Review
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Title: My First Story of the First Easter
Author: Deanna Draper Buck
Publisher: Deseret Book
Genre: Childrens book
Year Published: 2008
Number of Pages: 24
Binding: Hardback
ISBN: 978-1-59038-871-6
Price: $13.95
Reviewed by Jeffrey Needle
In the larger Christian world, there is a class of church-goers known as "C&E" Christians -- they show up only on Christmas and Easter Sunday. I have thought, from time to time, that maybe they have the right idea -- all the blessing and none of the weekly commitment. Alas, such a thought will not be shared by many here.
Children are uncommonly fond of Christmas. After all, whether they understand the story of the Christ child or not, this is a time when everything is festive and when they get really neat presents! It's like having two birthdays a year! Easter is also a good time for children, but in Mormonism, it can lack the same kind of festivity as is associated with Christmas.
We cannot question that the story of the resurrection of Christ, his great triumph over death, is something we all need to remember, and not just once a year! It should be our meditation, our grateful thought, every day of our lives. In this neat little volume, printed on the kind of hard cardboard that should withstand even the strongest child's attempts to tear up, we have the Christ story re-told in simple and stark terms. It really is ideal for parents to use in teaching their very young children about the Savior. The illustrations are competent and illustrative of the idea being discussed. The text itself brings out the story of Jesus in a way that is clear and consistent with LDS theology.
Parents should not let Easter pass by without taking the time to discuss the importance of the resurrection with their children, and this book is a great way to do so. And, maybe even us grown-ups can benefit from remembering the story, too!
Jeff Needle
Association for Mormon Letters
jeff.needle@gmail.com<www.aml-online.org>
<www.LDSBookLovers.com/Needle.html>
