Instagram story viewer> @laura.alary> Posts

Laura Alary

@laura.alary

1.9K

followers

2352

following

Wonderer. Reader. Writer of picture books including Who Needs the Dark (Owlkids) and The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne (Eerdmans)🌟

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

What a thrill it is to announce that my first book with Nimbus Publishing, illustrated by Thérèse Cilia, is coming out in the spring of 2027!

Wireless: The Day Marconi Connected the World is the “almost-true story” of the December day in 1901 when Guglielmo Marconi received the world’s first trans-Atlantic wireless telegraphic (radio) transmission.

Although this event captured the attention of the world, the focus of this story is on two young friends in St. John’s, Newfoundland, who witness it in person.

Peter and Maggie are both curious and clever, but while Maggie is calm and steady, Peter is restless; he constantly imagines he is missing out on more exciting things happening somewhere else. The arrival of a famous inventor fascinates them both and they are drawn into the drama in a way that tests their friendship.

In more ways than one, Wireless is a story about communication and connection which require patience and understanding no matter what kind of technology is involved. It’s also about learning to recognize the joy of having a real friend by your side.

I think you can see by the cover alone the charm and detail that Thérèse has brought to the illustrations. I could not be happier! Collaborating with her on this book has been a delight.

You can preorder Wireless now (and it really helps).

#wireless #kidlit #picturebook #canadianpicturebooks
@nimbuspub @strawberrysnail @picturebookseh by @laura.alary

30

6

11 days ago

There are many ways to tell time.

The summer solstice is one of the ways we orient ourselves in time and space. The liturgical year is another way—a calendar of special days and seasons that has told stories and helped form the rhythm of Christian life for many centuries.

As I look forward to the publication of Around the Circle: Celebrating the Church Year next month, I am delighted to share this conversation I had with illustrator Claire Westwood.

We talk about her artistic style, her connected way of seeing the world, the place of animals in her art, and the challenge of learning about and illustrating something that might seem abstract at first, but is actually very physical and earthy.

I hope you enjoy our conversation. Maybe you will be intrigued enough to preorder the book!

https://lauraalary.ca/2026/06/21/a-conversation-with-claire-westwood/

Link in bio

@beamingbooksmn @claire.westwood.art @picturebookseh

#aroundthecircle #churchyear #liturgicalyear #childrensbookillustration by @laura.alary

32

5

4 months ago

#Repost @owlkidspublishing with @use.repost
・・・
NEW FOR FALL 🤍

WHO NEEDS THE DARK? THE MANY WAYS LIVING THINGS DEPEND ON DARKNESS by @laura.alary and ill. @risa_hugo releases this September 16, 2025!

How do you feel about the dark? Is it creepy or cozy? Eerie or awesome? The dark doesn’t have to be scary. After all, it’s for sleeping, for growing, for healing, and for changing into something new. Humans depend on the dark for their health and well-being, and so do other living things.

A love letter to darkness, this informational picture book incorporates STEM content to gently encourage readers to look at the dark in new ways. Lyrical, poetic text and soft, striking illustrations make for a delightful read aloud.

Pre-order your copy today! 🖤

#NewBooks #NewBooksForFall #InformationalPictureBook #PictureBook #STEM #STEMKidLit #LifeScience #Animal #Adaptation #Dark #Nighttime #Sleep #KidLit #ClassroomBooks #Teachers #Bookstagram by @laura.alary

50

5

a year ago

Setting up for this morning’s webinar with Traci Smith on Getting to Know the Dark: Spiritual Practices for Children in Advent 🖤

If you’ve registered this is your reminder to join us at 11:00am eastern.

#advent #darkness #kidmin #childrensspirituality by @laura.alary

7

4

a day ago

Congratulations to all the nominees!

#Repost @cbcbooks with @use.repost
・・・
Congratulations to the nominated authors and illustrators for the Forest of Reading 2027 initiative!

Hosted each spring, the Forest of Reading is Canada’s largest annual recreational reading program where children and young adults pick their favourite authors and illustrators.

