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. ( )

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Mint condition