Saw this one on social media and had to check it out. Unfortunately, it's not one that will live on our shelves or be passed around. Even this sentence from the description, "Whether friends or enemies—if they are lost, Jesus came to seek and save them" is not something that lines up with scripture. We're all enemies until Jesus saves us. This one just isn't a book we'd read without a good bit of additional explanations.

*I received a digital ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

An affirmation of your faith. But the book needs adults to guide children reading it. You can see from the beginning of the book, how Jesus saves : from his family, to Simeon and Hannah, to his disciples, and people we can read in the bible. Who are they exactly is the task of adults to explain. A good book to affirm your faith in Him, that He saves you too.

This one just wasn't a win for me. The premise is good: Jesus is the King of Easter and He came to save, but I am concerned that the message is ultimately that Jesus DID find and save the reader, not that He came to save us and we are all invited to repent and believe. Parents and teachers may want to be very careful in using this, lest they give assurance of something that may not be true in a child's life.

I was hoping that this would be a good fit for my child but found the grammar/sentence structure a little confusing for a young reader and I didn’t like the illustration style. Theologically sound, just not a good fit for my personal library.

This book, written by Todd R. Hains and illustrated by Natasha Kennedy, is a children's book that I will be adding to our bookshelf.

As an ordained woman who has three degrees in theology (that can also be considered a book worm), I am very hard to impress when it comes to children's books about faith. I will admit that not every book that has been gifted to us for Tristan has been read to him - or remained with us. Sometimes, in the effort to simplify faith to make it palatable for kids, authors lose sight of the hope of the Gospel. After reading The King of Easter, colour me impressed.

WHY SHOULD I READ THIS BOOK?
This book is a wonderful exploration of the people that Jesus interacted with in Scripture - and their stories of redemption. The lens chosen by the author and the art style used by the illustrator are a seamless approach inviting kids to engage with the New Testament in a new and wonderful way. I am in awe of the inclusion of elders and people of colour throughout this beautiful depiction of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

​The theology is sound. The artwork is gorgeous. There are adorable animal companions that follow along with Jesus in the story. What more can we ask for?

WHAT DID THIS BOOK CHALLENGE ME TO DO?
The challenge of this book comes in the breadth of Scripture that it covers, and the resources that it offers to families. It reminded me of the importance of seeing the life of Christ and the early church as one story - and not just as episodic adventures. If for no other reason, the book has immense value in how it invites families to participate in the story together as they learn about Christ.

As an extension of this, I would challenge you to consider picking up a copy of this little book with a big message for yourself or a loved one. Sometimes we find ourselves experiencing the biggest moments of growth, from the smallest of messages. I get that not all of us are children here or have them in our lives on a consistent basis, but I would invite you to consider having this one on hand for the little ones that may enter your space - be that at home, your office, or perhaps the children's room at your church. I would also highly recommend this as a resource for new believers who are learning to read - regardless of age.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! These illustrations are fantastic and there’s a fat cat or faux cat for children to find on each page! The King of Easter (Jesus) seeks the lost in all of humanity, no matter how pious or beyond redemption they may seem. Great intro to liturgical services made accessible to kiddos too.

Jesus is the King of Easter and readers get to meet all of the people He saved including, "You". The book is presented in a call-and-response format with a question posed about a person from the bible Jesus may have saved, and a bold "Yes!" follows each statement. The illustrations are nice - though Lazarus was a little frightening.

The back matter includes a call-and-response Easter prayer and confessions of faith. This book will likely work best for Catholic readers.