Book Bite: Hippity Hoppity Easter Treats


To coincide with an effort to dramatically cut down on the amount of chocolate consumed this Easter season, I am sharing just a few Easter picture books this year. All guaranteed to assuage your Easter spirit in terms of humour and hankering for family fun time. For more, consider these past offerings from Dim’s Easter Goodie Basket. Or visit your local bricks and mortar bookshop for a sky-full of meaningful Easter reads.

Little Wombat’s Easter Surprise

Those familiar with, Charles Fuge’s, Little Wombat picture book series will already adore Little Wombat’s goofy allure and his woodland friends – yes he is globally connected on the animal friend circuit.  In this gorgeous Easter edition he is busy hunting for Easter eggs when a familiar looking stranger bounds past. He assumes it’s his buddy, Rabbit and is amazed to find it is actually, Bilby, an unrelated but similar looking cutie. Surprise number one.

Rabbit and Bilby share multiple similarities and delight in their newfound affinity. Wombat who is less agile, springy, long-legged and long-eared naturally feels on the outer until they all realise they share one important attribute – burrowing! Surprise number two. Little Wombat is so good at burrowing that he digs one big enough to host an Easter party, which they do after inviting, Koala to share in the fun and treats.

This simple tale hides a number of cute and recognisable qualities including the essence of friendship and sharing. It gently acknowledges that it’s the differences that make us who we are and contribute to others liking who we are for what we are, too. Plus there’s plenty of fun Easter egg sharing. A great one for highlighting comparative Easter bunny alternatives and sharing with littlies outside of Easter.

Title: Little Wombat’s Easter Surprise
Author / Illustrator: Charles (Charlie) Fuge
Publisher: Walker Books Australia, $24.99
Publication Date: 16 February 2022
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760654269
For ages: 3 – 8
Type: Picture Book

Buy the Book: Walker Books Australia, Boomerang Books

Bluey Easter

I’m always a little reticent about books based on TV shows but hey, the kids love this little pup and to be honest, this season-based release is bright, bold, glittery and fun, thus is a great one to share with the small ones on Easter morning when you just need a few moments for yourself to indulge in bit of chocolate and a restorative cuppa. In fact, it begins like the Christmas tale … the night before Easter … so will work as a bed time tale too, just be careful it doesn’t stir them up too much as it involves an egg hunt that is truly inviting!

Bingo is convinced the Easter Bunny will forget her as she is just a small annoying youngster not worthy enough for a delivery of chocolate eggs. And yes, although the focus shouldn’t be on the amount or size of an Easter Egg haul, this is an emotion I know kids experience quite frequently. Mum’s cleverly–clued egg hunt takes the edge of this sort of anxiety by refocusing the pups’ purpose and desire. Plus, it ignites curiosity and keeps us turning pages. In the end, patience, perseverance and belief in one’s own special abilities and talents pays off. A must for Bluey fans.

Title: Bluey Easter
Author / Illustrator: Based on the TV series, Bluey
Publisher: Puffin Books, $16.99
Publication Date: 15 February 2022
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781761044922
For ages: 2 – 7
Type: Picture Book

Buy the Book: Booktopia, Boomerang Books, Dymocks

The Unfunny Bunny

My pick of the Easter bunch this year is this hilariously rhyming ode to word play and really really bad jokes (which I love). Beck also begins al a Christmas tale style … ‘twas the night before Easter … and typical to most Easter weekends (especially if camping is involved), it’s bucketing down. The family is stuck in their holiday beach house when all of a sudden, EB is discovered mid egg stash by one of the kids. Oh oh!

Unfazed by this sighting said kid immediately assumes the role as Helper Bunny; who knows the fam better for planting their eggs in the most laughably appropriate places, right! It starts off fun but as the hiding spots become more and more obscure and the jokes more and more egg-asperating (!), EB begins to feel the strain of working with this child.

The idioms, jokes and high jinx come thick and fast providing a marvellous opportunity for readers to egg-plore this tale aloud over and over again. This is seriously a picture book the entire family can participate in and enjoy – Easter morning or any day of their holiday together, especially if it’s pouring out! Highly recommended.

Title:  The Unfunny Bunny
Author:  Adrian Beck
Illustrator:  James Hart
Publisher:  Puffin Books, $17.99
Publication Date:  1 March 2022
Format:  Hardcover
ISBN: 9781761043093
For ages:  2 – 100

Type: Picture Book                                                                                                                                  

Buy the Book: Boomerang Books, Booktopia, Readings

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