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Make Room: A Child's Guide to Lent and Easter,
by Laura Alary |
In this post, I am going to introduce my favorite children's book that is intended specifically for Lent (as opposed to the many Easter books out there). The book is entitled
Make Room: A Child's Guide to Lent and Easter by Laura Alary. The first reason I love this book is because it tells the story the life of Jesus, including his temptation in the wilderness, his teachings (it includes his Parable of the Mustard Seed, which is the picture on the cover, as well as the Lord's Prayer), and his healing miracles. It ends by narrating the events of Holy Week, including Palm Sunday, the celebration of the Passover on Maundy Thursday, Christ's death on Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.
In other words, it focuses on the part of the Bible that is central to Lent, namely the Gospel stories beginning with Christ's temptation through his death and resurrection.
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| Jesus enters the wilderness |
But in addition focusing on the Scriptures,
it also weaves in a basic introduction to the three pillars of Lent. And this is really the great strength of the book. Some of these ideas I've already mentioned in my earlier posts, but this book includes examples of other common lenten practices appropriate for kids. Here are just a few of the examples included: prayer, reading the Bible, turning off the tv and sitting in the quiet, asking for forgiveness when you hurt someone, giving away your toys and clothes, eating simply (bread and soup, giving up sweets, giving to the poor, not excluding someone from our group of friends, and writing cards for those who are grieving, sick, or lonely.
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"I like to have nice things. I like to buy treats.
And I like to eat my favorite foods.
But not all the time.
There are times for filling up and times for emptying out.
Lent is a time for emptying,
for sharing, for giving away.
It is good to make space" (p. 21). |
And what this book does so well is to anticipate questions and reservations kids might have about these practices. For example, when it describes giving away our stuff and eating more simply, it acknowledges that having nice things and eating treats is something we love, but this isn't what we do all the time; there is a time for emptying and giving away.
This book seems intended for kids ranging from toddler through elementary and even middle school. The illustrations seem to match this, although I'm a poor judge of cartoon kids' ages! :) But I still think this book is good for kids who are in high school, and as an adult I really enjoy reading it as well.
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