Easter

by Jan Pieńkowski

Detailed silhouettes, bright colors, and ornamental gilding depict scenes from the Bible such as the Last Supper, the betrayal by Judas, the trial before Pontius Pilate, the crucifixion, and the resurrection.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Christian, Holiday, Religion

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 30, 1989

About the author

Jan Michel Pieńkowski is a Polish-born British illustrator and author of children's books. He is probably best known for his Meg and Mog books with writer Helen Nicoll and for his pop-up books, including Haunted House (winner of the 1980 Kate Greenaway Medal), Robot, Dinner Time, Good Night and seventeen others.

Pieńkowski illustrated his first book at the age of eight, as a present for his father. During World War II, Pieńkowski's family moved about Europe, finally settling in Herefordshire, England in 1946. He attended the Cardinal Vaughan School in London, and later read English and Classics at King's College, Cambridge.

After leaving university Pieńkowski founded the Gallery Five greeting cards company. He began illustrating children's books in his spare time, but soon found the work taking over all his time. He began working with children's author Joan Aiken in 1968; he later won the first of two Kate Greenaway Medals in 1972 for his illustrations for Aiken's The Kingdom Under the Sea.

Pieńkowski has had a life-long interest in stage design. He was commissioned to provide designs for Theatre de Complicite, Beauty and the Beast for the Royal Ballet, and Sleeping Beauty at Disneyland Paris.

In 2005 Pienkowski contracted a civil partnership with David Walser, with whom he has been in a relationship for over forty years.

Pienkowski suffers from bipolar disorder.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Using selections from the King James Bible as his text, and his own beautiful silhouette artwork for illustrations, Jan Pieńkowski has created a powerful picture-book presentation of the Easter story in this title. Opening as Jesus and his Disciples arrive in Jerusalem for the observance of Passover, the book chronicles the process whereby Christ is betrayed by Judas Iscariot, taken into custody and tried, and executed by crucifixion at Calvary. It concludes, of course, with the Resurrection, and the command to spread the word.

I spotted this gem as I was walking past my local library's Easter display this past weekend, and recalling that an online friend had reviewed it favorably, picked it up. I have loved Pieńkowski's artwork since the time I first encountered it in the works of Joan Aiken, and have appreciated his illustrations in everything from the Meg and Mog books to his fairy tale retellings, and was curious to see what he would do with more religious themes. His trademark silhouettes are paired here with vibrantly colorful floral backdrops, generously embellished with gold, and the result is simply gorgeous. It also happens to work very well with the text: somehow the representation of the human figures in silhouette adds to the power of the story itself - perhaps because the reader is not distracted by the faces of the people being depicted? It has always seemed to me that the Easter story has as much terror to it as joy - it is truly awesome, in the old-fashioned sense of inspiring awe - and this book captured that feeling perfectly. Recommended to anyone looking for beautiful picture-book presentations of the Easter story - the real, non-watered-down Easter story.

[Yibbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pienkowski has carefully compiled verses from the Gospels to tell the story of the Crucifixion and Resurrection. He has not put it in his own words. Instead, he quotes directly from the King James Version of the Bible. He did a wonderful job of compiling verses from all of the Gospels into one story. It reads very smoothly.
This is a very elegantly illustrated book. The text is surrounded by gilded branches, leaves, and flowers; and each section starts with an illuminated capital. The background colors really pop against the silhouette figure giving each page a vibrancy that captures the eye. I really liked that method of illustrating a Biblical story. It seemed to put more emphasis on the Words than on the pictures.
I think it would be a wonderful book to read to every child. With the illustrations, and the story compiled so well, it makes the story very easy to comprehend.

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

One can't really call this a "version" of the Easter story, as the text is taken directly from the King James translation of the Bible. It is accompanied by Pienkowski's distinctive, complex silhouettes over colored background. The text itself is enlivened with beautiful illuminated capitals and decorative floral motifs, which often twine from the text page over to the illustration, linking them more closely together.

You can read this and several other of Pienkowski's out-of-print books here:
http://www.janpienkowski.com/fun-and-...

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The text is that of the Authorized King James Version of the Bible, with verses taken from all four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The verses cover events from the entry into Jerusalem of Jesus on the donkey, to the crucifixion, to the resurrection and post-resurrection appearances.
The illustrations are gorgeous, with silhouettes of people against lush backgrounds and surrounded by a border of shiny gold foil. Decorations of plants, leaves, birds, etc. appear on the pages with text, also with gold foil accents. A lovely book to celebrate the season.

