10 Diverse Picture Books to Read for Easter

For those who celebrate, Easter can be a time for renewal, growth, and celebration, which makes it the perfect opportunity to introduce young readers to diverse picture books that reflect a range of cultures, traditions, and experiences. Books that explore Easter traditions from around the world - whether it’s the Orthodox Christian traditions of Pascha, the festive parades in Greece, or the special meals in Latin American countries - can provide a rich cultural perspective.

In addition to celebrating the religious and cultural aspects of the holiday, Easter-themed picture books can also feature stories that emphasize diversity and inclusion. These books can be great for discussing the holiday’s themes of renewal and rebirth in ways that are accessible and meaningful to kids from all walks of life.

Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, teacher, educator, or someone who shapes little minds, with these books, children are not only learning about Easter, but also about the importance of empathy and understanding in a multicultural world.

Let’s dive in.

1. Chicken Sunday by Patricia Polacco

More than anything in the world, the children want to buy that special Easter bonnet in Mr. Kodinski's shop window for their Miss Eula. Then one day, when they are mistakenly accused of throwing eggs at the Jewish shop owner's window, they discover just the right way to prove their innocence and earn money for the hat at the same time - and bring their community together in shared joy along the way.

2. Easter Traditions Around the World by M.J. Cosson

This book explores Easter traditions from around the world, including Easter eggs, the Easter bunny, food, and religious celebrations. Additional features to aid comprehension include a table of contents, a phonetic glossary, informative captions, detailed maps, sources for further research, and more.

3. Easter in Ramallah: A story of childhood memories by Wafa Shami

A story about friendship and holiday traditions that have been shared among Palestinian Christian and Muslim families for centuries. A story that reflects the tradition of celebrating Easter holiday that was carried on for years and takes the reader to a fun festive place that is filled with a colorful atmosphere, drums playing, love and laughter from the eye of a child.

4. The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes: An Easter And Springtime Book For Kids by Dubose Heyward

Cottontail the country bunny has big dreams of becoming the fifth Easter Bunny, and when she finally proves herself worthy of Old Grandfather's blessings, she is chosen to deliver the most special egg of them all.

With twenty-one baby bunnies to look after, mother bunny Cottontail abandons her dream of becoming an Easter Bunny. But when Grandfather Bunny spies her perfectly behaved brood, he’s so impressed that he makes Cottontail the most important Easter Bunny of all! Originally published in 1939, Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes celebrates the timeless values of equality, hard work, and patient ambition.

5. Catherine's Pascha by Charlotte Riggle

It's Pascha, and Catherine is determined to stay awake all night.  Can she do it?  Will she remember how to say "Christ is risen!" in Russian?  Will her best friend Elizabeth remember how to say it in Greek?  Will their parents let them play with burning candles, smash hard-boiled eggs, and eat sweets until the sun rises on Pascha?

This is a beautiful story about the Orthodox Church celebration of Pascha, as told through the eyes of 6-year-old Catherine.

6. Rechenka's Eggs by Patricia Polacco

Old Babushka, known throughout all of Moskva for her beautifully painted eggs, is preparing her eggs for the Easter Festival when she takes in an injured goose. She names the goose Rechenka, and they live happily together until one day when Rechenka accidentally overturns a basket, breaking all of Babushka's lovingly crafted eggs.

With vibrant illustrations, Patricia Polacco has joyously re-created the flavor of Old Moscow and its festivals. The eggs, stunningly colored and intricately designed, are authentic reproductions of eggs painted in the Ukrainian style. Rechenka's Eggs is a timeless story of classic beauty.

7. Crack Goes the Cascarón: An Eggcellent Not-Just-for-Easter Shellebration! by Sara Andrea Fajardo

What are cascarones: Cascarones are empty egg shells that have been colored, filled with paper confetti, and sealed!

The hunt is on to figure out who will be the reigning champ of Cascarones, and Toti knows that he has his family beat. His parents are too easy, they make old-school cascarones with confetti inside. His sister, Carlita wishes she could create cascarones like him, and his Abuela doesn't even stand a chance. When the day of Cascarones arrives, will Toti seize his moment or will it be scrambled when he learns someone has switched his cascarones for fake ones!

Readers will laugh and relish at the antics of Toti and his family in this bilingual story.

8. The Egg Tree by Katherine Milhous

One Easter morning, Katy and Carl went on an egg hunt through Grandmom’s house. Katy couldn’t find anything until she went up to the attic. And there she discovered a very special set of eggs...

Grandmom had painted them when she was a little girl. And now, she hung them from the branches of a tiny tree—an Egg Tree! So began a very special Easter tradition.

This Caldecott Medal-winning story of a Pennsylvania Dutch Easter will surely inspire children to make Egg Trees of their very own.

9. Our Very Greek Easter: Orthodox Easter by Kassi Psifogeorgou

Tom and his family are flying to Greece for Easter, ready to reunite with Yiayia, Papou, and their extended family. As he soaks in the beauty of Greek traditions, he writes letters to his best friend, sharing the daily customs, heartfelt moments, and mouth-watering feasts that make Greek Orthodox Easter so unique!

From Lazarus Saturday to the joyous Easter Sunday feast, Tom's adventure introduces young readers to the rich traditions, faith, and family spirit that define this beloved celebration.

10. A Very Happy Easter by Tim Thornborough

This fresh retelling of the Easter story focuses on the emotions of Jesus' friends and invites children to copy the expressions they are making.

As children ages 2-4 learn about how Jesus died and rose again, they will see that Jesus' friends felt fear, sadness, surprise and joy, and they will have the opportunity to think about how they would have felt. This book is a great way to make story time interactive and explain Easter to young children in a way that connects emotionally and builds empathy.

This is just the start!

There are so many great diverse picture books to use with young learners. For many more diverse kids' book recommendations, grab our Big List of Diverse Picture Books.