The Legend of the Easter Egg [Paperback]

Lori Walburg (Author), James Bernardin (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 24, 2011 | Age Range: 4 - 7 years

Featuring the beloved setting and characters from the best-selling Legend of the Candy Cane, this moving story about Thomas and Lucy takes us deeper into the mystery of Christianity. When his older sister Lucy falls sick, Thomas goes to stay with John and Mary Sonneman at their candy store. But all the candy he could desire does not cure Thomas's aching heart. Only when Mary Sonneman shares with him the story of Easter does he understand the hope he has -- and what he can do for his sister.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

One April morning Thomas and his sister Lucy are gathering eggs from the hens and discussing Easter. But Lucy falls ill with scarlet fever before she gets a chance to tell him about Easter eggs. Thomas is sent to the local candy shop merchants, John and Mary, while his sister is quarantined. One day, when Thomas is lonely and frightened about Lucy, Mary gives him a chocolate Easter egg and tells him the story of Jesus's resurrection.

"But why do we have Easter eggs?" Thomas asked.

Mary explained. "Just as a chick breaks out of an egg, so had Jesus broken free of the tomb of death. Easter eggs remind us that Jesus conquered death and gives us eternal life."

Written by the author/illustrator team of Lori Walburg and James Bernardin, and featuring the same setting and characters from their bestselling The Legend of the Candy Cane, this story reveals the significance of Easter, which lies far beyond the wholesale gobbling of chocolate eggs and jelly beans. (Ages 6 to 9) --Emilie Coulter --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

One April morning, a boy and his sister go outside to gather eggs. “Let’s pretend we’re hunting Easter eggs,” Lucy says. “What are Easter eggs?” Thomas wonders.

In The Legend of the Easter Egg, young Thomas learns the deeper meaning behind Easter eggs and the Easter story itself. When his older sister, Lucy, falls sick, Thomas goes to stay with John and Mary Sonneman at their candy store. But all the candy he could desire does not cure Thomas’s aching heart. Only when Mary Sonneman shares with him the story of Easter does he understand the hope he has—and what he can do about his sister’s illness.

Featuring the beloved setting and characters from the best-selling Legend of the Candy Cane, this moving story takes us deeper into the mystery of Christianity. Dramatic illustrations by James Bernardin underscore the chilling fear of separation and death—and the dazzling joy of reunion and new life.

From the darkness of Good Friday to the light and life of Easter, this beautiful story will remind Christians everywhere that because of Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection, we too will conquer death and receive the glorious gift of eternal life -- Publisher --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 4 - 7 years
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan; Reprint edition (January 24, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310722713
• ISBN-13: 978-0310722717
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 0.1 x 10.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #733,436 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lori Walburg attended Dordt College and graduated from Calvin College and the University of Iowa.  Lori is the author of the bestselling The Legend of the Candy Cane and The Legend of the Easter Egg.  She lives with her husband and two children in her hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Could have been a little better May 12, 2010

By Tartarbinks

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I got this book based on other reviews and the fact that I wanted an Easter book that focused on the true meaning, rather than the bunny. While its a cute, sweet book, I was disappointed in the story a little. Its about a boy who's sister falls ill and he goes to live with some family friends. Easter is coming and he wonders what the point of Easter Eggs are and he is told the story of the resurrection. He dyes eggs and prays and then goes home to his sister who is now well. It was a nice story, it just seemed like the author got bored and so ended it abruptly. Don't get me wrong--its a nice story but I just would have ended it with comparing the egg and Resurrection to new life and tied that in with his sister's new chance at life.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars An Easter Legend April 18, 2011

By Janette Fuller

Format:Paperback

"The Legend of the Easter Egg", by Lori Walburg, is a fiction story about the meaning and orgin of Easter Eggs. A legend is defined as "a story handed down through the years and connected with some real events, but probably not true in itself". This book was illustrated by James Bernardin and was published by Zondervan, a Christian publishing company.
The setting of the story appears to be a farm in the late 1800s. A young boy is sent away to stay with John and Mary Sonneman while his sister recovers from scarlet fever. The Sonnemans own a candy store so Thomas feels like he has died and gone to heaven. He helps John work in the store and on Good Friday he goes to church with the Sonnemans. Thomas listens to the story of Jesus's death. Mary Sonneman explains to Thomas that "just as a chick breaks out of an egg, so had Jesus broken free of the tomb of death. Easter eggs remind us that Jesus conquered death and gives us eternal life."
On Easter morning, Thomas fills a basket full of colored eggs and walks home to see his sister. Lucy is recovering and Thomas is anxious to tell her about his faith in Jesus, his hope for new life and the Easter eggs.
There is a page in the back of the book that explains the traditions and symbols of Lent and Easter.
I think this is a wonderful book to share with children. Children will hear the story of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and learn the meaning of new life through the symbolism of the Easter egg. Parents and teachers will want to share the entire Easter story with their children after reading this book. This is a great story to read at Easter or anytime of the year.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars beautiful illustrations August 17, 2007

By LibraryLady

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is one of several Easter-themed books our family owns, and it is one we return to again and again no matter what time of year. It contains many of the various elements of Lent/Holy Week, and weaves them into a lovely children's story. The illustrations are outstanding, particularly the one of the angel outside the empty tomb on Easter morning. Currently we have the board book version (which is of course abbreviated) and like it so much that we want to buy the full-length version. I'm confused as to why a previous reviewer gave it only 3 stars but had no criticism of it. It's a 5-star book in my opinion and highly recommended.