The Sparkle Egg -- Easter Book Review

Disclosure: I was sent this book to review free of charge from Ideals Books. All opinions in this post are my own. I did not receive any other compensation for this review. I am including links to each item for your convenience but do not receive anything if you purchase them.

I am so excited to share this book with you. You may remember that I shared The Sparkle Box by Jill Hardie and illustrated by Christine Kornacki on my Must Read Christmas Books Post. Well, last year Jill Hardie and Christine Kornacki came out with The Sparkle Egg for Easter! When we received it in the mail, Hazel wanted to read it right away. This story is about the same family as The Sparkle Box. This time Sam does something he is ashamed of, he lies to his parents about how he did on a test at school. Even though his parents forgive him he still feels really bad. Boy, does this sound familiar. This is exactly how Hazel behaves. Well, his mother has him make a sparkle egg on Good Friday. Sam draws a picture of something he is ashamed of or feels he needs to ask God to forgive him and puts it inside his sparkle egg. Then on Easter the sparkle egg is in his basket and it is empty! His parents explain that holding on to shame after being forgiven goes against what Easter is about. It is such a deep message in a way that kids can understand. Hazel could not wait to make a sparkle egg. I gave her a plastic egg and she got to work with glitter glue.

After it dried I added some gem stickers in the shape of a cross since she could not find any gem crosses in our supplies.  Then while I was out I found these glitter eggs for a dollar and picked up some cross foam stickers at Michaels. 

I made the gold one and then Hazel wanted to make one like mine and of course picked the pink egg. She has taken all the sparkle eggs and has been playing with them.

I love this book! It gives a clear message about the meaning of Easter without retelling the Easter story. We have so many books that tell the Easter story which I think is important, but it is also nice to have one that kids can relate to their own lives. Here is a child just like them that made a mistake and the message of Easter and God's love and forgiveness is shown to him. This is a must read for every Christian child. I am so glad we have been able to read it and absorb the message. Like I said, Hazel acts just like Sam when she does something wrong, and I am so excited to actually have her draw something on a piece of paper and put it in one of the eggs and remove it for her on Easter. It is such a hands on way to see how God washes away our sins with the death of Jesus. I love how Jill Hardie has such a way of relating the Bible stories of Jesus' life to a child's current life. I highly recommend this book and The Sparkle Box. Both bring the holidays meanings into current time.

For more posts on teaching the meaning of Easter check out:

• Activities for Understanding Easter 
• Legend of the Sand Dollar for Easter
• Resurrection Rolls and Eggs
• Sharing the Easter Story with Little Ones
• Last Supper and Crown of Thorns
• Religious Match Game
• Alleluia Garland and Easter Books
• Resurrection Garden
• Prayer Bracelet for Lent
• Lent Craft and Activity Round-Up