What To Put In Those Easter Baskets: Books and More
I like to make anything and everything a celebration, so, naturally, holidays are always a cause for extra excitement on my end. As a kid, I loved picking out my Easter dress and the gloves, hat, and purse to pair with it and I’d wake up on Easter morning eager to hunt for candy and my Easter basket hidden somewhere around the house. It will come as no surprise, therefore, that I woke up one morning recently with my thoughts happily buzzing about books and presents that would be perfect for Easter baskets for all ages. (They also happen to be perfect if you don’t celebrate Easter and just want some spring feeling things. Also…very important reminder…the Easter bunny or spring fairy or whatever should come for you, too.)
For the books, I’ve listed them in approximately age order, from board books to books for you, although I’m an adult who loves picture books and middle grade, so really they’re for anyone. You’ll see that these books are ones that feel sunshine-y and spring-y to me, ones I know would bring a smile to my face to see in my or my loved one’s Easter basket.
For the non-book gifts, I’m no longer sorting by any kind of age indication, since you’ll be able to tell from the item description if it interests you or not. I will say, though, that you’d be surprised how excited teenagers can get to mess around with playdough or Legos again. Get creative! I hope this inspires you to add in some fun things to those baskets.
Many of these are affiliate links. While I do all of this because I genuinely enjoy the creative outlet, it is time consuming, so I deeply appreciate you using the links if you’re buying any of these items. It means a lot to have your support in that way. Okay, onto the book list and gift list!
Books
– “Spring” by Leo Lionni
– “I Am A Bunny” by Richard Scarry
– “When Spring Comes” by Kevin Henkes
– “Happy Easter, Mouse!” by Laura Numeroff
– “Little Blue Truck’s Springtime” by Alice Schertle
– “Baby Animals” by Gyo Fujikawa
– “Planting A Rainbow” by Lois Elhert
– “If You Hold A Seed” by Elly McKay
– “Wolfie the Bunny” by Ame Dyckman
– “We Are the Gardeners” by Joanna Gaines
– “Sun and Moon” by Lindsey Yankey
– “Bunny Trouble” by Mr. Hans Wilhelm
– “Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt” by Kate Messner
– “Miss Rumphius” by Barbara Cooney
– The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
– The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden by Karina Yan Glaser
– Bloomability by Sharon Creech
– The Glory of Their Times: The Story of the Early Days of Baseball Told by the Men Who Played It by Lawrence S. Ritter
– The Brothers K by David James Duncan
– Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day by Winifred Watson
– Felicity by Mary Oliver
– The Principles of Uncertainty by Maira Kalman
– The Next Right Thing: A Simple, Soulful Practice for Making Life’s Decisions by Emily P. Freeman
– Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngson
– The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Armin
– Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel by Mariah Marsden
– this pretty cover I haven’t yet seen of Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
– The Blue Castle or this version by L.M. Montgomery
– Simple Cake: All You Need to Keep Your Friends and Family in Cake by Odette Williams
– Honey and Jam: Seasonal Baking from my Kitchen in the Mountains by Hannah Queen
Sometimes People Want More Than Just Books?
– The Mouse in a Box from Maileg are the cutest. I want all of them.
– You can buy playdough or I really like this recipe for making it yourself. The texture of the homemade one is pretty great.
– Little kids consistently go nuts for these egg shakers at library music time. The play scarves tend to be a hit, too, although they might be easy to make if you prefer that.
– It probably sounds weird initially, but kids of a certain age would probably feel really cool with a portable tape player or CD player for audiobooks and music. You’d also get some quiet.
– Are suncatchers too 90s? It’s always fun to see the rainbows, though, and it feels very springlike to be extra excited for the sun.
– I still remember getting one of these lace and trace toys in my Easter basket. These could be great for a longer car ride, too.
– Stickers, duh.
– You and your kids can both enjoy puzzles like this small Anne of Green Gables one or small Harry Potter one.
– My brother and I were obsessed with PlayMobil and this bunny barn and Easter bunny workshop would be fun. LEGO fans can enjoy this one or this one.
– Paper dolls are so sweet and these are from Little House!
– I think art supplies should always be included. These scissors would be fun.
– I have mug problem. Do you? This travel mug is cute, this Bob Ross mug makes me laugh, and this one of Jane Austen quotes or that looks like a library card are bookishly great.
– Now I’m just shopping for myself because I need slippers. Maybe accompanied by The Hungry Caterpillar, Books Turn Muggles Into Wizards, or Jane Austen socks? And Hitchhiker’s Guide ones for my fellow bigtime nerds? Hmm I’m in deep with these socks. One more, though…perhaps the punny “significant otter” socks for you and your partner?
– These enamel pins and zippered pouches like the Little Women one are all really cute, too.
Is there anything you particularly remember getting in an Easter basket or any favorite memories you have from this time of year? What other books remind you of springtime and Easter?
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Great suggestions here!! I pretty much want every book you suggested. I’m ordering The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden from your link as a little Easter present to myself 🙂
Oh yay, that makes me so happy!! Thank you SO much for using that link! So sweet of you <3. I'm wanting a copy, too, because I absolutely adored it and know that I'll for sure be rereading it, and probably fairly often, as a happy comfort read. I liked it even better than the first.
Oh yay, I’m excited to hear that!! They are such sweet books!!