All About Me: A Keepsake Journal for Kids

Wonderful idea

This is a terrific way to get kids writing. Keeping track of life experiences also allows one to grow and gives many memories to look back upon.

THE JOURNAL SUPERSTAR STRIKES AGAIN!

THE JOURNAL SUPERSTAR STRIES AGAIN! ALL ABOUT ME: A KEEPSAKE JOURNAL FOR KIDS Reviewed by Dr. Jerry Flack, Professor Emeritus, University of Colorado and children¿s literature consultant, Denver, CO. A personal anecdote: A friend who owns a bookstore especially geared to youths told me in 1996 that ALL ABOUT ME: A KEEPSAKE JOURNAL FOR KIDS (Northland Publishing) by Linda Kranz was very attractive but would never sell well. She liked the journal but did not believe there was a market for it. A month or two later I asked the same bookstore owner how the journal was selling and her enthusiastic response was that she could not keep enough copies on the shelves to meet the incredible demand. Parents, grandparents, and kids themselves had discovered a perfect catalyst and inspiration for not only thinking about their lives but for writing down these same thoughts and creative new ideas. Since that auspicious beginning, Linda Kranz has gone on to create at least seven journals for teens, fathers and mothers, a sequel to ALL ABOUT ME, a pregnancy journal, and a nature journal. Now, she has completely revised her initial journal for young writers that is chock-a-block full of new images and ideas ¿ what Kranz calls ¿thought-starters¿ -- and once again made extremely visually appealing by the inclusion of art work from some of the very finest Northland/Rising Moon picture books. The full-spread illustrations are luminous and make the journal beautiful to look at as well as to write in. A great many additional pages contain lively and inviting cartoon illustrations. Kranz has added a significant number of new prompts or ¿thought starters¿ to make this revised version of ALL ABOUT ME: A KEEPSAKE JOURNAL FOR KIDS (Rising Moon, 2004) virtually a brand new edition of the original book. Young writers are asked to think about the best books they have ever read, recall special family stories and memories, describe their homes or apartments, design an ideal school-day schedule, and note their dreams and aspirations. In fascinating prompts students ask their parents to recall their own favorite times as children and what they did for fun. In an especially intriguing experiment, students are encouraged to describe their parents at two six-month intervals. Once again, the gorgeous reproduction of full-color art from Rising Moon picture books greatly adds to the whole of this successful journal project. Such artists as Jeanne Arnold, Libba Tracy, Mike Gordon, Jim Harris, and Redwing T. Nez have created beautiful illustrations. One of the healthiest things people anywhere can do ¿ regardless of age -- is to reflect upon the course of their lives. It is fine to begin the process at 30, 40, or 65 years of age, but it is even more significant and helpful for people to begin the life-long habit of journaling when they are young. Parents and others who desire to give children a gift that will last for a lifetime should very definitely consider ALL ABOUT ME: A KEEPSAKE JOURNAL FOR KIDS as a wonderful starting point. It is magical gift that grows in proportion to its use. It is truly a gift that gives in return.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.