Several people have mentioned to me that they buy a small gift for their relatives at Easter instead, or as well as an egg. My suggested Book for April may be an idea for young children in your family, A Little Book of Bible Stories written by Dorothy Barker and illustrated by Cicely Mary Barker.
This is a collection of favourite Bible stories which has been adapted from the original volume written and illustrated by The Misses Barker. The cover depicts our Lord blessing the children and the Book commences with the story of Creation and goes on to the call of Abraham and Abraham's sacrifice. Then to Jacob and Esau and Joseph and his Brothers.
As I write, the Sunday School have been rehearsing the story of Elijah and the Widow's son at Sarepta, that is included here with a haunting illustration of Elijah kneeling in prayer under the gaze of a puzzled but very-much-alive little boy. Of course, the Birth of Jesus is retold, together with the encounter in the Temple with Simeon, to John the Baptist and the feeding of the five thousand.
Good Friday is told sensitively but with no illustration. The events of Easter Day begins in reflective mood and ends in loud contrast: 'Jesus has broken the power of sin and death - he has risen, glorious and triumphant.' The illustration chosen is stunning: Mary Magdalene turns in wonder and joy to face her Beloved Lord.
The final story is that of the Conversion of Saul and the closing words to the Book remind us that although thousands of years have passed since the beginning of 'the story' - the beginning of creation, the story has not ended but that it will when the same Jesus who lived, loved, died and rose again for us, comes again, and lives with us forever.
Dorothy Barker has a sympathetic and charming style of writing, partly perhaps due to the fact that she used to run her own kindergarten and so would be well used to interacting with children. Cicely Mary Barker is most well known for her Flower Fairies although the cover sleeve states that she cared deeply about her devotional works. This care is certainly apparent in the delicate quality of the illustrations.
A Little Book of Bible Stories (Frederick Warne [Penguin Books]) £5.99.
NB. As a gift for an adult, look out for Seasons of Hope, The Gift of Easter. (Lion) £3.99.
written by Lynn Winter
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page last updated 1 APRIL 1999