Anthony DeStefano. The Story of the First Easter Bunny. Manchester, NH: Sophia Institute Press, 2024. Hardcover $17.95. eBook $9.99. 32 pages. Available from the publisher.
“A long time ago—over two thousand years—there lived a small bunny with very large ears.”
Between Easter baskets and egg hunts, the real meaning of the holiest day of the year is often forgotten by the wayside. There are many books that teach children about the Birth of our Savior in an engaging way. Finally, bestselling author Anthony DeStefano’s newest book The Story of the First Easter Bunny reveals the mysteries of the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord through the eyes of an endearing bunny who takes us on a heart-pounding adventure.
Dr. Dick Eastman, Every Home for Christ president, wrote, “Anthony DeStefano has broken new ground with The Story of the First Easter Bunny. Only DeStefano could so uniquely connect the fictitious Easter Bunny to the true meaning of Easter in a way that will capture the imagination of children everywhere. I can think of no greater way for parents to explain Easter to children than reading them this wonderfully creative and beautifully illustrated story!”
Perhaps you have little ones in your life like me. I think of my little nieces and nephew who are precocious, curious, and eager to learn about new things. The unique gift of DeStefano’s writing is that he reveals the profound truths of our faith without watering them down yet in a delightful way that children can understand. And even the hearts of adults will be touched when they read about the story of this bunny who is seeking healing for his sick mother.
In his CatholicLink article, “Should Catholic Parents Allow Their Children To Believe In The Easter Bunny?” DeStefano relates why it’s important to “adopt” secular symbols. “Easter celebrates Christ’s resurrection from the dead and the opening of the gates of Heaven—this is the very cornerstone of the Christian Faith. Parents must be vigilant that this profound truth is not lost amid the colorful chaos of chocolate treats and dyed eggs. One of the ways we can accomplish this goal without sacrificing the fun and playfulness offered by characters like the Easter Bunny is to ‘adopt’ them for our own use. Just as the real Saint Nicholas is easily associated with the fake Santa Claus, so too can we draw parallels between the Easter Bunny and the true meaning of Easter.”
Each year I look for that special book that I can give to children to share the treasures of our faith at Easter time. The Story of the First Easter Bunny is the gift that I will give them this year and they will undoubtedly cherish for years to come.
Members of the media may send an email to Sophia Communications’ Director, Sarah Lemieux at slemieux@SophiaInstitute.com to receive a copy of The Story of the First Easter Bunny, and/or to schedule an interview.