Head to cbcbooks.ca to find out more. #KidsBooks #ForestOfReading #Canadian by @laura.alary

34

6

2 days ago

I am over the moon to announce that The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne has been nominated for the Silver Birch Express Award as part of the 2027 Forest of Reading !

For many years I followed the excitement as my kids read through the nominated books at school. Then, as I began to get to know people within the Canadian Kid Lit community, I cheered on other creators as their books were honoured. What a thrill to have the chance to celebrate alongside this year’s nominees!

The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne: Discovering the Stuff of Stars (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, illustrated by Yas Imamura) tells part of the life story of pioneering astrophysicist Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, the first person to discover what stars are made of. It’s a story of curiosity, perseverance, hard work, losing confidence in yourself, then finding it again.

I am overjoyed that more young readers will be learning about Cecilia through this wonderful programme.

@forestofreadingprogram
@eerdmansyoungreaders
@yas.imamura

#forestofreading
#forestofreading2027
#ireadcanadian
#canlit by @laura.alary

59

37

2 days ago

So thankful for the warm welcome I received at Knox Waterloo this weekend and for the opportunity to share Around the Circle and reflect on how the church tells time and why this matters.

I also thoroughly enjoyed picking apples in the rain and warming up with hot cider and a bonfire.

There is room in the circle for our own special days and this Thanksgiving found a place.

#aroundthecircle #thanksgiving #liturgicalyear #churchyear

@claire.westwood.art @beamingbooksmn by @laura.alary

36

1

5 days ago

This month's version of Margin Notes was inspired by listening to Why You Should Read Children's Books, Even Though You Are So Old and Wise by Katherine Rundell.

Not only did I have some fun reminiscing about my own childhood favourites, I also consulted with my own kids to see which books stood out for them.

Maybe this will prompt you to revisit some treasured books from your own childhood: https://mailchi.mp/2120568fd6ba/margin-notes-by-laura-alary-october-2026

#picturebooks #childrensbooks #kidlit #whyyoushouldreadchildrensbooks by @laura.alary

15

7

9 days ago

Golden light on green space 🍃

#autumn #uoft #goldenhour by @laura.alary

27

2

9 days ago

Working on the art of practising choral music without making a sound (no singing in the library)…

The first concert of the season for The Tallis Choir is coming soon:

Music for the Mysteries of the Rosary
Saturday October 17th at 7:30 pm
St. Paul’s Basilica, 83 Power Street, Toronto

https://tallischoir.com/events/62/music-for-the-mysteries-of-the-rosary/

#tallischoir #choralmusic #renaissancemusic by @laura.alary

16

3

10 days ago

I’m looking forward to this webinar, hosted by, Traci Smith, one of my very favourite conversation partners!

Please join us next Friday, October 16th at 11:00am Eastern. Here is the official description:

Planning Advent with children? Make
room for wonder, play, and the feelings that don’t always fit the season’s expectations.

In Getting to Know the Dark: Spiritual Practices for Children in Advent, Laura Alary will share picture books and practices for exploring darkness in nature and scripture, welcoming hard feelings, and engaging children in activities with light and shadow.

Bring fresh ideas to your Advent planning—and explore what darkness itself might have to teach us.

Registration link in bio.

#advent #adventwithkids #childrensspirituality #kidmin by @laura.alary

20

0

10 days ago

Curiosity, Unleashed! https://www.scienceliteracy.ca/

Science Literacy Week is a week-long invitation to notice, wonder, and explore the science woven through everyday life.

Picture books can help us in our exploration by providing real-life examples of people whose curiosity led them to astonishing conclusions and wonderful discoveries.

Two such people are Maria Mitchell and Cecilia Payne, astronomers in two different centuries, connected by questions and curiosity. You can learn more about them in these books:

The Astronomer Who Questioned Everything: The Story of Maria Mitchell by Laura Alary, illustrated by Ellen Rooney (Kids Can Press)

The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne: Discovering the Stuff of Stars by Laura Alary, illustrated by Yas Imamura (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers)

Unleash your own curiosity!

#ScienceLiteracy #ScienceLiteracyWeek #CASC_ACCS #STEMbooks by @laura.alary

18

4

13 days ago