Jesus is Risen!

The stack of pop-up books by our reading chair seems to be growing with a life of its own. This has inspired a happy revisiting of “Jesus is Risen!” by Agostino Traini, June’s recommended picture book.

Growing up, my ideas of what happened after Jesus’ crucifixion were fuzzy. What did all of the big words mean: resurrection? ascension? Pentecost? When did they happen? Why? I did like picturing tongues of fire.

What I appreciate about “Jesus is Risen!” is that it tells Jesus’ story as a single narrative from the empty tomb to Pentecost, rather than as disconnected events remembered on different days of the liturgical year. Each spread is one story of the Easter Season or Pentecost, allowing readers and listeners to read the text all the way through for narrative continuity. The text is mostly a paraphrase of scripture, inviting readers to ponder each moment of the sacred story. The illustrations are so captivating that they invite readers to pause and wonder about one day like Pentecost, which falls on June 6 this year.

Pentecost in “Jesus is Risen!”

“Jesus is Risen” by Agostino Traini. Published by Beaming Books in 2018.