Easter Ideals 2022

by Melinda Lee Rathjen

Overview

With spring comes fresh growth, warmer days, a bit of extra hope within us, and a new 2022 edition of Easter Ideals to celebrate it all. This beautiful softcover treasury will plant seeds of inspiration in readers after a long, dreary winter, evoking the joy of the emerging season and the comforting traditions of Easter. Authors and poets such as Pamela Kennedy and Eileen Spinelli reflect upon the holiday's special moments and spiritual significance, and beautiful photographs and artwork bring color and life to each page. Easter Ideals will appeal to all who wish to embrace the traditions, beauty, and joy of this special time of year.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781546000891
Publisher:	Worthy
Publication date:	01/25/2022
Pages:	64
Product dimensions:	8.45(w) x 10.80(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Melinda Rathjen has been editor of Ideals for more than a decade. During that time, she has chosen countless pieces of artwork, photos, and text selections, as well as tested more than 100 recipes. Melinda is also a valued member of the children's publishing team at WorthyKids. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

Editorial Reviews

★ 2014-03-26
Mixed-media artist and debut author Blades combines wit with sincere counsel in an innovative scrapbook format.With a daughter approaching high school graduation, Blades began compiling life lessons she hoped to impart on her daughter. The resulting book of aphorisms could have been schmaltzy but is instead both humorous and visually impressive. Offered as a numbered list in a quirky variety of fonts, her maternal instructions range from two words to paragraphs. The themes may be perennial advice-guide fodder—seizing the day, embracing creativity, being prudent with money and treating others with compassion—but snappy delivery and unsentimental wording help them feel fresh. Thus the doctrine of mindfulness becomes, simply, "WHEREVER YOU ARE, BE ALL THERE." Where Blades acknowledges clichés, she always adds a clever twist: "IF YOU CAN'T SAY SOMETHING NICE, DON'T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL. You're smart enough to think of something nice." She also debunks a few old chestnuts: Instead of exhorting girls to "dream big," which she's nonetheless in favor of, she reassures them that "It's okay to OUTGROW YOUR DREAMS." Some standout features include two-page spreads in which each epigram repeats the same first word ("KEEP your knees together when you're sitting on stage"; "KEEP your head when all about you are losing theirs," etc.), occasional puns ("HAVE RUBBER GLOVES. On hand"), and echoes of Kipling's "If—" and Woolf's A Room of One's Own. In one notable, original proverb, Blades balances enthusiasm with discipline: "COMMON SENSE AND SELF-RESTRAINT SHRINK IN THE PRESENCE OF PASSION. Does this mean don't be passionate? Absolutely not." Pithy recommendations about forgiveness, charitableness, being a good hostess and accepting change would be valuable in their own rights, but the whimsical artwork renders the book all the more delightful. Cutouts of paper dolls and maps share space with colorful, textured illustrations of houses, trees and clouds. Fashion plates lend a sophisticated, faux Parisian feel, while plentiful tips on Internet and cellphone etiquette help put the book on trend for today's teenagers. Inspirational yet never syrupy, the text could easily be read in one sitting and should prove useful throughout college and beyond.A perfect graduation gift for young women—but the advice is applicable to all.

Kirkus Reviews