By Cris Conerty
February 29, 2024
I love reading about courageous women in the holy scriptures! Mary Magdalene stands out as a shining example. She wholeheartedly supported the ministry of Jesus, rose to prominence as a leader and teacher amongst the Lord’s disciples, and was ultimately given the sacred honor of being the first to see the Risen Christ. Yet, I’ve noticed a significant lack of children’s Easter books that adequately shine a spotlight on Mary’s pivotal role. She is frequently mentioned only in passing, often left unnamed, and on some occasions, not mentioned at all.
For parents or grandparents interested in highlighting the contributions of women in their Easter traditions, here are nine captivating children’s books that give emphasis to the preeminent witness of the resurrection of Jesus Christ – Mary of Magdala.
This over-sized keepsake board book, built to endure the generations, features rich illustrations and text crafted for older children and adult storytellers to share with young listeners. Mary Magdalene is featured prominently near the end of the book in two simple but appealing illustrations – one as she tearfully kneels beside the empty tomb and one with the Risen Lord showing himself to Mary, highlighted by an intricate gold border to set it apart from all other illustrations. Easter traditions are included at the end of the story.
‘Twas the Morning of Easter places Mary Magdalene as the central character with her image on nine of the thirteen gorgeous two-page illustrations as well as on the front and back covers! The rhyming narrative flows with the familiar rhythm and pattern of Clement Moore’s poem “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” A notable omission in the illustration of Mary inside the tomb are the presence of angelic visitors proclaiming that Christ has risen from the dead. However, with 539 reviews and a 4.9 rating on Amazon, this book is a sure winner. As an added bonus, a delightful free activity packet can be downloaded from the author’s website!
Vivid, comic book style illustrations by a former Marvel and DC Comics illustrator and exciting first-person narrative set this book apart! Each engaging essay is a testimony of a direct witness to the Easter story, from a Dog on the side of the road that encounters the kindness of Jesus, to the Olive Tree that witnesses the Lord’s suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, to Mary Magdalene who experiences “shock, wonder, hope and then joy” all at once when she recognizes the resurrected Master’s voice calling her by name! Jesus’ ministry and miraculous triumph over death is summarized in an illustrated epilogue titled “Why Did Jesus Die on the Cross?”
In this popular illustrated anthology, forty days of stories guide readers through the Easter season, with Day 37 devoted to Mary Magdalene’s story titled “Jesus is Alive!” The impressive aspect of this retelling is the companion illustration which depicts five (count them…five!) women in the tomb listening to the angels as they reveal the good news! While each of the New Testament Gospels differ as to how many women and who (besides Mary Magdalene) went to the tomb, this author decided to include them all: Mary Magdalene, Joanna (the wife of Chuza, a household servant of King Herod Antipas), Susanna (a follower of Jesus who was healed by him and then assisted him financially), Salome (the wife of the well-to-do fisherman Zebedee and mother of the apostles James and John), and the “Other Mary” (identified as the wife of Clopas and/or the mother of James the Younger and Joseph). Although some have claimed that women would not have entered the tomb of Jesus, Mark 16:5 clearly states “And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.”
Fun fact about this unique version of the Easter story – it was a song before it became a book! The companion song can be downloaded from your favorite digital music store, making the book an entertaining and educational Read-or-Sing™ multi-media experience! The sheet music for the original song is included in the back of the book, and the book text and song lyrics are identical. Each carefully crafted rhyming verse reveals exciting new details leading up to the very moment Mary recognizes the Risen Christ! With illustrations of Mary on nearly every page as well as the cover, this book is truly a tribute to this faithful female follower of Christ. Free coloring pages, games, and ideas for integrating The First to See: Mary Magdalene’s Easter Story into your Easter traditions can be downloaded from the author’s website!
While not specifically Easter-themed, these 4 biographical anthologies each devote a chapter to Mary Magdalene, highlighting admirable characteristics of her discipleship and details of her astonishing encounter with the Risen Lord.
The highlight of this notable book are the thirty-four thoughtful oil paintings created by well-known artist Kathleen Peterson. Mary Magdalene’s tribute includes an illustration of the Sea of Galilee by which her hometown fishing village of Magdala was located (be sure to notice the fish depicted in the border of this illustration), an image of the sorrowful Mary by the tomb with the resurrected Lord standing behind her, and her own full-page portrait. Two pages of gentle storytelling text are devoted to depicting Mary Magdalene as a true follower of Christ and invites the reader to walk the same path.
This unique book was written by identical twin sisters and illustrated by eight different artists. One divine characteristic is attributed to each of thirty-four women in the Bible, including Mary Magdalene to which the virtue of “devoted” is assigned. The full-page illustration by Sarah Hawkes is airy and refined while sensitively portraying the Lord’s wounded hand. A thoughtful prompt and a list of scriptures invites the reader to ponder how she can emulate Mary to become a more devoted daughter of God.
This comprehensive anthology includes a surprising chapter titled “Women Who Followed and Supported Jesus” which recounts the contributions of Joanna, Susanna, Salome, and the “Other Mary” to the ministry of Jesus. Their story concludes with preparing spices to anoint the Lord’s body; however, the narrative continues in the next exciting chapter titled “Mary Magdalene: The Strength in a Name.” Colorful illustrations enhance the reading experience, and I especially like Mary’s portrait in which she has a young and individualistic appeal.
This beautiful book, featuring vibrant watercolors, contrasting muted pencil drawings, and relatable text, brings to life forty female characters from the Bible, including Mary Magdalene in her essay titled “Alive.” This version of Mary’s story alludes to one angel in the tomb as the Gospels of Matthew and Mark state, while other stories often describe two angelic visitors, as Luke and John declare. Following each story is a devotional section that highlights an attribute of God, suggests ways to become a better servant of the Lord, provides an inspirational prayer, and finally, suggests a verse of scripture which, for Mary’s story, is John 20:18 – “I have seen the Lord.”
Cris Conerty is an award-winning songwriter and children’s book author who collaborates with her daughter Alaina Larsen to create songs and stories that bring joy, comfort, and courage to followers of Christ. Together they co-authored The First to See: Mary’s Easter Story – a children’s picture book inspired by their original song of the same name. Their work can be found at www.alainalarsen.com
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