This Easter story sidesteps bunnies altogether, as it’s a loving grandmother who hides her beautiful, hand-painted Easter eggs for her five grandchildren to find. The story focuses on a charming squirrel named Harry who lives in the grandmother’s backyard. He is horrified to discover that a jackdaw (a European bird like a crow) has stolen all the eggs and hidden them in his nest. The bird, with the obvious name of Jack, longs for his own eggs, and even though he has a nest, he has no partner and no eggs. Harry convinces Jack to return the decorated eggs so the children can discover them on Easter morning, and they work together to accomplish hiding the eggs again. Harry introduces Jack to a bird named Jackie, and soon the two jackdaws have six speckled eggs of their own. The simple story is predictable and sweet, but the large-format watercolor illustrations of the springtime backyard and the appealing squirrel and birds elevate this effort beyond the usual Easter Bunny adventure. The medium is used to excellent effect, with misty backgrounds of crocus blossoms and spring greens or pink trees glowing against green hills. The Easter eggs are painted in traditional Ukrainian style, with tiny geometric prints and patterns that add a special touch to this story, first published in Switzerland. (Picture book. 3-6)
