Pink Easter by Tanya Hennessy. Illus. by Sophie Kent

'Twas the night before Easter,
the workshop was busy!
There were baskets to fill
and eggs to make pretty.

There was so much to do
for the big Easter quest.
And the Bunny herself?
She was, honestly, stressed.

But when Winnie the Easter duck suggested sharing the workload with her friends, Easter Bunny declines the offer declaring the work is her mission. She must do it herself because it's Easter tradition.  But Winnie is not deterred and unveils the Easter Eggmaster, an invention she has been working on to automatically colour the Easter eggs, summoning the friends to get the eggs sorted while Bunny is busy elsewhere.

But when she turns it on, disaster strikes....  Or does it?

This is the equally-delightful companion to Pink Santa told in the same catchy rhyme and rhythm of  Clement C. Moore's original A Visit from St Nicholas with the conversations between the characters continued in speech bubbles so the plot continues without interrupting the flow of the narrative.  And like Pink Santa which explores whether Christmas will still be Christmas if Santa's suit is pink, this one examines whether Easter will still be Easter even if Easter Bunny does delegate the tasks, helping little ones understand that it is okay to seek help and take it when it's offered, and so much better than getting frustrated and cranky and discarding the task altogether.

As the supermarket shelves fill with Easter eggs of all shapes, sizes and colours and hot cross buns are popped into shopping trolleys, our youngest readers are very aware of the upcoming celebration and so this is the perfect book to share at this time. Even as it rollicks along, that important message of sharing, co-operating and collaborating with those around us oozes like runny chocolate, offering even our littlest readers the opportunity to think how they might be able to help their friends and family at such a busy time.  Just as Easter Bunny has to learn to ask for help - and accept it when it's offered - they too can tune in to what's going on around them and offer to help, just like Winnie did.  They are not powerless and perhaps something as simple as picking up their toys or helping with the dishes can be an enormous contribution, Even for those for whom Easter is not a family celebration, this is one with a universal message of being part of a family and a community that will have wide appeal and application. 

Themes: Easter, Rabbits, Eggs, Colour.

Barbara Braxton