The Twelve Gifts of Birth

charlene costanzo

“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 book reminds all readers to see the dignity and goodness in themselves and others. A wonderful, inspirational, beautifully illustrated classic, The Twelve Gifts of Birth by Charlene Costanzo offers a message of love and hope for children of all ages—and for the child in every adult. The recipient of numerous prizes and accolades—including the 1999 Glyph Best Book Award— The Twelve Gifts of Birth is a gift to be cherished, ideal for giving on birthdays, baby showers, baptisms, first communions, confirmations, and, of course, Mother’s Day.

Genres childrenspicture booksinspirationaljuvenilefiction

64 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1,1975

This edition

Format: 64 pages, Hardcover
Published: January 1, 2001 by William Morrow
ISBN: 9780066211046
ASIN: 0066211042
Language: English

About the author

charlene costanzo

Charlene Gorda Costanzo is an award-winning author, workshop facilitator, wife, mother of two adult daughters, and grandmother of twins. She holds a B.A. in Philosophy from St. Bonaventure University and an M.A. in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica.

Originally from New Jersey, she has resided in New York, Texas, Arizona, and Florida. During a one-year book tour to launch The Twelve Gifts of Birth, Charlene and her husband enjoyed living in an RV in 48 of the 50 states.

The Twelve Gifts series of fables began in 1987 when Charlene wrote The Twelve Gifts of Birth as a life message for her own, then-teenage, daughters. Twelve years later she published the book and discussed its message in schools, shelters, prisons, churches and hospitals throughout the United States.

The Twelve Gifts for Healing was written while Charlene was in treatment for advanced non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2001. "Cancer led me to examine my convictions and look at these life gifts more deeply. Truly, they helped me heal," she says.

The Twelve Gifts in Marriage comes from the ups and downs, ebbs and flows, and hurts and healings that are a part of every long-term marriage.