Breathe: A Child's Guide to Ascension, Pentecost, and the Growing Time

Written by Laura Alary

Narrated by Laura Alary

Imbued with a sense of wonder, and a strong connection to the natural world, Laura Alary' s books invite young readers to engage with the liturgical seasons of the church year. Breathe is a journey through Ascension, Pentecost, and Ordinary Time.

“ The day of Pentecost is coming. The church is changing color. The white and gold of Easter will soon burst into flaming red, then cool to green.” So begins Breathe: A Child's Guide to Ascension, Pentecost, and the Growing Time.

In the warm, thoughtful style that has made her books so popular with families who want to encourage their children to think deeply and engage their spiritual imaginations, Laura Alary presents the third book in a trilogy (previous books include Look! A Child' s Guide to Advent and Christmas and Make Room: A Child' s Guide to Lent and Easter) that explores the church' s liturgical seasons.

At the heart of Breathe lies a puzzle: How can Jesus go away, yet promise to be with us always? Can we trust someone who comes and goes so mysteriously?

Moving beyond long ago and far away events, Breathe invites children to wonder about and watch for the presence and work of the Spirit here and now, in practices of prayer and mindfulness, and through acts of justice, generosity, and kindness. Slowly but surely, we discover that we are the body of Jesus now, his way of being in the world. And that whenever we choose the way of love, Jesus is there. Always.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Paraclete Press
• Release date: Jul 11, 2022
• ISBN: 9781640608344

Laura Alary

Laura Alary is a writer, storyteller, and religious educator. When she was a little girl she used to make her own books out of manila paper, crayons, and mucilage. These early efforts at writing eventually gave way to academic papers and theses, as she earned degrees in Classics (B.A., Dalhousie), Theology (M.Div., Knox College, University of Toronto) and New Testament (Ph.D., University of St. Michael’s College). More recently, Laura has focused on a new type of education—raising three creative and curious children. She leads workshops on everything from storytelling to biblical interpretation, teaches the occasional university course, and works with children at a local congregation. She has also returned to her early love of creating her own books, including Is That Story True? and Mira and the Big Story. Laura lives in Toronto, Canada.