EASTER BASKET JOY: THREE Book Giveaway

The daffodils are blooming. The bunnies are hopping. Spring is here! So now, in celebration of a new season and new birth and a new book, I’m in the mood for a Easter-y giveaway with not one, not two, but THREE of my books that are perfect for your Easter basket.

Here’s what I’m offering: One winner will receive a three-book bundle that includes one SIGNED copy each of the following: MY TENDER HEART BIBLE (Paraclete Press) , LITTLE EWE (Beaming Books) and BUNNY FINDS EASTER (Zonderkidz).

About the Books:

MY TENDER HEART BIBLE:

With sweet, rhyming text and whimsical illustrations, this sturdy board book features beloved and classic Bible stories for beginner readers. Bestselling author Laura Sassi pairs simple yet creative paraphrasing of Old and New Testament re-tellings with a “Heart Moment” for families to read aloud and pray. Scripture references are noted with each story that tell of God’s redemption plan for even more exploration together!

LITTLE EWE: THE STORY OF ONE LOST SHEEP:

In Little Ewe: The Story of One Lost Sheep, award-winning author Laura Sassi and illustrator Tommy Doyle tell an endearing tale of a distracted sheep and her persistent shepherd, inspired by the Parable of the Lost Sheep in Luke 15.

Little Ewe would rather jump on logs and investigate spider webs than follow the shepherd when he calls. But what happens when she gets lost? How will she find her way home? Told in whimsical rhyme, this humorous counting book for our littlest ones is a delightful reminder that, like a loving parent, our Shepherd will find us and care for us, even when we wander from the path.

BUNNY FINDS EASTER:

As Bunny bounces through her day she encounters various items that are connected to Easter including colorful Easter eggs, hot cross buns, an Easter bonnet, lilies and an Easter Egg Hunt. All these are fun, but it’s not until she arrives at church and all rise to sing the good news of Easter that Bunny realizes what it’s really about — Jesus!

NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY:

Entering is easy. Just follow my blog and leave a comment. If you want an extra entry, share about the giveaway on your socials and let me know. One winner will receive a three-book bundle that includes one SIGNED copy each of the following: MY TENDER HEART BIBLE (Paraclete Press) , LITTLE EWE (Beaming Books) and BUNNY FINDS EASTER (Zonderkidz). (NOTE: Must be U.S. resident and at least 18 years old to enter.) GIVEAWAY ends Monday, March 27th 11:59 pm. Winner will be announced the next day.

FIVE FUN FACTS about AN EASTER BUNNY’S TALE with Christian Picture Book Author Valerie Fentress

Children’s author Valerie Fentress and I have something special in common: We both have faith-based Easter Bunny books that released last spring! And today, in celebration of books that point kids to Jesus at Easter, I am delighted to have Valerie as my guest sharing FIVE FUN FACTS about her book An Easter Bunny’s Tale.

Here’s the official description:  

Follow a little rabbit, as he discovers a familiar voice in a garden one night. The man is God in the flesh, of this he is sure, and he cannot help but follow him. The little rabbit is confused as He is captured and put on trial. Then as he hides and waits he discovers the true source of transformation. Now he can’t wait to tell you and his friends about the good news he has found.  Will you listen to his tale?

Doesn’t that sound like a creative way to introduce little ones to the Easter story? And now, learn more about Valerie’s book as she shares five fun facts about its creation. Take it away, Valerie!

Five Fun Facts about An Easter Bunny’s Tale with Valerie Fentress

Fact #1: I grew up with the Easter Bunny visiting my home, but when it came time to start making traditions in our young family I struggled with the idea of the Easter Bunny. As I wrestled with how to celebrate Easter with my family and the character of the Easter Bunny, I started to wonder how the bunny we see everywhere could communicate the truth of Easter. This was almost twelve years ago, and the words of this story didn’t come to me till six years ago. This has been a heart project that has grown and stretched my faith in so many ways.

Fact #2: Originally, I wrote and illustrated this for an Easter gift for my nieces and nephews during the COVID shutdown. The book went through a lot of revisions from 2020 to 2022, as God moved my heart to obey his calling to tell stories that speak his truth.

Fact #3: I went through three different illustrators before I found one. My Illustrator, Bebqui, is from Indonesia, and not of a Christian background. Which led to some sweet and faith-stretching conversations for me.

Fact #4: My Illustrator and I had to rework many of the illustrations two months before the book went to print, because of some Beta reader responses. It was so stressful, but I felt that I was honoring God in the changes I made to ensure the Gospel wouldn’t be hindered by anyone reading the book.

