The Easter Surprise

The Churchmans first introduced Moonrise Farm and its animal residents in The SheepOver. The series continues with an Easter-themed story starring Fern, a tawny-colored rabbit, who is looking for a friend who “promised her a surprise today.” Fern roams a springtime barnyard, pasture, and light-bathed woodland, where she discovers an Easter egg featuring an image of an orange kitten: “The picture on that egg looks just like Mo the farm kitten.” Ornately illustrated eggs by Ukrainian artist Theresa Somerset use Jan Brett–style visual foreshadowing, featuring images of the animals that will appear next. (“Fern discovered Mo prowling around the kitchen garden.”) Readers familiar with the other titles in the Sweet Pea & Friends series will appreciate the reappearance of characters, including Sweet Pea the sheep and sheepdog Maisie. The joyful photo illustrations offer a dreamlike, pastoral world that readers will be eager to revisit. Ages 4–8. [em](Feb.) [/em]