Easter: A Selection of Verses from the King James Bible - Hardcover

Pienkowski, Jan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 038539277X ISBN 13: 9780385392778

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2015

Synopsis

Breathtaking illustrations accompany text from the King James Bible in this reverent depiction of the Easter story.
 
Jan Pienkowski’s Easter depicts the most important story in the Christian religion with stunning illustrations: black silhouettes and decorative gold ink against brilliant jewel-like colors. The text is selected from the King James version of the Bible (The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), and presents a clear and meaningful telling of the last supper, the betrayal by Judas, the trial before Pontius Pilate, the crucifixion, and the resurrection of Jesus. Originally published in 1989, Easter is a beautiful work of art and a book that families will treasure at Easter time and throughout the year.
 
“Dazzling beauty and poignant emotion suffuse these illustrations, which give an intensely personal interpretation of the King James version of the Easter gospels.” —School Library Journal, Starred

About this title

About the Author:

JAN PIENKOWSKI is a distinguished illustrator of children’s books. Born in Warsaw, Poland, in 1936, he spent his childhood there under German occupation and moved to England shortly after the war. He studied English literature and classics at Cambridge and became a designer after graduation. Since then he has illustrated more than fifty children’s books and was twice awarded England’s highest honor for children’s book illustration, the Kate Greenaway Medal.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 4 Up-- Dazzling beauty and poignant emotion suffuse these illustrations, which give an intensely personal interpretation of the King James version of the Easter gospels. The principal events are shown with such dramatic force through the use of agitated black silhouettes upon vividly colored backgrounds that the effect is almost shocking. Jesus' slender, often hunched figure aches with human suffering. His disciples are truly ordinary, slightly unkempt men undergoing a bewildering experience. In contrast to these stark figures enclosed in frames are exquisite representations of the stems and branches of plants and trees done in luminous colors and highlighted with gleaming gold, which sweep freely across the same pages. Symbols of spring and renewed life abound. The typography is large and clear, with initial letters gorgeously decorated in the style of an illuminated manuscript. Like the impressive He Is Risen (Holiday, 1985), adapted by Elizabeth Winthrop and illustrated by Charles Mikolaycak, this book is more suited to older children and adults than to the usual picture book audience, not only because of the Shakespearean English but also because of the sophistication of the illustrations. An understanding of the Passion of Jesus Christ is essential also to their appreciation, although they could be used as a starting point for teaching about Easter. Librarians will want to have both books. --Patricia Pearl, First Presbyterian School, Martinsville, Va.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 038539277X
• ISBN 13: 9780385392778
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32