Fact #5: My favorite line in the whole book is when Jesus picks up the dirty bunny after Jesus’ resurrection. It says, “His nail-torn hands scooped me up. He didn’t fear the mud and the muck.”  It is the sweetest truth that even while we were sinners, Christ died for us. He didn’t wait for us to ‘fix’ ourselves or get ‘cleaned up’.  (Here is a portion of that illustration.)

Thank you, Valerie, for giving us an inside peek into the heart behind your story. I hope this Easter Bunny finds his way into many, many Easter baskets.

BIO:  Valerie Fentress writes children’s books, hoping to communicate biblical truths through simple stories. She is the author of Beneath the Hood: a retelling woven with biblical truth, and the Host of Again and Again Author interviews on Instagram and YouTube. Valerie lives with her husband and three boys, who challenge her daily to find joy between imagination and chaos. You can find out more about her and her thoughts at www.valeriefentress.com

EASTER BOOK PARADE: Eight Books to Teach Little Ones about the Real Meaning of Easter

I love a good old-fashioned Easter Parade with colorful bonnets and fancy spring outfits, all bursting with JOY. Easter, after all, is the most significant holiday in the Christian calendar. It’s when we celebrate the good news of Christ’s resurrection.

But amidst the joy of jelly beans and chocolate bunnies and colorful Easter outfits, it’s also good to remind our kids about the deeper significance of Easter. With that in mind, I thought it would be fun to have an Easter BOOK Parade on my blog today featuring eight Easter-themed kids’ books that your little bunnies, I mean children,  might enjoy: 

The Easter Story by Patricia Pingry, illustrated by Mary Ann Utt

Intended for toddlers and preschoolers, with one or two concrete sentences per spread, this is a sweet introduction to the life of Jesus culminating with His glorious resurrection Easter morning.

Say and Pray Bible Easter Sticker and Activity Book by Diane Stortz, illustrated by Sarah Ward

If my kids were still little this would definitely be a part of their Easter baskets.  Chock full of over 40 Easter-related activities and puzzles plus 100 stickers, it will entertain and teach little ones about Easter in a most colorful and engaging way. Perfect for a long car ride, too.  

Bunny Finds Easter by Laura Sassi, illustrated by Ela Jarzabek 

As Bunny bounces through her day in this board book for littlest ones, she encounters various items that are connected to Easter including colorful Easter eggs, hot cross buns, an Easter bonnet, lilies and an Easter Egg Hunt. All these are fun, but it’s not until she arrives at church and all rise to sing the good news of Easter that Bunny realizes what it’s really about — Jesus!

’Twas the Morning of Easter by Glenys Nellist, illustrated by Elena Selivanova

Ideal for ages 4 – 8, this beautiful retelling of the Easter story is told to the cadence of “Twas the Night Before Christmas”.  The illustrations have a glowing quality that adds to the richness of the story. We will be reading this Easter in my Sunday school class this year.

Benjamin’s Box by Melody Carlson, illustrated by Jack Stockman. 

Ideal for ages 6 – 10, Benjamin’s box recounts the story from the fictional perspective of a young boy named Benjamin.  Starting with Palm Sunday, Benjamin collects items that tell the story of Jesus’ journey to the cross, culminating in Jesus resurrection Easter Sunday.  The story can be paired with the ever-popular Resurrection Eggs.

That Grand Easter Day by Jill Roman Lord, illustrated by Alessia Trunfio

Told in cumulative story-style to the cadence of  “This is the House that Jack Built”, this picture book introduces littlest ones to the Easter story beginning with the stone in front of the tomb and culminating in Jesus resurrection. It’s fun, memorable and perfect for preschoolers. 

Easter is Coming by Tama Fortner, illustrated by Wazza Pink

Author Tama Fortner does an exceptional job in this deceptively simple picture book of contextualizing Christ’s death and resurrection in the bigger scope of God’s grand plan for redemption. Starting with Adam and Eve, each spread poetically points to the fulfillment of God’s plan to save us through Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection.

The Legend of the Easter Robin by Dandi Daley Mackall, illustrated by Richard Cowdrey

This sweet tale uses robins, nests, and eggs to remind readers that Easter is when we celebrate the glorious miracle of Jesus’ resurrection – through which we too receive new life in Christ. I have used this book in past years as part of my Easter lessons for Sunday school.

These books are available wherever books are sold.  You can also recommend or request them through your local library (which is a wonderful way to help books get into the hands of readers). 

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The MY TENDER HEART BIBLE Book Tour Continues with Three Interviews (including one on Catholic Faith Network!)

