Newbery Medal winner Katherine Paterson and cut-paper artist Pamela Dalton give fans of all ages even more to be thankful for with Giving Thanks, a special book about gratitude. Katherine Paterson's meditations on what it means to be truly grateful and Pamela Dalton's exquisite cut-paper illustrations are paired with a collection of over 50 graces, poems, and praise songs from a wide range of cultures, religions, and voices. The unique collaboration between these two extraordinary artists flowers in this important and stunningly beautiful reflection on the act of giving thanks.

The poems are a grand mix of serious and crazy—each with genuine praise-for-God intent. They cover quite a range of themes. Nature, science, psychology, and even politics are scrutinized. Keep your vocabulary sharp and your imagination intact. I intended this work to boost your faith and increase your love of God. I believe God has a marvelous sense of humor; hopefully yours will be activated as you partake of these cheerful expressions of appreciation for Jesus. The pictures are from original watercolor paintings I have done, each extols the natural handiwork of God!

My poetry covers a wide variety of topics, with the main one being scriptural instruction and wisdom. I also write about life, mysteriousness, hard times and testing, adventurous hiking, other people, intellectual and philosophical introspection, comfort, and hope for the future. I will challenge you to seek God and discover his plan for you.

31 full-page, full-color Scripture images complement the short devotions that fill this unique "coffee table" devotional. In its pages, you'll discover that peace can transcend circumstances. "Everyday Praise" explores the practice and blessings of praise through meditations consisting of biblical insights; the author's personal testimonies and observations; probing questions and applications; and heart-felt prayers of praise. The vibrant images pull you into each encouraging word. Reminder phrases accent the point of each message. Each entry in "Everyday Praise" reads quickly but probes deeply, as a catalyst to spiritual growth.Too often we believe we have to endure life. Yet in Christ Jesus, we can find joy and peace even in the midst of difficult circumstances. But that's only possible when our focus shifts from those circumstances to the One who promises to be our strength ... our hope. That's where praise comes in. We all face struggles. Hard times will come. When it does is, we often wonder, "How can I praise God in the middle of this mess?" It's a question I've asked. Maybe you have too. Because praising God comes easy during life's grand moments. Yet, in the difficult ones, glorifying Him can just as easily be forgotten. However, that's precisely the time we need to worship! God deserves praise. God commands praise. Christians need to praise! Reflecting on God's unchanging nature offers a reminder of His faithfulness when storms hit. Singing hymns of truth provides an oasis when you find yourself in the desert. Remembering the promises of God brings daily challenges into perspective. Begin to gain greater peace as you practice praising God with this unique gift book. Two additional sections in "Everyday Praise" will further immerse you into this idea of praise. The first pulls out each reminder phrase for ease of memorization. While the second lists 31 additional Bible verses to incorporate into your daily praise habit.Move a little further along the path of peace and contentment as you open the pages of "Everyday Praise," and begin exploring and cultivating the habit of daily praise.(A download link to a free companion journal is also provided in the book.)

Praise Song for My Children celebrates twenty-one years of poetry by one of the most significant African poets of this century. Patricia Jabbeh Wesley guides us through the complex and intertwined highs and lows of motherhood and all the roles that it encompasses: parent, woman, wife, sister, friend. Her work is deeply personal, drawing from her own life and surroundings to convey grief, the bleakness of war, humor, deep devotion, and the hope of possibility. These poems lend an international voice to the tales of motherhood, as Wesley speaks both to the African and to the Western experience of motherhood, particularly black motherhood. She pulls from African motifs and proverbs, utilizing the poetics of both the West and Africa to enrich her striking emotional range. Leading us to the depths of mourning and the heights of tender love, she responds to American police brutality, writing "To be a black woman is to be a woman, / ready to mourn," and remembers a dear friend who is at once "mother and wife and friend and pillar / and warrior woman all in one." Wesley writes poetry that moves with her through life, land, and love, seeing with eyes that have witnessed both national and personal tragedy and redemption. Born in Tugbakeh, Liberia and raised in Monrovia, Wesley emigrated to the United States in 1991 to escape the Liberian civil war. In this moving collection, she invites us to join her as she buries loved ones, explores long-distance connection through social media, and sings bittersweet praises of the women around her, of mothers, and of Africa.

Many people influenced my desire to write poetry. My mother wrote poetry and set a good example. My father was a language professor at a university, and the major discussions during our meals concerned words. My musical training made it natural to think of poetry as the music of words and to see the rhythm and rhyme in the use of words. Several poems were written while I was growing up, but serious writing came later. Years later, while on an automobile trip with my husband and children in the western U.S., we visited with many of our friends and relatives--I wrote thank-you notes to them in poetry. Other inspiration came from life's experiences, such as watching wildlife, meeting other people, being with family, and seeing the effects of aging. One poem was inspired by talking to a Japanese lady about forgiveness, love, and acceptance. After fifty years of marriage, many people asked for marriage advice, which I explained in a poem called "Marriage Advice." My poems have appeared in the yearly publications of the International Library of Poetry, as well as in the World of Poetry anthology. A music publisher in Nashville, Tennessee saw some of my poems and has set some to music and put them on CDs. One of the latest is "Marriage Advice," which says to put Jesus in the center of your life and pray. My first book of poetry, entitled Reflections, was published in 1994 by Carlton Press.