The Great Waking Up: The Story of Easter
Words by Sarah Shin; Illustrations by Shin Maeng
Introduce children to the hope and promise found in the Resurrection with this one-of-a-kind picture book, which retells the story of Easter through the eyes of a young girl living at the same time as Jesus.
Anastasia loves to dream. Every morning, she shares the wonderful adventures from her dreams with her mother, Anika. And each night, Anika tells Anastasia about the dreams of their people to inspire new ones.
Her favorite is the dream of the Great Waking Up, the day when there will be no more death! And that dream feels close to coming true as Anastasia watches the Deliverer, Jesus, heal and awaken people from a deep, dark sleep. So when Jesus is crucified, Anastasia is left heartbroken. How can the Great Waking Up happen if He is not here?
But hope is not lost...because Anastasia will soon discover the tomb is empty and that Jesus is risen! The Great Waking Up has begun! Join Anastasia on a journey of dreams and faith, where hope transcends despair, and the promise of eternal life brings joy to all.
Look Inside
Praise for The Great Waking Up
“In The Great Waking Up, Sarah Shin brilliantly allows a child to lead us in celebrating the new life that Jesus came to give, while Shin Maeng's awe-inspiring illustrations invite readers to linger on each page of the story. This will be a treasured read for families and churches, and a grace-filled gift to share the promise of eternal life with others.” —Dorena Williamson, Bridgebuilder, Pastor, Bestselling author of Brown Baby Jesus and Crowned with Glory
“The Great Waking Up is bursting with the beauty, the joy and the hope of Jesus. For anyone longing for that day, or wondering what comes after life, this book is the best expression of Jesus as the resurrection and the life that I have come across. Sarah and Shin so wonderfully paint a picture of God’s big, redemptive story for all people, and convey so well what the cross means for us all, both now and in eternity. This book is guaranteed to light up families’ homes and hearts with the hope, the truth, the beauty and the life that God promises.” —Sarah McConnell, Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland Kids Network Leader, and Kids Pastor at Catalyst Vineyard Church
“The Great Waking Up, by Sarah Shin and Shin Maeng, is just the type of book I want to give children and their parents everywhere on Easter Sunday morning as a clear testimonial concerning Christ's resurrection and the future, heavenly home that awaits those who put their faith in Him! With simple, profound narration and powerful, breathtaking illustrations, this book helpfully showcases the gospel story for children with a sense of imagination, wonder, and emotion!” —Matthew D. Kim, George W. Truett Endowed Chair in Preaching and Evangelism at Baylor University's Truett Seminary, author of Becoming a Friendlier Church
“The Great Waking Up is a creative, faithful, and moving account of the Easter story told through a child’s eyes. Alongside the re-telling of the Easter story, beautiful and thought-provoking illustrations bring this ancient story to life in fresh ways that will delight children and adults alike.” —Lucy Peppiatt, President of Westminster Theological Centre and systematic theologian
“The Great Waking Up is not just a fresh retelling of Easter, it’s a beautiful picture of God’s Great Reversal: of tears turning to laughter, mourning to dancing, deserts to gardens, and, most wonderfully, death to life. Richly illustrated and lovingly told, this book is one that you will want to read to your children for years to come.” —W. David O. Taylor, Associate Professor of Theology and Culture at Fuller Theological Seminary and author of Open and Unafraid and Prayers for the Pilgrimage