One of the joys of having a new book out is getting to chat about it in meaningful and fun ways. This week I have three special interviews to share with you. First up, on February 22nd at approximately 9:45 am, I had my first ever LIVE tv interview. The lovely Colleen from Catholic Faith Network interviewed me as a part of their morning show. Here’s the segment. It’s just under six minutes and I hope you are keen to take a peek. =)

Next, that very same day, I had an early afternoon chat with author and interview host Valerie Fentress over on her Instagram page. Valerie does monthly interviews with Christian authors and asks really fun questions. (And in the super fun department, I will be hosting her on my blog later this month with Five Fun Facts about her Easter book, so stay tuned for that.)

Most recently, yesterday, I had a nice chat with Kathy O’Neill over at her blog. Here’s the link for that: https://kathythepicturelady.wordpress.com/2023/03/10/laura-sassi-tells-us-about-her-newest-childrens-book-my-tender-heart-bible/ She also asks great questions and her dog, Molly, often chimes in as well. While you are there, you might also enjoy checking out her treasure trove of great ideas for connecting art to faith with kids.

BOOK SALE! Finally, now through Easter, my publisher is offering a special price for both MY TENDER HEART BIBLE and HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTMAS CHILD. When you order through them, use the code SASSI!  to receive 20% off either title on the Paraclete Press website. 

Have a wonderful weekend!

OBSERVING LENT with MY TENDER HEART BIBLE: A Calendar of Readings

Are you looking for a way to observe Lent with your littles ones and introduce them to God’s grand plan for redemption? Nothing too pressured and very flexible — but wouldn’t it be neat to set aside 12 “Bible Heart Moments” with them between now and Easter to read 12 stories that point to God’s redemptive love and culminate with the glorious resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ on Easter morning?

Here’s a map for doing just that with MY TENDER HEART BIBLE.  Sweet blessings to you all!And it starts next Wednesday so you have time to order your copy. NOTE: I’m also sharing this over at Big Books, Little Ears as part of a bigger guest post with tips for reading Bible story books with multiple ages. Here’s the link. Thank you, Kristin, for having me as your guest.

March 1, 2023 Creation Joy Genesis 1:1 – 2:3

March 5, 2023 God’s Garden Genesis 3:1-24

March 8, 2023 Star Promise Genesis 15:1-6

March 12, 2023 Great Escape Exodus 14:10-31

March 15, 2023 Tasty Blessings Exodus 16:11-18

March 19, 2023 Brave Queen Esther 14:13-17

March 22, 2023 Welcome, Jesus Luke 2:8-19

March 26, 2023 Dove Love Matthew 3:13-17

March 29, 2023 Precious Children Mark 10:13-16

April 2, 2023 Worry Cure Matthew 6:25-33

April 5, 2023 Donkey Parade Luke 19:35-38

April 9, 2023 Easter Joy Matthew 28:1-10

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BUNNY FINDS EASTER: Five IDEAS to Point Little Ones to JESUS at Easter

Last week Bunny (the sweet protagonist from Bunny Finds Easter) and I were invited to our first 2023 Easter Egg Hunt! On Palm Sunday, I’ll be reading Bunny’s story at this event that typically attracts several hundred people. Do you know what that means? It means it’s time to take out my Bunny-inspired Easter bonnet! It also means it’s time to share some ideas for how we as parents, teachers and the church can help our littlest ones understand what Easter is all about.

In Bunny Finds Easter (Zonderkidz, 2022), Bunny is on a quest to find out if Easter is all about chocolate eggs and jelly beans or if it might just be about a little bit more? As the story unfolds, Bunny encounters many of the fun traditions surrounding Easter but it’s not until she arrives and church and they sing an Easter song that she realizes JESUS is the reason we celebrate Easter. Indeed, amidst all the fun of jelly beans and Easter bunnies, it can be hard for little ones to understand that Easter is about Jesus. With that in mind, here are…

Five Fun Ideas to Point Little Ones to JESUS at Easter

Read some faith-filled Easter board books (and picture books too!) With simple text and engaging illustrations an Easter-themed board book that touches on the real meaning of Easter is a cozy, fun way to spark conversation with little ones that Easter is about Jesus and His great love for us – a love shown through the atoning grace of the cross, the joy of His resurrection, and the gift of new life we have in Him.  

Do some Easter baking. Little ones love baking and eating sweet treats. That’s why Bunny nibbles hot cross buns in Bunny Finds Easter.  According to tradition, hot cross buns were first baked by monks in the 12th century with a cross marked in the dough to commemorate Good Friday. They are relatively easy to make and a delicious reminder of Jesus and the cross. Resurrection rolls are another fun and meaningful baking option that can be used to point little ones to Jesus at Easter. You can find many recipes online for baking and enjoying either or both of these baked items with your little one.

