Bryan-Hunt (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2006 | Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

The story of Holy Week and Easter is brought to life through this rhyming, alphabetical journey. Aimed at children ages 4–8 this book will delight the senses of children and adults alike. Four simple activities and craft ideas bring families together to see the story of Jesus's love through new eyes. A wonderful companion to the previously published A is for Angel (2005), written and illustrated by the same team.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Debbie Trafton O'Neal is the author of Augsburg's Before and After Christmas, and I Can Pray with Jesus: The Lord's Prayer for Children among others. She lives in Federal Way, Washington.

Jan Bryan-Hunt is a freelance illustrator who lives in Kansas City, MO, with her husband and her two children, Amy and Bryan. Along with collecting beads, vintage buttons, and old fabrics, Jan enjoys making crafts with her children.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: Augsburg Books (January 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806651237
• ISBN-13: 978-0806651231
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #91,499 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #32 in Books > Children's Books > Religions > Christianity > Jesus

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A perfectly, delightful teaching tool., March 29, 2007

By 

Tanya Dennis "www.TanyaDennisBooks.com" - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: J Is for Jesus: An Easter Alphabet and Activity Book (Paperback)

This is the best Easter book I have found to date! J is for Jesus: An Easter Alphabet and Activity Book is written by Debbie Trafton O'Neal and illustrated by Jan Bryan-Hunt. It clearly teaches children about the Holy Week and the reasons we celebrate Easter without being too complicated, too advanced, too secular or too boring. Readers follow Jesus from the triumphant entry (Palm Sunday) through the last supper, His crucifixion, resurrection and ascension.

Rather than forcing the story into an alphabetical order (as most alphabet books do), the author tells the story first, then highlights words within the sentence that feature the alphabetical sequence. For example, the pages for S and T read: "'Your sins are forgiven,' Jesus said. 'You are free!' Then he died on a cross that was carved from a tree." The words "sins" and "tree" are highlighted, but without distracting from the story.

Filled with bright colors, the illustrations are delightfully unique. They feature people of all ethinicities. In the back of the book, the author gives four crafts parents and kids can do together to create Easter memories.

What I Like: It is important to me to teach our children the honest reason we celebrate Easter without frightening them. Death is not a typical discussion with toddlers, but the truth of Jesus' death and resurrection is crucial doctrine. This book doesn't skimp on the key details. It presents the whole story in a wonderfully, positive way. I like being able to focus on the story with or without the alphabet. The introduction and projects in the back are fabulous. The illustrations are magnificent! I was a little nervous about it being a paperback, but the cover is sturdy, and the pages are glossy, making it easy to clean. As a whole, this book is a perfectly delightful teaching tool.

What I Dislike: While this book is extremely accurate for a children's book, one detail did catch my attention. On the pages for W and X the text reads: "The women ran quickly to find the eleven, explaining that Jesus had gone up to heaven." I understand this fits better with the rhyme and alphabetical sequence, however, Jesus did not immediately go up to heaven. Only after appearing to hundreds of people over a period of weeks did He ascend to heaven.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Tanya -- Christian Children's Book Review

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Easter book!, February 12, 2006

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: J Is for Jesus: An Easter Alphabet and Activity Book (Paperback)

Easter is a wonderful time! It's a celebration with jelly beans, bunnies, bright baskets filled with green artificial grass and those glorious dyed eggs that children will search for in all the nooks and crannies. But it is truly special because God loves us so much he gave us a special gift.

Debbie Trafton O'Neal has created an Easter book that will help children learn about Holy Week and Easter and learn the alphabet through verse. There are also activities for children and adults to make together: a place mat, table runner, window paintings, banner and diorama.

The illustrations are bold and colorful and just the thing to draw children into the fun of learning.

Armchair Interviews says: J is for Jesus: An Easter Alphabet and Activity Book is a perfect Easter gift for your special child.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars disappointed in the ending--, March 26, 2010

By 

Elizabeth Davenport - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: J Is for Jesus: An Easter Alphabet and Activity Book (Paperback)

I loved this book, the art, the rhyme, the thoughtful details...until the end.. the book makes it sound like the miracle of Easter is a rolled-away stone. ( while that is a symbol of Christ's resurrection, that is not the most important part...) and the books also states that Jesus' miracle was that He went straight to Heaven. It makes it sound like Jesus died and went to heaven and for some reason a stone was rolled away, instead of the true power of the resurrection. I know this is an alphabet book for children but I think it's important to get Christianity's most important story correctly told.