The Easter Story for Kids.
The Easter story is the most important story in the Bible. Jesus gave His life out of love, and then rose from the dead three days later. That changes everything.
Retold by Hannah Whitford · Matthew 27–28 · Luke 24 · Updated July 2026
The Story of The Easter Story for Kids
For young children, the Easter story should be told with honesty and hope. The sadness of Good Friday is real, but it does not have the last word. Easter morning, with its empty tomb and risen Jesus, is the great turning point of the whole Bible. It tells children that love is stronger than anything.
“Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky, and came and rolled away the stone from the door, and sat on it.”
Matthew 28:2
“…Why do you seek the living among the dead?”
Luke 24:5
“They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word.”
Matthew 28:8
Quotations from the World English Bible (public domain). Read the full passage together in your own family Bible. The reference is Matthew 27–28 · Luke 24.
Dear God, thank You for Easter. Thank You that Jesus rose from the dead. Help us live with joy and hope because of what He did. He is risen! Amen.
The Easter story teaches children that Jesus loves them so completely that He gave His life to forgive our wrongs, and then rose again to show that love wins over everything, even death. The empty tomb means that hope always has the last word.
- 01The empty tomb is a powerful, vivid image that children remember.
- 02The surprise of Easter morning, that Jesus is alive, gives the story real joy.
- 03Jesus appearing to His friends and calling them by name is deeply tender.
- 04Easter gives children a hopeful answer to hard questions about death and love.
Keep the story going.
The story doesn’t have to end at the last page. Print it, memorize it, or read the next one together.
“He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said…”
Matthew 28:6 · WEB
Take this story to the shelf.
A beautifully illustrated Bible storybook that presents every story as part of God's great rescue plan. Perfect for bedtime with its gentle, lyrical storytelling.
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Books that pair with this story.
Hand-picked after careful research, the ones we recommend most alongside this story.
Ages 4-8 yearsThe Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name
by Sally Lloyd-Jones
A beautifully illustrated Bible storybook that presents every story as part of God's great rescue plan. Perfect for bedtime with its gentle, lyrical storytelling.
Ages 2-6 yearsThe Beginner's Bible: Timeless Children's Stories
by Zondervan
Classic Bible stories retold in simple language with bright, engaging illustrations. Short stories perfect for winding down before sleep.
Ages 4-10 yearsThe Story of the Resurrection Eggs
by Family Life
Interactive Easter story with 12 plastic eggs containing symbols that tell the story of Jesus's death and resurrection.
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The kind of things parents wonder.
Start with the love: Jesus loved people so much He gave His life. Then share the hope: three days later He rose from the dead. Young children do not need every detail. They need to feel the sadness of Good Friday and the joy of Easter morning. The empty tomb is the key image to hold onto.
Conversation starters.
Questions to ask after you read together. No right answers, just good conversation.
How do you think the disciples felt on Saturday, the day in between? When they didn't know yet?
Mary didn't recognize Jesus at first. When did she know it was him, and why do you think that matters?
The disciples were hiding behind locked doors. What changed everything for them?
Easter means death didn't win. What difference does that make to how you want to live?
Teaching this story.
- 01With ages 3–5, keep Good Friday to one honest, simple sentence, such as 'Jesus died on the cross, and His friends were very sad,' and don't linger on how it happened. But don't skip it entirely either: without the sad day, Sunday morning has nothing to turn around.
- 02Give Saturday its moment. Pause between the tomb and the sunrise and ask what it felt like to wait, not knowing. Children know waiting better than almost anyone, and it makes the joy of Sunday land harder.
- 03Let your child be the angel. Once they know the line, 'He is not here, for he has risen' is theirs to announce: at the page turn, at breakfast on Easter morning, wherever. Being the one who gets to tell the good news is half the delight of this story.
- 04Expect big questions. 'Will you die? Will I?' often surface around Easter. Answer simply and honestly rather than deflecting. This is the story that exists to hold exactly those questions, and 'Jesus is stronger than death' is a true comfort you can offer without pretending death isn't real.
Empty-Tomb Garden
In a pie tin or shallow dish, build a little hillside from soil, lay a small flower pot on its side for the tomb, and set a stone in front of the opening. Add moss, grass seed, or a few picked flowers. On Easter morning, let your child roll the stone away themselves: an empty tomb they can actually look into makes the heart of the story concrete.
Sunrise Window
Tear yellow, orange, and pink tissue paper (or any thin colored paper) into strips and glue them across a paper plate with the middle cut out, or straight onto wax paper, to make an Easter-morning sunrise. Tape it in a window where the light shines through: a small daily reminder that the sad day was not the end of the story.
More stories from the library.
Keep exploring.
Bible Stories in Chronological Order for Kids
See where this story fits in the full Genesis-to-Revelation reading plan: 21 stories in order with summaries, ages, and a free printable.
Browse →Easter Bible Stories
Explore the full Easter season: from Palm Sunday through the Resurrection.
Browse →Palm Sunday
Read the story that began Holy Week: Jesus' humble entry into Jerusalem.
Browse →These Bible story retellings are based directly on Scripture and written for children ages 3–10. Each page includes its Scripture reference so families can read the original passage together. Content is reviewed by the Childhood Bible Stories editorial team.