Bookworm List: Egg-cellent Reads ( plus movies!!)

Well, I'm hoping Tuesday was the last time we'll see snow (or else the Easter Bunny will be wearing a coat and boots to hide the eggs and deliver the baskets of jellybeans, chocolates and Peeps. I have the new Birthday Cake Peeps, good to add to coffee! Or yes, explode in the microwave but what a mess!)

So after the egg hunts and gathering with family for ham ( or lamb) and bunny cake, you'll probably want to wind down with some Easter and spring-related books. Here are a few recommendations, which you might find on our display shelf by the front desk or the ABC box by the New Book Elephant (which might also have some new Easter/spring books):

• *NEW* Pete the Cat: Big Easter Adventure by Kimberly and James Dean- Pete the Cat helps the Easter Bunny decorate the eggs and hide them ( plus dress like a bunny. A cat dressed like a bunny, now that's funny!!!)

• The Easter Bunny's Assistant by Jan Thomas-The Easter Bunny has a new assistant named Skunk and he's going to help decorate the eggs. But when he gets excited, it....stinks!!

• *NEW*Here Comes Peter Cottontail by Kristen Depken- Picture book adaptation of the  1971 Rankin-Bass cartoon.

• Easter Parade by Irving Berlin ( illustrated by Lisa McCue) Picture book adaptation of the classic Irving Berlin song from the movie Easter Parade ( lyrics included at the back. Kind of wished it came with a CD for those not familiar with the song, especially because it features the lesser-known opening verse.)

Now, the kids might also want some Easter/ spring related movies. This... might be hard because unfortunately, most people think religious ( most of which are too much to handle due to subject material and length. The classic Ten Commandments, airing this Saturday on ABC is 4 hours long!!!). And of what there is bunny and eggs, very hard to find ( there were about 10 or so special back in my 80s-90s childhood, like Peter and the Magic Egg and Family Circus Easter. Plus ABC used to air the Walt Disney Easter Parade, featuring Southern Belles and a sing-along to Peter Cottontail or Easter Parade. Check the Youtube). So here is my best recommendations that I can think of:

• It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown!- Love Snoopy and the dancing bunnies ( plus Patty's attempt to teach Marcie to die eggs.) It will be airing this Sunday on ABC at 6 pm ( along with a Charlie Brown baseball cartoon)
• Here comes Peter Cottontail- Based off the book The Easter Bunny that Overslept, it's the story of how the Easter Bunny came to be (and sort of a sequel to Santa Claus is Coming to Town because it features the mailman voiced by Fred Astaire.)
• Prince of Egypt- For those that want Moses but not the long movie, there is 1998 Dreamworks musical cartoon featuring the voices of Val Kilmer and Patrick Stewart. 
• Alice in Wonderland- The Disney 1951 animated movie (or the lesser-known 1985 CBS TV-movie with Carol Channing, Sammy Davis Jr., and  a bunch of big stars, which we have over at Dyer, Hobart, Lake-Station, and Munster ) are my favorite takes on the Lewis Carroll tale ( and actually I am using the Disney soundtrack for my Easter program this Monday). The 2010 Tim Burton is okay ( but more appropriate for Halloween because of Burton freakiness).

I am also recommending a few movie musicals that take place during the 1800-1900s, like Hello Dolly, My Fair Lady,Gigi, Mary Poppins, Newsies and of course, Easter Parade. ( Why? Because the Victorian/Edwardian clothes and designs show up in a lot of Easter decorations and some of the songs from these musicals, especially " Easter Parade" and " Put on Your Sunday Clothes" are used alot in Easter parades.)


 We will be open tomorrow and Saturday at our normal hours but closed Sunday due to the Easter holiday.
Happy Easter!!