The Wondrous Child is a beautiful story to share at Easter time. It is a story of love and healing brought to the world by a child who has help from the animal kingdom. Themes of selflessness, perseverance and light imbue our hearts with hope that is much needed in this uncertain time. We share this story at the end of our article, and we hope you enjoy it just as much as your children will.
We also have a number of glorious books titles to share with you. Each is selected for its story content, beautiful illustrations, or both. All of these books can be found online for purchase, of course, but Mama Christina also has a clever plan to set up a “Front Door Lending Library” with a couple of trusted friends. Each family purchases just one or two books, and when you’re finished reading them, set up a date to switch books with a friend by delivering to their front door. Like magical little book faeries, you’ll be!
Some of our favorite Spring titles:
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McClosky
And Then It’s Spring by Julie Fogliano
The Bee Tree by Patricia Polacco
My Garden by Kevin Henkes
Farfallina and Marcel by Holly Keller
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes
The Happy Day by Ruth Krauss
Poppleton in Spring by Cynthia Rylant
The Thing about Spring by Daniel Kirk
The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle
Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel
The Curious Garden by Peter Brown
Two Little Gardeners by Margaret Wise Brown and Edith Hurd
The Golden Egg Book by Margaret Wise Brown
Nibble, Nibble by Margaret Wise Brown
The Wondrous Child
Some time ago, on this very Earth, the land was not a joyful, healthful place. The trees grew in a crooked way–bowed, as if they were weeping. The flowers in the fields were colorless and withered. Similarly, the people of the Earth lived dim and grey lives—except for one wondrous child.
This wondrous child was filled with love and life and he had a plan to bring brightness of the Sun to the Earth. The wondrous child called upon all of the animal kingdom to join him in a large field, and he said, “Dear friends, I have gathered you here so that you might help me to bring health and light to our land. In order to do this, one of you must be able to race around the entire Earth in a single evening and meet me here when the Sun rises. Is there anyone here who would like to attempt this task?”
The animals looked to one another. Then, the stag stepped forward. “I am very strong said the stag, and I should like to try the race.”
“Very well, then”, said the wondrous child. “You may begin this evening.”
That evening all of the animals gathered to watch the strong stag begin. The stag ran swiftly over the Earth, jumping over streams, going up hill and down valleys, until he came to a craggy mountainside. The stag began to jump from boulder to boulder. He was taking great pleasure in exercising his strength, when he forgot completely about the race. The wondrous child was waiting in the clearing when the sun rose over the horizon, but the stag did not arrive.
The child called out to all of the animals present. “Friends, the race will continue this evening. Please, search your hearts and tell me if you would like to try.” The animals looked to one another. Then, the wondrous child noticed some splashing at the water’s edge. It was the salmon. “Dear child,” said the salmon. “I can swiftly glide through the waters of the world, and I should like to try the race.”
“Very well, then”, said the wondrous child. “You may begin this evening.”
That evening all of the animals gathered to watch the swift salmon begin. She darted away from the shore, went through streams and underwater tunnels, until the moon was high in the sky. The moonbeams danced upon the water, and the salmon mistook the light for mayflies. She jumped up to catch them and jumped up to catch them, and she forgot completely about the race. The wondrous child was waiting in the clearing when the sun rose over the horizon, but the salmon did not arrive.
The child called out to all of the animals present. “Friends, the race will continue this evening. Please, search your hearts and tell me if you would like to try.” The animals looked to one another. They noticed as a grand eagle pumped and settled his wings, while sitting in an uppermost branch. “Dear child,” said the eagle “I can soar boldly above both land and water, and I should like to try the race.”
“Very well, then”, said the wondrous child. “You may begin this evening.”
That evening all of the animals gathered to watch the bold eagle begin. He fearlessly flew to perilous heights, the wind carrying him over both lakes and hillsides, when his keen eyes spied a field mouse scurrying amongst the shadows. The eagle dove down in pursuit of the mouse, and the mouse dove under a rock. The eagle arose in search of another mouse, diving in pursuit of them, and he forgot completely about the race. The wondrous child was waiting in the clearing when the sun rose over the horizon, but the eagle did not arrive.
The child called out to all of the animals present. “Friends, the race will continue this evening. Please, search your hearts and tell me if you would like to try.” The animals noticed some rustling in the tall grasses, and out hopped a steadfast hare. “Dear child,” said the hare, “I would like very much to bring joy and light to our Earth. I should like to try the race.”
“Very well, then”, said the wondrous child. “You may begin this evening.”
That evening all of the animals gathered to watch the steadfast hare begin. She hopped through the grasses, dodged trees and boulders, crossed over streams. All the time, she remembered the plan to bring joy to the Earth. Still, the going was long and hard, and she became very tired. The hare wanted to stop and rest, but she remembered the wondrous child waiting for her. At last, she saw the clearing, and she arrived just as the sun was peeking over the horizon.
“Dear friends, we have a winner of the race,” exclaimed the wondrous child. The animals kindly greeted the steadfast hare, and the child shared with them the plan for healing the Earth.
“Steadfast hare, in a single evening you shall deliver a gift to each child in the world —an egg. When the children open their eggs, they will find a drop of golden sunlight hidden within. When they see the light, they will know that a golden light lies hidden within themselves.”
From that day forward, the hare has delivered these eggs, spreading joy and light of the Sun. If it ever was, so it always shall be.