SOPHIE PIPER retells The Easter Story for young children in a small hardback illustrated by Annabel Spenceley. It has a distant view of the three crosses as the Beloved Disciple comforts Mary in the foreground. The context is clearly the message of the Kingdom (Lion Children’s, £3.99 (£3.60); 978-0-7459-6513-0). Also from Lion Hudson, My Very First Easter, by Juliet David, is illustrated by Helen Prole, in the Candle Bible for Toddlers series (£2.99 (£2.70); 978-1-78128-244-1), with very simple text and pictures. Even so, the subject, including the crucifixion, seems advanced for the age group (as the publishers seem to sense, since toddlers become “young readers” in the blurb).
The selling-point of The Lion Picture Puzzle Bible by Peter Martin (Lion Hudson, £7.99 (£7.20); 978-0-7459-6545-1), is Len Epstein’s colourful two-A4-page epic scenes, in profuse detail and a humorous style: details are picked out to be searched for. The stories tell of figures including Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, Jesus, and St Paul. “The Way of the Cross” shows Simon carrying the cross as Jesus falls, with a large cast of onlookers, including Pilate (in what? Certainly not a toga). GP