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
I can hardly begin to describe how thrilled I am that All the Faces of Me has been named one of three Honor Books by the Charlotte Zolotow Award 2024 committee. The Charlotte Zolotow Award is given annually for outstanding writing in a picture book published in the United States in the preceding year. Up… Continue reading Charlotte Zolotow Award 2024 Honor Book!
I love learning new things about my own books, and who better to provide a different perspective than the illustrator? In this interview on the blog Let's Talk Picture Books, Mel Schuit talks with Salini Perera about the process of illustrating our book, All the Faces of Me (Owlkids). I was particularly interested in how… Continue reading Salini Perera Talks Picture Books
Over the cacophony of the classroom, the PA system crackled to life and the voice of the office administrator rushed through the daily quota of announcements beginning with the statement, “We acknowledge that this land is the traditional territory…” But the words were lost amid the hubbub of thirty grade one students preparing for the… Continue reading Before I Lived Here: The Evolution of a Story
Laura Alary 