Author: Betsy Childs Howard
Illustrator: Samara Hardy
Beautiful Illustrations | Simple Story | A Lesson for Kids on Repentance and Grace
Arlo knows better than to get out of bed during rest time. And he definitely isn’t allowed to draw on the wall. But Arlo does it anyway, and then desperately attempts to cover up his disobedience before his mom finds out. When his efforts fail, Arlo discovers not only the misery that comes from hiding his sin but also the relief that comes through confessing it. With easy-to-understand language and engaging illustrations, children will learn important lessons with Arlo about repentance and the forgiveness found only in Jesus.
About the author:
Betsy Childs Howard (MA, Beeson Divinity School) is an editor for the Gospel Coalition. She is the author of Seasons of Waiting and served as an editor for The New City Catechism. Betsy lives with her husband, Bernard, in Manhattan, where they planted Good Shepherd Anglican Church in 2017.
About the illustrator:
Samara Hardy is a freelance illustrator and designer who creates artwork for greeting cards, stationery, housewares, children's books, and more. She has worked with clients across the globe, such as Hallmark, Trader Joe's, Oxford University Press, and American Greetings.
Endorsements:
“What happens when you’ve made a mess that you can’t clean up? This is Arlo’s problem, and, as the story unfolds, we realize that it’s the fundamental problem of every human heart. But thankfully, Arlo is not left on his own. A wise mother points Arlo—and his readers—to the source of true cleansing. With its captivating illustrations, accessible language, and engaging plot, Arlo and the Great Big Cover-Up will delight young readers and warm the hearts of parents. This book is also fun to read aloud, which is a very good thing because its lesson of repentance and grace is one that we all need to hear again and again.” ~Megan Hill, author, Praying Together and A Place to Belong; Editor, The Gospel Coalition
“Real. Relatable. Restorative. I look forward to reading this book to my kids and savoring the conversations that follow. What a wonderful opportunity to talk to kids about God’s amazing grace!” ~Emily Jensen, coauthor, Risen Motherhood: Gospel Hope for Everyday Moments; Cofounder and Content Director, Risen Motherhood
“We’ve all experienced times when we tried so very hard to cover up our sins rather than confess them. In our pride, we believed that we could mask our sin, when all we really did was make a bigger spiritual mess of our hearts and our lives. Arlo’s mom reflects the heart of God toward our sin, both in the way she allows Arlo to experience the consequences of his actions, and in how she lovingly restores him when he repents. This may be a kid’s book, but the lessons it contains are for us all.” ~Kristie Anyabwile, wife and mom; editor, His Testimonies, My Heritage
“My six-year-old son loves this story, told simply and with beautiful artwork. As a dad, I’m happy for stories that help my kids know how much better it is to have our sin cleaned up than covered up!” ~Trevin Wax, author, This Is Our Time
