Easter bunnies, eggs and chicks
Always on the lookout for pictures of bunny rabbits and baby chicks, we've dug out the best Easter and springtime books – and a couple about chocolate, too. Take a look, but be warned... You'll want them all.
After all, these are the ideal books for entertaining children over the bank holiday weekend, once they've calmed down from all the egg hunting (and sugar).
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Egg!
Author: Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet
Publisher: Macmillan
Interest age: 2-4
Six eggs are having a lovely time when a seventh egg appears – but this egg is totally the wrong way around! Containing only one word - 'egg' - this picture book is delightfully expressive and funny, as well as being a clever story about acceptance.
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Hop Little Bunnies
Author: Martha Mumford Illustrator: Laura Hughes
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Interest age: 2-4
In a field, four little bunnies are sleeping until noon. Yet, when they wake up, it’s time to hop! The popular nursery song is given an adorable makeover (with actions and animal noises very much encouraged) in this picture book.
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Ollie’s Magic Bunny
Author: Nicola Killen
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Interest age: 3-5
One day, Ollie takes her toy bunny outside to play in the rainy, windy day. Despite the weather, Ollie and Bunny go on a marvelous adventure, aided by the yellow umbrella. Perfect for all owners of favourite bears, bunnies and other special friends.
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Chicks Rule!
Author: Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen Illustrator: Renee Kurilla
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers
Interest age: 4-7
Reading age: 6+A little chick gathers her fabulously talented girlfriends to achieve her dreams of reaching the stars. This charming and cartoony picture book has a lovely moral that when we work together, we can make incredible things happen.
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I Want a Bunny!
Author: Tony Ross
Publisher: Andersen Press
Interest age: 3-5
This new instalment in The Little Princess’ adventures reminds children of the responsibilities of owning a pet, as well as depicting the kind of “frenemy” friendship that children often experience. Totally relatable for children, as well as making us laugh.
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The First Egg Hunt
Author: Adam & Charlotte Guillain and Pippa Curnick
Publisher: Egmont
Interest age: 4-6
Reading age: 5+This original take on how Easter egg hunts really started is a fun, rhyming tale, with plenty of humorous detail in Pippa Curnick’s bright and lovable illustrations. The message is that working as a team is the best way forward.
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Grab that Rabbit!
Author: Polly Faber and Briony May Smith
Publisher: Pavilion
Interest age: 3-5
Hodge has been eating the carrots in Mrs Sprat’s garden, but gets stuck in the hedge. Will Mrs Sprat make rabbit pie for dinner, or try to forgive? Reminiscent of Peter Rabbit, this beautifully illustrated rhyming picture book is, ultimately, a tale of friendship.
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WANTED: The Chocolate Monster
Author: Pip Jones Illustrator: Laura Hughes
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Interest age: 3-7
Reading age: 5-7Guard your treats: the Chunk is on the loose and he's coming after your chocolate stash! This hilarious and chaotic picture book will delight anyone who loves biscuits, truffles, cakes, pudding... well, just about anything to do with chocolate, really.
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Catch That Egg!
Author: Lucy Rowland and Anna Chernyshova
Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books
Interest age: 4-6
Reading age: 5+Floppit is a bunny with very big, bouncy feet. Unfortunately, he is just too boisterous for his friends looking after little ones. Is he too bouncy to be around? A lovely one to share with older siblings that may have a new baby in the house.
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Mr Bunny's Chocolate Factory
Author: Elys Dolan
Publisher: Oxford
Interest age: 4-8
Reading age: 6-8Mr Bunny gets taught a big lesson about how he should treat his employees when his chickens go on strike in this funny and sophisticated Easter egg tale.
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Higgly Hen
Author: Axel Scheffler
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Interest age: 0-3
Reading age: 4+Oh dear - Higgly Hen has lost her chicks! This friendly farmyard board book is a must for Scheffler fans. The addition of a fun sound button will amuse toddlers and adds an extra element of play.
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Rabbits Don’t Lay Eggs
Author: Paula Metcalf and Cally Johnson-Isaacs
Publisher: Macmillan
Interest age: 0-3
Reading age: 4+Rupert the rabbit is lonely - but when he burrows under the wall, and bursts out of the ground next to Dora the duck, nobody seems that impressed with his attempts to fit in. A charming board book about recognising our individual talents.
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A Lullaby for Little One
Author: Dawn Casey Illustrator: Charles Fuge
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Interest age: 0-4
Reading age: 4+This heartwarming rhyming story is beautifully illustrated by Charles Fuge - with the huggiest and loveliest bunnies imaginable.
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We’re Going on an Egg Hunt
Author: Laura Hughes
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 4+This Easter-themed lift-the-flap book will delight little ones who are already excited about the big day - or discovering the joy of an egg hunt for the first time.
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Too Many Carrots
Author: Katy Hudson
Publisher: Curious Fox
Interest age: 4-6
Rabbit loves carrots so much that his whole burrow is full of them, and there's no room for him to sleep! Katy Hudson explores the themes of friendship and sharing in this charming and beautifully illustrated picture book.
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Warning! This Book Contains Rabbits!
Author: Tim Warnes
Publisher: Little Tiger Press
Interest age: 4-6
Reading age: 5+Mole and The Lumpy-Bumpy Thing (which looks suspiciously like a crocodile) discover a magic hat. Even more surprisingly, the magic hat keeps producing bunnies - so many, in fact, that it starts to become a bit of a problem.
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Hooray for Hoppy!
Author: Tim Hopgood
Publisher: Macmillan
Interest age: 3-6
Reading age: 5+Tim Hopgood delights again with his signature heartwarming and thoughtful approach to concept books for young children. This one, a book about the senses, joins his equally fantastic previous books about colours, counting and shapes.