Use jelly beans to point to Jesus.  As you and your little ones nibble Easter jelly beans, let them serve as a sweet reminder of Jesus’s love for them and the world. Before sampling each color, think about how it might remind us of Jesus.  For example, yellow can remind us that Jesus is the light of the world. Green can remind us of the new life we have in Him.  Purple, the color of royalty, can remind us that He is our loving King. Red can remind us that he died and rose again for us. And so on.

Include Jesus in the Easter basket.  Fill your children’s Easter baskets with colorful, engaging items that remind them of Jesus. Consider having a faith-based Easter board book serve as the centerpiece. Round it out with small items such as candies, stickers, and other little toys etc. that are in some way connected to Jesus and Easter.  Examples: a little lamb (we are His sheep), a glow-in-the-dark cross, chocolate hearts (because Jesus loves us), little chicks and bunnies (to represent new life in Christ) etc.

 

Sing some “Jesus loves you!” songs. Songs learned, even as young as toddler and preschool age, can have a lasting faith impact on the human soul. Just think of the songs you remember from your childhood and beyond.  Do any of them speak of Jesus? If so, they can be a special way to introduce Jesus to your little ones at Easter and throughout the year. Some Easter-y favorites that we love at our house (that are good for little ones too) include: He Lives, Jesus Loves Me, Amazing Grace and more.

OTHER IDEAS for using Bunny Finds Easter specifically:

Have a Bunny Finds Easter Book Walk. This fun intergenerational activity has the feel of an Easter Egg Hunt – and can even include jelly beans and other goodies – but the “hunt” is walking along a trail (outside or inside) to discover progressive spreads of the story BUNNY FINDS EASTER mounted on boards culminating in a craft or activity table at the end of the walk. Get all the details plus the FREE downloadable instruction sheet here.

Get FREE downloadable BUNNY FINDS EASTER activity kit designed especially for littlest ones. The six-page kit includes:

• Decorate the Easter Egg
• Help Bunny Find Her Way to Church on Easter Morning
• How Many Eggs Can You Find?
• Draw More Easter Lilies for Bunny
• Send an Easter Card to Someone You Love ( foldable printable card)

Interested in ordering Bunny Finds Easter? It’s available wherever books are sold. Happy Monday, all!

Note: If you enjoyed this post, please consider subscribing to my blog using the subscribe button in the footer or sidebar. I post once or twice weekly with book news, inspirational reflections, tips, interviews and more.

Time for the BUNNY FINDS EASTER Bunny Hop Round up!

Happy Friday, friends! Bunny and I have five fun things to share with you this week. First, if you live in the Bedminster, NJ area, I invite you to join me at Pluckemin Presbyterian’s annual Eggstravaganza taking place this Sunday, April 10th from 11:15 – 1 pm. Here are the details. No registration required. There will be copies of BUNNY FINDS EASTER on hand for purchase. Cash or check only.

Next, here are two interviews you might enjoy. The first is over at Read,Discuss, DO! where I chat with Mindy Baker about the inspiration behind the book, the board book format, book-themed activities and more. The second is a feature article that appeared this week in my town’s TapInto news outlet. This the one to read to get the inside scoop on what the journey to publication in the picture book world has been like (at least for me).

Fourth, I am the guest author today over at StoryJumpers, a bi-weekly Christian podcast that features a children’s book read by the author and an interview with the author. The podcast airs today, April 8th, 2022 over at The Bridge Podcast Network, part of The Bridge, a community supported, non-commercial Christian radio station serving Delaware, South Jersey, parts of Maryland and beyond. Here’s the link to the BUNNY FINDS EASTER episode.

Finally, just in case you missed it, I thought you’d like to see the Easter bonnet I created, with the help of my daughter, to wear to all my visits. It’s getting a lot of smiles because I look so silly, er I mean, beautiful wearing it! It’s just like Bunny’s from the book. What do you think? (This is from one of my zoom visits this Easter season.)

Time for the Bunny Finds Easter BOOK SCAVENGER HUNT (and a GIVEAWAY)!

Special Note: This post was created by my ADORABLE niece. She’s just 13 but she sure knows how to create an incredible book scavenger hunt. Enjoy her post. Take it away, Miss E!

Hello, parents! If your kids (and maybe even you!) are really enjoying Laura Sassi’s new book Bunny Finds Easter, you may want to try this BOOK SCAVENGER HUNT. To start, you can read the book to refresh your child’s memory. Then, on each spread, (after reading the words) this list will give you prompts to ask your kids so that they can enjoy the wonderful illustrations even more! 

