Read Between the Lines

BOOK INSPIRATION Spring & Easter

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!

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.

Whether you are looking to fill an Easter basket or find something for yourself, the choices are endless. Books about the Easter Bunny and spring, religious or rhyming, craft or coloring books make excellent reads for toddlers and young children. 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!

Just as there is no shortage of candy for the Easter Bunny to choose from, there are so many books to help you and your family enjoy spring and the hope of new beginnings it brings each year. But, if you need some inspiration or ideas to help you get started, here are some of my favorites 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.

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