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

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.

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.

The truth is that most of us never get a chance to make our mark of greatness on the world—which doesn’t negate our basic human desire to find meaning in our story. We all want our lives to matter and for the world to be marked in some small way by our journey. And then there are the questions: how do we hold onto hope when all indicators point to floundering financial futures? How do we feel joy in a society of failing families and facebook-limited friendships? How do we find purpose when just paying the bills has to be our priority? How do we believe when God is silent? How do we know that our lives matter? If you’ve ever asked any of these questions, The Twelve Gift of Life will change your perspective. A collection of powerful, poignant narratives with a punch of humor, these true-life vignettes will help you discover meaning in the midst of the mundane. Buried within even the most challenging circumstances are the gifts of life for those discerning enough to discover and embrace them. Life is not meant to be survival of the fittest. Life is not meant to defeat us. Life is not meant to beat us down. The gifts of life restore us. They give us hope. They give our life meaning. They are meant to be savored. The gifts belong to all of us. Discover them through this inspirational, soon-to-be bestseller.

William writes a letter home each of the twelve days he spends exploring Virginia at Christmastime, as his cousin Madison shows him everything from a cardinal in a dogwood tree to eight bluegrass fiddlers fiddling to twelve Eastern Shore plovers looping. Includes facts about Virginia.

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.