Easter Fun and Beautiful Easter Baskets!

  • 2022-04-01

Here Comes Peter Cottontail, hoppin’ down the bunny trail. Hippity-hop-hop Easter’s on its way! 

Easter is one of my favourite holidays. Actually, who am I kidding? I love holidays and decorating full stop! And Easter is no eggception. (Sorry. I had to!) All those fresh pastels, glitter and cute baby critters. It’s also a time of renewal and quiet. Like Christmas, it’s full of meaning, but without the frenetic shopping and family get-togethers. For me, it’s a quieter, more contemplative holiday. And it’s also a time to have fun with the kiddos, so here are a couple of fun ideas for you to do with the little people. 

First on my list, is of course, reading. There are so many perfect stories appropriately bunny-themed for the lead-up to Easter. 

Book Cover - Guess how much I love you   

There’s the classic, Guess How Much I Love You, by Sam McBratney. It’s a tale about the bonds of love between parent and child, as told by the bunnies, Big Nutbrown Hare to his Little Nutbrown Hare. It’s beautifully illustrated and makes for a wonderful parent-child story time. Available online here from Wordsworth Books.  

Of course, The Velveteen Rabbit (or How Toys Become Real), by Margery Williams, has to be on this list. This classic book is the beautifully poignant story of a plush rabbit who becomes real through being loved by his child-owner. It’s a touching story about the enduring, transformative nature of love, and how it survives everything. Available here from Wordsworth Books.  

Goodnight Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown, is another classic book that can’t be forgotten. Illustrated in mid-century style, it’s the sweet story of a bunny, who once tucked into bed, says goodnight to everything in his room before he nods off. In a great green room, tucked away in bed, is a little bunny. “Goodnight room, goodnight moon.” And to all the familiar things in the softly lit room — to the picture of the three little bears sitting on chairs, to the clocks and his socks, to the mittens and the kittens, to everything one by one — the little bunny says goodnight. Available here from Wordsworth Books.

 Although The Fuzz-Fuzz isn’t about a rabbit, there’s enough imaginary stuff happening there to be suitable for the magic of Easter! You can buy yours here from Exclusive Books.

 

AND!!! I am SO EXCITED to finally announce that my next book, Eleven Dogs Live With Me!, Is going to be on the shelves in April! It’s the true tale of my life as lived with eleven rescue dogs. Yes, eleven! It’s a joyful ode to the love and wonder of life with man’s best friend! It’s available online immediately from Uppercase Books.

These books and others should also be available from your local boutique bookstores too. For us in Port Elizabeth, we have Fogarty’s Bookshop and My Magic Words. These treasure troves are well-worth the visit. If you have any local bookstores that you love, please let us know so that we can punt them too.

Then of course it’s Easter itself and the excitement of Easter baskets and egg hunts. I love curating a fun, age-appropriate basket for little people. It’s such fun putting together something that makes their eyes widen with disbelief. As an example, these are the kinds of things I include:

  • I always include a story book
  •  A colouring in book / activity book with pens & or crayons (Our Beyond-Colouring Book R146) – is IDEAL!! Buy this now. 
  • A few small chocolates and sweets
  • Bubbles (I mean, who doesn’t love them?!)
  • Some small novelty, vintage-type toys; like a Chinese yo-yo, bouncy rubber ball, a kaleidoscope, a wooden spinning top
  • Something small to build / create; like paper planes, a small box of Lego, a memory game / card game or a small travel puzzle. Our best-selling memory game (R136) is always a winner 
  • A fluffy toy. Check out ours here.
  • Stickers (R60), buy The Fuzz-Fuzz stickers here.
  • Anything else that’s cheap and fun. Have a look at our shop. We have a bunch of fun, affordable things to add to Easter baskets. Visit our online store now.

    I feel like this creates a good balance between gifting sugary stuff as well as items that nudge kids in an educational direction. Then I put all the goodies together in a straw-filled basket, and I always use lots and lots of bows and ribbon! Little people’s eyes grow wide as saucers with the wonder of what The Easter Bunny left them! 

    We’ve also created a few fun, FREE, Easter-themed activities. You can download them here:

     

    As always, it’s great sharing my thoughts and ideas with you. I’m so glad we’re friends on this literary journey together! 

    So that’s a wrap from me for April. See you in May. 

    Wishing you and yours Easter blessings. 

    Keep reading! Keep imagining! 

    Love,
    Jennifer
    xoxo