Author: lauraalary

In a little less than a month my new book with take its first breaths. Reviews are starting to appear for Breathe and today I am happy to share one from a long-time friend. Gary Hansen is a church historian, teacher, writer, and also a dad, so he knows about kids and picture books as… Continue reading Gary Hansen’s Review of Breathe

I was absolutely delighted to learn this week that What Grew in Larry's Garden has been shortlisted for the 2021 IODE Jean Throop Book Award! We are fortunate to have so many fine authors and illustrators in Ontario. It really is an honour to be part of that community, and to see Larry's Garden among… Continue reading 2021 IODE Jean Throop Book Award Shortlist!

"What Grew in Larry’s Garden is a truly charming read that proves amazing things can grow in both our gardens and our lives when tended with human kindness and patience." Good reviews are like a nourishing rain. They refresh weary writers! This one, from The Canadian Review of Materials (CM Magazine), was a welcome treat in… Continue reading What Grew in Larry’s Garden in CM Magazine

Last year I wrote a short guide for those preparing to accompany children on the journey through Lent. Somehow I neglected to share it on my website, so I am adding it this year. It is still as relevant as ever--perhaps even more so as many of us are looking for ways to observe this… Continue reading Walk This Way: A Lenten Resource for Families

Going in circles is not generally considered a good thing. It suggests aimlessness—a kind of frantic spinning that goes nowhere. But some circles are purposeful. My dad and I made this wooden puzzle ages ago. For years I used it to tell children the story of the liturgical year. We would take out the pieces,… Continue reading Going in Circles

Original artwork by Roger Hutchison Today my thoughts are a colourful jumble. I have spent some time reading over drafts of stories, editing those that have promise, sifting through books of handwritten notes, researching potential publishers, crafting cover letters, and contemplating how to promote books old and new. My upcoming publications include a picture book… Continue reading What Kind of Stories?

Over the summer I was interviewed by Pieta Woolley, who was researching the history and development of children's bibles for Broadview Magazine. She wanted to talk about Read, Wonder, Listen: Stories from the Bible for Young Readers, the collection of bible stories I wrote for Wood Lake Books. We had a fairly lengthy conversation about… Continue reading Read, Wonder, Listen: A History of Children’s Bibles in Broadview Magazine