The Twelve Gifts of Birth

by Charlene Costanzo

Book Overview

"Every home should have this book. Every family should read it often."
--Lendon Smith, M.D.(Pediatrics), Portland, OR

The Twelve Gifts of Birth is a tender, inspiring tale celebrating the innate qualities we're all born with. For children, the message helps form within them a strong foundation of self-respect. For teens and adults, the book offers a message of healing and hope in trying times and during transitions. This richly illustrated...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0066211042
• ISBN13: 9780066211046
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 64 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 8.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A Beautiful Book!

My husband and I purchased this book as a gift for our granddaughter (due 12/05). It will be a wonderful keepsake and a reminder of the gifts we are all given. If I found any fault with the book, it was with the accompanying photographs. The photographic style is a blend of old and new and it doesn't always work well. Many of the pictures were obviously staged, which goes against the spontaneity that is inherent in children. This is a minor issue, however, as the real power of the book lies in its words.

A book for every parent to read to their child!

This is such a special book that every parent should have, and read to their children often. It is beautifully illustrated as well! Once you read this book, you too will fall in love with the book, you too will pass it on at every chance you have! The 12 gifts every baby should know they where given at birth are: Strenght, Beauty, Courage, Compassion, Hope, Joy, Talent, Imagination, Reverence, Wisdom, Love, and Faith so you may believe you have these gifts! Whether you come home with your child from the hospital, international flight, or domestic travel this is a book that should be read often and in every childs' home and or room!

Wonderful Graduation Present!!

My son James graduated this June. Although I had given this book many times as a baby present, I decided to try something different. I used it as an inspirational graduation gift for James! I looked back through 18 years worth of pictures and matched pictures of James with the twelve gifts. His sister, brother, and father helped as we searched for just the right photos.For example, on the cover page where it says, "Royal dignity was yours from the day you were born" Psalms 110:3, I glued a baby picture and a graduation picture. On "The first gift is Strength" I glued him in awesome shots from his three sports...basketball, football, and javelin.On "The fifth gift is Hope" I glued a shot of him from the bottom of the stairs as he attempted to crawl up those stairs clad only in a diaper~~along with another shot of him in a triumphant basketball moment. For "the ninth gift is Reverence" I chose a photo of him feeding ducks by a tree-lined lake and another of a tiny James standing on some rocks by the ocean's edge. One of my favorites is the "Faith" page where I put a picture of him kneeling with me and holding Kermit the Frog as he says his prayers.I cut the pictures using templates for scrapbooking, so the shots of James are in ovals, stars, curved edges, etc. The finished product was awesome!When his father and I gave him this book, all of our family sat around as I read it to James. He is a 6'5" wonderful fellow who got teary-eyed as I read it. As he looked at the pictures accompanying each gift, we talked about family and life!Charlene Costanza is to be praised for writing this inspirational book. It is a treasure! The words, the message of dignity and worth, the pictures, and the artwork are outstanding. Everyone who sees it wants to order one. One friend is personalizing "The Twelve Gifts of Birth" for her mother!I came across a real life-time treasure when I found this book.

Its a message of the ages

I found this gift of a book while I was browsing in a small shop in Alaska. It's a book that is definitely one to be kept in one's own library to remind ourselves each and every day of the gifts that we have as individuals to share with the world. I believe that there is so much negativity in our every day lives and a book such as this gives us back our humanity to us. As someone said we think we are human beings trying to be spiritual when in fact we are spiritual beings trying to be human. So for all of those who have low self esteem and think they have nothing to give others, read this book, it is a must! And for those who know they have gifts to offer someone, read this book, for it puts into such simple words how simple it is to be wonderful each and every day! Thank you to the author for having the strength and joy in her heart to put forth loving words of inspiration! I am a true fan!

A Beautiful Gift for the Prince or Princess in your Life!

I was so happy to receive this touching book last week. As this book begin's "Royal dignity was yours from the day you were born- Psalms 110:3" we are reminded how each of us has our own special gifts in life.The book includes a special page for gift-givers to inscribe some personal thoughts to the receiver. I always told my 23 year old daughter she was a princess and now I have a book that shows her just how special she has always been.I highly recommend "The Twelve Gifts of Birth," as a wonderful gift to give to a pregnant woman, a newborn baby, or a child of any age to remind them of the special gifts that were their's from the day they were born. It would be an especially thoughtful gift for a young person who is struggling with adolescence to help remind them of the beauty and talents that they were born with. Not only the words are beautiful, but the quality of the materials used to produce this book will make this a gift that will be treasured for a lifetime.