LIFESTYLE
Read Between the Lines
Spring & Easter BOOK INSPIRATION FROM CHILDREN’S EASTER BASKETS TO ADULT SPRING READS BY EMILY EVANS
I have been filling my kids’ Easter baskets for twenty-six years. Wow, that makes me feel ancient in some ways! But I still love the fun of filling those baskets each year. I have had at least one daughter in college for the last eight years, so I always send their baskets full of treats ahead of time. When they were little, I always filled baskets with sidewalk chalk, bubbles, new sunglasses, flip flops, markers and crayons, some candy and always new books!
They entertain, educate and instill a love for reading. Good choices for older children can include introducing them to a young adult series, puzzle books, and even the occasional Mad Libs, which my kids always loved! Easter and spring also provide many options for books for the adults in your lives (and yourself, of course!). Subjects such as gardening, baseball, golf, nature and cooking. Some books I recommend in these genres are the following: A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson, Summer of ‘49 by David Halberstam, and The Defined Dish by Alex Snodgrass - which has become my new favorite cookbook. Authors such as Bill Bryson, Pat Conroy, David Halberstam, James Patterson and Margaret Renkl are a few of my favorites who have large collections to choose from with numerous themes and subjects, so hopefully, reading one leads to many more!
As my children grew, baskets evolved to include scratch-off lottery tickets, make-up, fun socks, a new bathing suit for spring break, sports gear, more candy and chocolate, but I always included at least one book! I loved the years of new board and picture books but watching their reading levels advance and new interests develop meant books on puppies, horses, sports heroes, biographies and series like Magic Tree House, Diary of A Wimpy Kid and The Rainbow Fairies. Just as there is no shortage of candy for the Easter Bunny to Whether you are looking to fill an choose from, there are so many Easter basket or find something books to help you and your family for yourself, the choices are enjoy spring and the hope of new endless. Books about the Easter beginnings it brings each year. Bunny and spring, religious But, if you need some inspiration or rhyming, craft or coloring or ideas to help you get started, books make excellent reads for here are some of my favorites toddlers and young children. for all ages. EMILY EVANS
@LETSREADTHERAINBOW
Emily Evans lives in Franklin with her husband and their three children. She teaches at The Little School and, in addition to reading, she loves walking, working out, monogramming, baking and spending time with her family. Follow Emily at @ letsreadtherainbow on Instagram as she reads and recommends books.
90 | APRIL 2022
Board Books I LOVE YOU, HONEY BUNNY
by Sandra Magsamen
THE ITSY BITSY BUNNY by Jeffrey Burton LLAMA LLAMA EASTER EGG by Anna Dewdney DUCK & GOOSE, HERE COMES THE EASTER BUNNY by Tad Hills FIVE LITTLE BUNNIES by Dan Yaccarino
Picture Books HOW TO CATCH THE EASTER BUNNY
by Adam Wallace and Andy Elkerton
DUCK! RABBIT! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal PETE THE CAT BIG EASTER ADVENTURE
by James Dean
THANK YOU GOD, GOOD NIGHT
by Marianne Richmond
THE BEST EASTER EGG HUNT EVER
by Katy Hudson
Early Readers & Young Adult THE GIVING TREE by Shel Silverstein TRY NOT TO LAUGH CHALLENGE, EASTER JOKE BOOK FOR KIDS THE RABBIT ATE MY HOMEWORK
by Rachel Elizabeth Cole
EMMA THE EASTER FAIRY, RAINBOW MAGIC by Daisy Meadows CAPTAIN AWESOME AND T HE EASTER EGG BANDIT by Stan Kirby
Adults THE DEFINED DISH by Alex Snodgrass BOMB SHELTER by Mary Laura Philpott NO BAD DAYS by JT Jester FINDING FRANKLIN by Katie Shands EASTER STORIES, CLASSIC TALES FOR THE HOLY SEASON
