Make Room: A Child’s Guide to Lent and Easter

As we prepare for Lent this year, I’m thankful to own a great new resource — Make Room: A Child’s Guide to Lent and Easter by Laura Alary (a very thoughtful gift to my daughter from her godparents).

“This is the Season of Lent. The church is dressed in purple.”

In the book, Alary sets out a map for Lent, explaining in simple but lovely prose that Lent is for “making time,” “making space,” and “making room” for the kingdom of God in our everyday lives. She connects the seasonal rhythms of the natural world and the liturgical rhythms of the church calendar. The illustrations by Ann Boyajian are subtle and evocative, very appropriate to the subject matter.

I’m going to use this book as a guide to our Lenten journey, planning to incorporate the practices and traditions that Alary mentions:

Lenten Candles
Making Pretzels (I didn’t know this fascinating background!)
Spring cleaning (i.e. “make space” in the house)
Plant a Easter Garden
Eat plain meals and cook with strict limits
Be hospitable

“During Lent we make space.”

I’m hopeful that reading this book often and using it as a map will help our 3 year old orient herself during Lent ( us parents, too!) It’s recommended for kids ages 8-12, but I think it’s going to be extremely helpful even with a preschooler.

I also really appreciate the overview she gives of Holy Week, explaining the darkness of Good Friday (and its liturgical traditions) in a way that is appropriate for children and yet reverent. And, when Easter finally comes, I hope that we able to conclude along with the book: “We have made time. We have made space. We have made room. We are ready now. We are different. Everything is different. The whole world is new! It is Easter Morning!”

If you’re looking for other picture books books for Lent and Holy Week, check out these links:

What other children’s books would you recommend for Lent and Holy Week?