’Twas the Morning of Easter

In this companion to ’Twas the Evening of Christmas, Nellist offers a creative spin on the biblical Easter story by employing the sprightly rhyme scheme of Clement C. Moore’s “ ’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Nellist visits the guards posted outside of Jesus’s tomb (“ ’Twas the morning of Easter, before the sun rose,/ Two guards on a hillside were just trying to doze”), the 12 disciples (“The disciples were sleeping, but tossed in their beds,/ As visions of danger swirled ’round in their heads”), and “Jesus’ friend, Mary,” who plans to “go to the cave with perfume and spice,/ In hopes that her gifts would make Jesus smell nice,” before encountering the empty tomb and a resurrected Christ. Selivanova contributes atmospheric digital art, rich in chiaroscuro and subtle texture, which portrays largely white, Romantic era–like figures. The bouncy rhymes at times feel incongruous with the classical-feeling art, but on the whole, this is an engaging retelling of the Resurrection. Ages 4–8. [em](Feb.) [/em]