Wendy Watson (1) (1942–)

A family celebrates the Easter holiday together in this charming picture book from author/illustrator Wendy Watson. Traditional rhymes and literary poems are included on each page, while the main text and illustrations describe the family's happy activities, from making hot cross buns to shopping for new Easter clothing, creating an egg tree and painting eggs. Easter morning brings lots of fun, as the children discover their candy-filled Easter baskets, and then the family heads to church show more for services. Afterward, the whole family, including Grandma and Grandpa, have Easter dinner and play Easter games, with a wonderful surprise from the family cat concluding the tale...

Published in 1993, Happy Easter Day! was one of six picture books from Watson depicting the same family celebrating various holidays throughout the year. The setting is a small New England town, but although I grew up in suburban New York state, almost everything about it felt familiar, hearkening back to my own girlhood, and my family's own Easter celebrations—a mixture of religious and secular activities. That sense of recognition increased my appreciation, as did the the family warmth and joy depicted in text and artwork. The visuals here are cute, and although a little too cartoon-like to become a personal favorite, were enjoyable and well-suited to the story. I appreciated the inclusion of all the poems and nursery rhymes, each appropriate to the section of the story with which they were paired. Although I have read other books illustrated by Watson—John Bierhorst's Doctor Coyote: A Native American Aesop's Fables and Is My Friend at Home?: Pueblo Fireside Tales, and Clyde Watson's Father Fox's Christmas Rhymes—this was the first of her own books which I have picked up. I enjoyed it, and now plan to track down others, particularly those depicting this family. Recommended to picture book audiences seeking fun and wholesome Easter stories, in which both religious observance and secular cultural practices are depicted. show less

This story was charming. We see Christmas night through the eyes of an ornament. Old fashioned glass and wood ornaments at that. A Bad Cat gets into the tree and causes a search for a lost arm that is eventually mended by Santa. This story was light hearted and heartwarming. It’s a perfect christmas tale.
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Holly's Christmas Eve is a story about an ornament named Holly, whose arm is ripped arm by Bad Cat. She must get her arm back before Christmas Day, which she does when she finds her arm in the trash can.
I really loved this story. The story was good but the pictures were the best part of the book. They were well done and the illustrator captured the Christmas Eve atmosphere perfectly. The pictures also gave me a sense of nostalgia as I viewed them. The characters were all funny and great and show more I really enjoyed them too. show less

With wonderful sound words like zip and pop, and bright illustrations this book will be a hit with kids as they watch the bunnies go about their routines of getting ready for bed. A great book for early readers.