Midwest Book Review
Debbie O'Neal offers families a wealth of ideas and activities to help make their Lenten observances more meaningful and for celebrating the Easter season and the Day of Pentecost. Before And After Easter will help children learn about the history, traditions, and symbols of Lent, Easter, and Pentecost, and focus on the real meaning of the season. With full-color illustrations throughout, Before And After Easter is a highly recommended addition to family, church, and community libraries.


Book Description
Fascinating facts, activities, crafts, and recipes for observing each day of Lent and for celebrating the Easter season. Debbie O’Neal tells the fascinating history of Lent and Easter and then takes families on a day-by-day journey through the season, with interesting crafts, activities, recipes, and worship ideas—all colorfully illustrated. And there are celebrations and activities for Easter Day and each week of the Easter season, plus a BONUS punch-out butterfly mobile.


From the Publisher
Debbie O’Neal is one of our most creative and successful authors. She is a mother, a teacher, and a popular speaker and workshop leader as well as a writer. Her ideas are fresh and appealing, and they’ve been well tested. We’re especially proud of this new edition of a bestseller.


From the Author
It seems I usually get the idea for a book or book format when I can't find something that I would like to read or use! I had written books and helped people discover the fun of Advent and Christmas legends, family traditions and activities, so it seemed natural to take this format of book into the seasons of Lent and Easter. When people came to me and said, "We know what to do for Advent and Christmas, but what about the rest of the year?" I knew the timing was right for BEFORE AND AFTER EASTER. Plus, with the great artwork of David LaRochelle, I knew that it could be a fun book for people to use year after year!


About the Author
Debbie Trafton O’Neal has written more than 30 books for children and families, including Augsburg’s THE FAMILY HAND-ME-DOWN BOOK, THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY, and A FAMILY COUNTDOWN TO EASTER. She lives with her family in Federal Way, Washington. David LaRochelle is a writer and illustrator of books for children and families, including PRIME TIME TOGETHER WITH KIDS and MORE PRIME TIME ACTIVITIES WITH KIDS.


Excerpted from Before and After Easter : Activities and Ideas for Lent to Pentecost by Debbie Trafton O'Neal, David Larochelle. Copyright © 2001. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK The season of Lent in the church year is perhaps one of the most important and significant to God’s people. Just as Advent is a time for preparing our lives for the coming of Christ at Christmas, so Lent can help us prepare for celebrating the joyful message of the resurrection at Easter, and for welcoming the coming of the Holy Spirit as it came to the apostles on the Day of Pentecost. This book is intended primarily for use by families, but anyone will benefit from using it, especially those who work with children. It contains information about the history and traditions of the seasons of Lent, Easter, and Pentecost, as well as symbols and their meanings, the stories of the seasons, and activities for the days of Lent and the weeks between Easter and the Day of Pentecost. Read through the entire book to help you decide how you will use it. For instance, if you have small children you may want to review a story several times, extending the activity that goes with it for more than one day. Or you may want to switch activities from one day to another, depending on your families schedule or the type of activity. There are enough ideas here to last for several seasons. However you use this book, it is hoped that it will bring deeper meaning to your family’s observances of the days before and after Easter!

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Debbie O'Neal offers a wealth of ideas and activities for observing the days of Lent and for celebrating the season of Easter and the Day of Pentecost. Specific activities, including crafts and service projects are included for each day.

SYNOPSIS

Debbie Trafton O'Neal tells the fascinating history and traditions of Lent, and then takes families on a day-by-day journey through the season. Included are interesting crafts, activities, recipes and worship ideas for Lent, weeks of Easter, and the day of Pentecost.