Michael Hague's Family Easter Treasury

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

The miracle of Easter remains one of the most difficult religious observances to explain to children. But Hague (The Teddy Bears' Picnic) admirably takes on the task with this well-rounded collection of Biblical passages, stories and poems focusing on the sacred as well as secular aspects of the spring holiday. Hague's approach is four-pronged, beginning with a section entitled "A Time of Faith," followed by "A Time of Rebirth," "A Time of Celebration" and "A Time of Love." Each section opens with a passage from the Gospels of Mark, Luke, John and Matthew as they appear in the King James Bible. Though there is often little distinction between the sections' themes, the first two focus primarily on rebirth after death, employing Bible stories of Jesus' Resurrection as well as texts which highlight the new life of the spring following the dead time of winter. Among the highlights are "The Selfish Giant" by Oscar Wilde, "The Waking Year" by Emily Dickinson and "Spring" by William Blake. In the thorough and fascinating "In the Easter Basket," (part of "A Time of Celebration"), Elizabeth Hough Sechrist explains variations on the traditions of dyed Easter eggs, Easter baskets and the Easter Bunny from around the world. And in "A Time of Love," Hague again pays homage to the wonders of spring. His pastel-and-watercolor artwork spans the ages, from Biblical to modern times, using images holy, fantastic and ordinary. From sweeping spreads to borders and small spots, Hague gives each text entry a style and flavor all its own, yet his consistent palette unifies the volume as a whole. A compendium families will revisit year after year. All ages. (Mar.)

Children's Literature

Poems by William Blake and Emily Dickinson, a story by Oscar Wilde, and pertinent Gospel readings combine felicitously in Family Easter Treasury. Michael Hague coupled some of his favorite readings with his own richly detailed paintings to create a fun and informative holiday commemoration. 1999, Holt. Ages All. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum

School Library Journal

K Up-Collecting a fine variety of Easter stories and poems is more difficult than finding quality material for a Family Christmas Treasury (Holt, 1995), yet Hague has done an even better job with this book. Some selections, such as Oscar Wilde's "The Selfish Giant" and William Blake's "The Lamb," are old favorites, but many of the others are less familiar, and all are very well chosen for a sweet, traditional, uplifting celebration of the various aspects of the Easter season. Each of the four sections-"A Time of Faith," "A Time of Rebirth," "A Time of Celebration," and "A Time of Love"-is introduced by the slightly differing Easter portions of the Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the King James Version of the Bible. Stories of bunnies mingle with spiritual and cautionary tales. Padraic Colum, Raymond Alden, and Alice Sligh Turnbull, and poets Emily Dickinson, Gerard Manley Hopkins, and Christina Rossetti are among the authors included. With his usual meticulous elegance of artistic style, Hague decorates and illustrates the large, handsome book with richly colored mixed-media pictures in all shapes and sizes and a variety of moods, among them fanciful, realistic, and dramatic.-Patricia Pearl Dole, formerly at First Presbyterian School, Martinsville, VA