(Remember, if your kid is getting antsy, you don’t have to use all the prompts. You can also make your own–they are open to interpretation. Each illustration can spark many conversations!)

Spread #1 (Bunny waking up and choosing clothes)

• Do you see the butterfly? (For older kids: There are six butterflies in this book. Can you find them all?) What color is Bunny’s shirt? How many outfits do you see in Bunny’s wardrobe?

Spread #2 (Scene in the kitchen)

• Count the hot cross buns. Can you find 3 plates? Can you find 2 spoons? What do you think is cooking in the pot on the stove?

Spread #3 (Bunny painting eggs)

• Can you name and count the colors on Bunny’s palate? Can you count the eggs Bunny painted? (You can point out to your child that the egg Bunny is painting on the left page matches the curtains! These illustrations have many thoughtful details!)

Spread #4 (Bunny picking flowers)

• Count the bees. (For older kids: Count the flowers Bunny has picked.) Can you spot the bird’s nest?

Spread #5 (Bunny in the town)

• How many lily pads can you find? How many chicks? Can you spot three tadpoles? Can you find the church in the distance?

Spread #6 (Easter egg hunt)

• (For older kids: Try to find all 30 eggs.) How many animals do you see? Can you find the church? For an extra challenge, see which animals have baskets.

Spread #7 (In the church)

• Count the animals in the room. Which ones are wearing hats? Do you see Bunny? Can you see the cross? What do you think the cross means? 

Spread #8 (Bunny and her family)

• Have your child point to Bunny’s mommy and then her daddy. 

Spread #9 (Happy Easter)

• Count Bunny and her friends on the Happy Easter page. Can you find the ladybug? Can you find an animal friend with a heart on his shirt? Which animals have hats? (The list goes on and on.) Then, tell your child more about what Easter is all about!

Wow, Miss E, that was AMAZING! Readers, don’t you agree? And now in celebration of this post (and the fact that Easter is just around the corner), I’m offering a FREE copy of BUNNY FINDS EASTER to one lucky reader. Details below.

BUNNY FINDS EASTER GIVEAWAY!!! If you’d like a chance to win a copy of my newest book BUNNY FINDS EASTER (Zonderkidz, 2022) follow this blog and comment below with your favorite tip from Miss E’s book scavenger hunt. (NOTE: Must be a U.S. resident and at least 18 years old to enter.) Thank you, Zonderkidz, for providing the winning book. This giveaway ends Tuesday, April 5th at 11:59 pm EST. The winner will be announced the next day. 

BUNNY FINDS EASTER Friday Roundup

Happy Friday, friends! Bunny and I have four fun things to share with you this week. First, if you live in the metropolitan NY/NJ area, I invite you to stop in at Perwinkles Gift Shop in Cranford, NJ, tomorrow March 26th from 1 – 3. Owner, Elaine, will have a broad selection of my books on hand, including BUNNY FINDS EASTER! Let’s help her sell them all. Details in image.

Second, be sure to check out Sally Matheny’s review of BUNNY FINDS EASTER. Her reviews are always so thoughtful. Here’s the link . While you are there, I hope you will enjoy exploring her many other reviews as well.

Third, I was honored to be featured in writer (and former English teacher) Joyce McCullough’s Spring 2022 Newsletter with an in-depth interview. Thank you, Joyce. Here’s the link.

Finally, earlier this week I had the pleasure of getting to chat with Christian children’s author, Christie Thomas about books and other fun things including, BUNNY FINDS EASTER. Here’s the link for that:

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A post shared by Christie Thomas | Christian Children's Resources (@littleshootsdeeproots)

BUNNY FINDS EASTER Bunny Hop: Zonderkidz Blog Edition (Five Fun Ways to Point Toddlers and Preschoolers to JESUS at Easter)

In my new board book, Bunny Finds Easter, Bunny is on a quest to find out if Easter is all about chocolate eggs and jelly beans or if it might just be about a little bit more. Indeed, amidst all the fun of jelly beans and easter bunnies, it can be hard for little ones to understand that Easter is about Jesus. With that in mind, I’m delighted to share the post which Zonderkidz invited me to write for their blog. The topic? Five fun ways to point toddlers and preschoolers to Jesus at Easter.

First, enjoy the book trailer which will give you a good sense of the book. Then, I hope you will grab a jelly bean and hop on over to my post on the Zonderkidz blog. Here’s the link: https://www.zonderkidz.com/5-fun-ways-to-point-toddlers-and-preschoolers-to-jesus-at-easter/ And, if you have little ones, be sure to pick up a copy of the book at your favorite retailer.