Cover Reveal! In 2016 Paraclete Press published Make Room: A Child's Guide to Lent and Easter. Although it was intended to be a stand-alone book and not part of a series, it seemed to strike a chord with readers, leading me to try my hand a similar book for Advent. Look! A Child's Guide to… Continue reading Rise: A Child’s Guide to Eastertide
I saw my first robin of the spring this past weekend. On the same day, I also realized that all the tomato seeds I had carefully collected and packaged last season are still languishing in a drawer because I forgot to start them indoors. Regret (and some guilt) over my lapse in tending to my… Continue reading Here: Thoughts for Earth Month
I love to make connections between people and events and ideas. So in anticipation of the upcoming solar eclipse on April 8th, I thought I would share a few tidbits about some of my favourite astronomers and how their lives were affected--and in some cases connected--by solar eclipses. Maria Mitchell: 1831, 1869, and 1878 On… Continue reading Four Eclipses and Some Connections
In the fall of 2021, Virginia Theological Seminary convened a symposium of scholars and practitioners engaged in ministry with children. The Symposium on the Spirituality of Children began with a vibrant keynote address by Jerome Berryman, best known for his development of Godly Play, a curriculum of spiritual practice exploring the mystery of God’s presence… Continue reading Let the Children Lead: Exploring Children’s Spirituality Today
I am so pleased to see All the Faces of Me in this list of books that support Social-Emotional learning (SEL). Heartfelt thanks to Spencer Miller and 49th Shelf for the energy and care they put into selecting and sharing quality Canadian books for young readers. Find out more and see the entire list here.
Just in time for Lent, Make Room: A Child’s Guide to Lent and Easter has a brand new Activity Guide! The guide follows the four sections of the book: Making Time, Making Space, Making Room, Holy Week. For each section it includes conversation-starters, hands-on activities, simple practices connected to the theme, and suggestions for other… Continue reading Activity Guide for Make Room
Lent will be launched in an unusual way this year. As happens every now and then, Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine’s Day. There is something wonderfully absurd about this timing: a celebration of passion and sensual pleasure to kick off a season defined by renunciation and the taming of desire. Lately I have been amusing… Continue reading Chocolate and Ashes
Laura Alary 