What's Easter Got to do with Eggs

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"America's Riddle King" explains the Easter story

Contact: Stephanie Mayabb, 512-478-2028 ext 203, smayabb@phenixpublicity.com

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Mar. 12 /Christian Newswire/ -- Like Santa, the Easter Bunny can create quite a conundrum for kids and their parents when it comes to celebrating the true meaning of a Christian holiday. After all, what do eggs, chocolates and bunnies have to do with Jesus' resurrection?

In a unique approach, "America's Riddle King" Mike Thaler helps kids differentiate truth from tradition this season with his new book, Easter Egg Haunt (February 2009, Zonderkidz, 978-0-310-71591-7, $4.99). One of four books in his "Tales from the Back Pew" series, Easter Egg Haunt gets kids laughing as Thaler sets the record straight about all things Easter.

In the book, a Sunday school class adorns Easter eggs with tulips, roses and funny clown faces, while one boy paints his egg to look like Frankenstein. Realizing the kids might be missing the point, the teacher gathers the students to share the real Easter story:

"Why is it called Easter and not Wester?" I asked. My teacher scratched his head...
"Maybe it's because the Son rises in the east," I exclaimed. "Maybe." My teacher smiled. "Maybe."
"And what's Easter got to do with eggs?"
"Well," answered my teacher, "the eggs are eggstra. People added them to the Holiday...sort of like Santa Claus was added to Christmas."
"And what about the Easter Bunny?"
"He hopped aboard too."
"So," I said. "Easter is really all about Jesus."
"Like everything else." My teacher smiled. "Like everything else."

The colorful stories in "Tales from the Back Pew" are reminiscent of Thaler's "Black Lagoon" books, which now celebrate 20 years and more than 12.5 million copies sold. Thaler and illustrator Jared Lee keep the punches rolling to teach kids with humor and wit - this time in church. They say, "it's Black Lagoon goes to church."

"Tales from the Back Pew" uses Thaler's signature storytelling to deflate kids' anxiety about church, summer camp, mission trips and Easter. Featured titles include:

Preacher Creature Strikes on Sunday (Feb. 2009, Zonderkidz, 978-031-071589-4)
Church Summer Cramp (Feb. 2009, Zonderkidz, 978-031-071592-4)
Mission Trip Impossible (Feb. 2009, Zonderkidz, 978-031-071590-0)

Thaler is the author of more than 200 books and the creator of the "Letterman" character for PBS' "The Electric Company." For nearly 30 years, he and Lee have been called "The Court Jesters of Children's Literature" for their collaboration on more than 70 hilarious books.

Since devoting his life to Christ 11 years ago, Thaler says "life has gone from black and white to glorious Technicolor." Today, his knack for imaginative story-telling, combined with a passion for Christ, is helping spread the love of Jesus to children everywhere. In 2000, Thaler's "Heaven and Mirth" series marked his foray into the Christian market and included funny Bible stories like Adam and the Apple Turnover and Moses Take Two Tablets and Call Me in the Morning. He enjoys performing free public readings for the children at the churches and synagogues he frequents across the nation. Learn more at www.mikethaler.com.

For more information, contact Stephanie Mayabb at
smayabb@phenixpublicity.com, (512) 478-2028, ext. 203.