Photographs and watercolor paintings illustrate values for children, while text expresses wishes from the "fairy godmothers" that these values will enrich the lives of young listeners or readers.

The author of Opening the Gifts shares essays inspired by nature and the life lessons she learned while pausing to reflect during rough points in her life. During a tropical storm. In the aftermath of chemotherapy. Amid marital discord. These are among the times author Charlene Costanzo found comfort, joy, hope, and healing in Sanibel Island’s botanical garden. She also learned a few things. Eventually she amassed a collection of wisdom from these experiences and now, she shares these insights with you. If you look closely, plants sprout with willpower and bloom with determination. Drawing from the beautiful nature of trees and flowers, Charlene crafts garden-inspired messages from her experiences with healing and understanding. Inside, find quotes, reflections, and even bonus material: Pen-and-ink line drawings with illustrations of flowers, leaves, and garden plants Charlene’s Twelve Gifts resource and lessons learned in the garden An epilogue from two other locales: Sedona, Arizona, and St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands Each gift-from-the-garden message asks readers to imagine walking in the author’s sandals—or at least by her side—and try to perceive as she did. The journey is sometimes whimsical, often idealistic, and always encouraging. Charlene hopes that this book will ultimately enrich and empower readers as they journey through life in their own shoes. Perfect for readers of Anne Morrow Lindbergh Praise for The Twelve Gifts from the Garden “With the wonder of a child, the introspection of a mature woman, and the wisdom of the elders, Charlene Costanzo inspires us to discover the hidden treasures of nature.” —Gloria Gaynor, Grammy Award–winning singer and author of I Will Survive: The Book and We Will Survive: True Stories of Encouragement, Inspiration, and the Power of Song “This book is a feast, a dream, a wondrous adventure.” —Sherry Richert Belul, founder of Simply Celebrate and author of Say It Now “A joyful read bursting with the beauty of nature and reflections of lessons learned in life . . . . Most mornings, reading her reflections gives me goosebumps because they are like having a cup of coffee with God . . . . This is a wonderful book to gift yourself and others!” —Gina La Benz, author of Anchor Moments: Hope, Healing, and Forgiveness

An inspirational, illustrated gift book offering a message of love and commitment for couples in all stages of matrimony. Anyone who's ever said ⇠do⟫nows that a successful marriage is not founded on love alone. It takes commitment, hard work, and patience to make the marriage work. Charlene Costanzo's latest book, The Twelve Gifts in Marriage, reminds us all what marriage is about and offers inspirational advice that couples of all ages will cherish. Like Charlene's first two books, Marriage opens with a parable: An elderly couple warns a young bride and groom that their life together won't always be blissful or easy, but that their love will grow deeper with time if they remember to practice twelve innate gifts栭ong them strength, faith, and compassion. The book then illustrates the twelve gifts with powerful and poignant hand–tinted photographs that offer an immediate, sensory connection to readers. Like Charlene's first two successful books, The Twelve Gifts in Marriage brings a hopeful, inspirational message to its readers, from newlyweds to couples celebrating their Golden Anniversary.

A wonderful and compassionate illustrated gift book that will inspire readers to triumph over adversity of any kind. The author of The 12 Gifts of Birth has produced another beautifully illustrated book that will uplift and inspire all who turn its pages. Everyone goes through some sort of loss in life, and in The Healing Place, Charlene Costanzo provides words of encouragement that will help readers triumph over adversity of any kind--whether it is cancer, job loss, divorce, or just a bad day. The book will give readers a renewed faith in themselves. The Healing Place opens with a simple yet powerful story of a troubled woman searching for healing. The book then offers twelve healing aspirations that will reaffirm readers sense of peace and dignity, accompanied by beautiful illustrations and colorized photographs. The Healing Place is certain to become a cherished companion on life′s journey.

This holiday book series takes kids on a unique cross-country journey. Through lively, chatty letters home, each of these six books follows a child on a fun visit with a friend or relative over winter vacation. Along the way, the young narrators convey a host of fascinating and kid-friendly facts about what they do and where they go. Full color.

On each of the twelve days before her Christmas visit, Emma's cousin Jake sends her a letter describing the history, geography, animals, and interesting sites of Wisconsin. Uses the cumulative pattern of the traditional carol to present amusing state trivia at the end of each letter.

What happens when we tap into rich resources we all have within us? Ordinary days sparkle with extraordinary moments and all areas of our lives are enriched. In this empowering book, Costanzo shares examples of triumphs, transformations, and healings that result from using our inherent gifts of strength, beauty, courage, compassion, hope, joy, talent, imagination, reverence, wisdom, love, and faith. Each story inspires us to stay in touch with our inner gifts, especially when fear, hurt, or anger has derailed us. How did Touchstone Stories come to be? In 2000, while promoting her bestselling book, The Twelve Gifts of Birth, Charlene traveled America in a motor home. It was then, while visiting schools, shelters, prisons, and places of worship, that Charlene began to watch closely for evidence of ?the twelve gifts? in herself and in others. This daily practice became a personal quest, one on which she invites us to join her. The stories within are intended to spark memories of using our gifts and to build our own collection of touchstones.

The Zodiac Legacy meets Spirit Animals in this epic, heartwarming own-voices adventure! Usagi can hear a squirrel’s heartbeat from a mile away, and soar over treetops in one giant leap. She was born in the year of the wood rabbit, and it’s given her extraordinary zodiac gifts. But she can never use them, not while the mysterious, vicious Dragonlord hunts down all those in her land with zodiac powers. Instead, she must keep her abilities—and those of her rambunctious sister Uma—a secret. After Uma is captured by the Dragonguard, Usagi can no longer ignore her powers. She must journey to Mount Jade with the fabled Heirs of the Twelve, a mystical group of warriors who once protected the land. As new mysteries unfold, Usagi must decide who she stands with, and who she trusts, as she takes on deadly foes on her path to the elusive, dangerous Dragonlord himself.

“Here’s a song whose lyrics everyone knows and that therefore demands something spectacular to distinguish it. This version, sumptuously illustrated by Long, certainly delivers.” —The New York Times The astounding talent of Laurel Long brings this beloved song to life with breathtaking style. Set against a lush countryside, each day brings a new gift elegantly rendered. And like in the verses of the song, the previous gifts are repeated in every illustration, giving this striking artwork a hidden aspect, culminating in a staggering spread featuring them all. Readers will pore over every page, searching for golden rings, turtledoves, and all the rest, secretly tucked into each stunning painting. Laurel Long's unparalleled style makes this exquisite volume a treasure that will be cherished for years to come. “Ms. Long has secreted lyrical clues within each picture that children will relish hunting down.” —The Wall Street Journal * “Long expertly weaves religious and secular images into a visually arresting interpretation of the traditional carol.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

Anna Wright has rapidly developed a following across the UK for her print, collage work and paintings, following in the footsteps of Emma Bridgewater, Tricia Guild and Liberty as she takes her designs across stationery and homeware. She is now embarking on her third picture book for children. Anna brings humour, beauty and sophistication to this perennially popular Christmas hymn, with her signature style. Exquisitely rendered in pen, ink, watercolour and collage, The twelve days of Christmas are beautifully and playfully reimagined for today's readership - and have never looked so sumptuous.