Not Your Average Easter Eggs

Spring has sprung! It's time to celebrate as we say goodbye to winter and hibernating inside. For me, Easter evokes memories of children dyeing eggs pastel pinks, blues, yellows and greens. Or painting patterns of colored flowers, bunnies, chicks and thick line patterns that range from straight to zig-zag. Decorating eggs with children and having them hunt them down afterward are festive time-honored traditions. This year, rather than the classic Easter egg, how about making ornate eggs from across the globe?

Egg decorating isn't only specific to America or Easter. It's global and used to celebrate different holidays. In Alice Lindstrom's Beautiful Eggs, get a glimpse into how the world decorates its eggs. Each style is highlighted on two-page spreads with rhythmic free verse prose discussing technique and cultural significance on one side: "Wind some fine wire around the egg. — Intricate loops. Patterns repeat. — Sometimes it looks — like a spider's web." The other side shares vibrant paper cut collages resembling folk art illustrations. After reading this book, you and your child will want to try one of its many eggcellent examples.

Activity

Here is a decorative egg style from the book that you and your child can try to make.

Cascarones are synonymous with Easter and Cinco de Mayo. These brightly colored eggs are hollowed out and filled with confetti to be popped in glorious fashion.

Books

Here are some topical books to pair with your Easter cascarones.

In Rechenka's Eggs, Babushka decorates eggs for the Easter festival. She pauses her decorating when she finds an injured goose on her land. She names it Rechenka. Rechenka lays an egg for breakfast every morning in gratitude. As Rechenka improves, she begins to explore Babushka's home, accidentally destroying Babushka's ornate eggs. Rechenka rectifies the mistake to Babushka by laying a series of 12 eggs more ostentatiously decorated than the last.

We're Going on An Egg Hunt is a story for fans of the song We're Going on a Bear Hunt. This version changes the bear to bunnies and eggs. This tale is also interactive, containing flaps that house hidden eggs for some counting fun.

If you're ready for more painting fun, try Egg Decorating! This book includes 20 dyeing and decorating techniques with illustrations for every step.