[Colette · Rating 3 out of 5]

First I have to say that King James version of the Bible isn't my favorite. Difficult to understand centuries old English, but I love the dark and light used in the pictures that are reminiscent of old block carvings, and gold filigree of ancient Bibles inscribed by monk's in monasteries hundreds of years ago. I do enjoy rereading this story, though it is not complete.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story from the visit to Martha, Mary, and Lazarus before Palm Sunday through the Resurrection, appearance to Doubting Thomas and more.

The illustrations are beautiful, but there's a lot of the story on each page and it jumps from Gospel to Gospel which makes the story feel not very coherent sometimes.

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revisiting an older classic title...

Using text from the Authorized King James Version of the Bible, specifically from the Books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, Kate Greenaway Award-winning illustrator Pieńkowski created a masterpiece in this book. This book begins with a stunning sunrise on the end sheets, where golden rays of the sun explode from the center. The focal piece of each 2-page spread is a large full-color imagining of the accompanying text. Created masterfully with full-color backgrounds using mixed media, the black silhouette "scherenschnitt" focal artwork laid on top of each background is sharp and crisp, full of action and emotion. Each stunning centerpiece is surrounded by two lines of gold ink, essentially framing each piece. The adorning ornamentation that accompanies these has strong gold outlines (instead of black). Gold is also used extensively in the boxed illustrated letters that indicate a new passage of text is beginning.

Bookmaking at its finest.

Highly recommended for families to read and enjoy each Easter.

[Cecile · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Scripture, with the author's illustrations. You could just read the story from your Bible aloud to your children and have them paint the illustrations.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book depicting the passion and resurrection of Jesus is beautiful in multiple layers with silhouettes, ornate capital letters on each page, and deepening little details. It is easy to just look and look and look at the pages. Unfortunately, the choice to pair the images with selected passages from the Gospels in the King James Version, makes the narrative less accessible for young readers and also older readers who have shifted to more recent and readable Bible translations.

[Chelsea Hoschar · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Easter’ is a re-telling of the Biblical Easter story in the King James style. It begins at the point of the story of people traveling to Jerusalem for Passover, covers the story of Christ’s betrayal, torture, crucifixion, resurrection, and appearance to His disciples after the resurrection. It is not written in story format but is written as you read it in the Bible itself. The real spectacle of this book is the vividness of the illustrations. They are exactly as they are in the Christmas book by this same author. The people and foreground of the pictures are completely black or in shadow, so no details can be made out. The background of the pictures are bright and vibrant blended colors that show the sky, background structures, or other natural features. Every picture is absolutely beautiful. This book is at an ‘I’ reading level and may be difficult for developing readers because of the King James language. For older readers, however, this could be a good challenge and exposure to a different writing style.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The artwork and silhouette illustrations within this book are beautiful. That is the only thing I liked about this Easter story. It has verses from the King James version of the Bible, which I have always loathed for it's awkward use of Old English. Bible stories for children should be easy to understand. If you plan to read this book to a child, be prepared to explain what is going on, especially if the child is unfamilar with Jesus and Easter.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely reprint of the 1989 classic. Pienkowski has illustrated a telling of the Easter story using verses from the King James Bible. Black silhouettes against colorful backgrounds pair with text and are suitably reverent while skirting the issue of race. An excellent choice for an Easter gift. Recommended.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The King James Bible version of the Passion illustrated with Pienkowski's gorgeous silhouettes. The language will be difficult for most kids, as well as the description of the crucifixion, but this one is meant to be shared by families.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The silhouette illustrations are beautiful, and he tells the story entirely with verses from the King James Bible.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

And, as with Pienkowski's Christmas book, we loved the silhouette drawings but Flannery wasn't born in 1583. So, KJV scriptures are a little lost on her at the tender age of 3.

[Magda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I prefer the Fiona French version, although this one was okay.

[Leaflet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mainly for the beautiful silhouette illustrations and illuminated letter art. I wouldn't have chosen the KJV, though.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faithful text and amazing illustrations.

[Katrina Tangen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have his Christmas one and love it, although the copy I have, at least, is small. So I was pleasantly surprised by how big this one is! I love his art, although I think this story was more challenging for him since there are so many characters who are not easily distinguished from each other in silhouette. So it's not quite as successful as the Christmas one, but it's still very good.

The text is from the King James, which is kind of a slog for a kid. But it's well-abridged, so it's still pretty accessible, and the font is nice and big.

[Isobel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story teaches children about the importance of Easter and how Christians celebrate Easter to remember the death of Jesus.

I would recommend this story because the shadow illustrations are beautiful and they helped me to understand the important story of Easter.