The last column of suggested ideas for gift giving was so appreciated that I have expanded the list to include the following books. I believe you will find the additional suggestions useful not only for Christmas, but on other occasions as well. Books are treasures that we keep, re-read, then pass on to others.
Bachik, the Birthday Kiss by Lori Wagner, $19.95, is a book you will seriously want to consider. It is classified as early learning/multi-cultural and is hardbound, full color, 32 pages. It is a one-of-a-kind Armenian-English experience featuring rich original paintings in art book quality printing. Her interactive book engages young and old in the mingling of Armenian and English, with vibrant illustrations. It is sure to be a favorite among children and educators, Armenian and non-Armenian alike. A pronunciation guide is included. As she says, “Children will jump, clap, and count along with the birthday boy as he celebrates his special day.” It becomes a special time with family that ends in a double-cheeked birthday kiss. We know how much Armenians like to plant kisses on each other and especially upon children. It is enchanting to think this Hye Hars (Armenian bride) thought so much of her husband’s Armenian heritage that she wrote a multi-cultural book. That’s why I want you to consider her as a gift source. Contact Lori Wagner at loriwagner@affirmingfaith.com.
The book’s illustrator, Andrea Kalajian of West Bloomfield, Mich., has done a marvelous task of painting such lively, heart-warming graphics for Bachik. Kalajian is an award-winning artist specializing in vibrant lively paintings who has trained in the United States and abroad. She continues her studies at the California College of Arts. See more of her artwork online at www.andreakalajian.blogspot.com.
Wagner has had an interesting history. The native Kentuckian was once wed to an Armenian, Peter Kalajian, a design engineer with General Motors in Michigan who met an untimely death. Together Pete and Lori had two children, a boy and a girl. With this book she honors his heritage and their brief time together. Even after Wagner’s remarriage, they spend a great deal of time visiting Peter’s family on Cape Cod where Lori’s daughter has learned how to cook Armenian food at her grandmother’s elbow. Remembering is good (in Deuteronomy).
She also is a very spiritual woman and inspirational speaker available to speak at retreats, conferences, and special events. She uses humor, stories, personal experiences, and solid Biblical teaching to reach into the lives of others with life-changing messages.
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Dr. Ani Kalayjian is a board certified expert in traumatic stress. She is adjunct professor of psychology at Fordham University; president of the Association for Trauma Outreach and Prevention; and council member of the Committee of Spirituality, Values, and Global Concerns at the United Nations.
The following three volumes, as well as an ancestral healing CD “From War to Peace,” are attributed to both Kalayjian and her colleagues:
Forgiveness & Reconciliation: Psychological Pathways for Conflict Transormation and Peace Building by Drs. Ani Kalayjian and Raymond Paloutzian, Westmont College, brings to prominence the essential act of forgiveness. It stresses the importance of forgiveness for our individual and collective lives. It stresses that “forgiveness is the heart of healing body, mind, and spirit.”
Two volumes on Mass Trauma and Emotional Healing Around the World: Rituals and Practices for Resilience and Meaning-Making by Drs. Ani Kalayjian and Dominique Eugene set the agenda for the development of therapeutic interventions research and theory, helping to prevent man-made trauma and prepare generations to cope with natural disasters in a more effective way.
Because of the technical information concerning the above publications, contact Dr. Ani Kalayjian for further information at drkalayjian@gmail.com, or visit www.meaningfulworld.com, www.internationalpsychology.net.
Betty Apigian-Kessel
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