Book Review
Journal Buddies: A Girl's Journal for Sharing and Celebrating
Magnificence
Parenting during these "tween" years is more complicated than I had
imagined. My daughter and I are still close, but her friends are
starting to play an increasingly large role in her life. I want to help
her understand the importance of creating friendships that nurture her,
as well as helping her to see how much of her daily life can be improved
simply by focusing on the positive. I'm constantly saying to my kids,
"What you focus on expands," and "what you appreciate, appreciates"
because I'm convinced that this is one of the most important and
rewarding lessons a young person can learn.
Jill
Schoenberg has written a book for girls ages 8 to 14 that reinforces
these ideas. In
Journal Buddies: A Girl's Journal for Sharing and Celebrating
Magnificence (there's a
boy version, too) Schoenberg outlines a method of journaling that is
all about focusing on the positive. It guides girls to identify the
traits, qualities and talents that they like about themselves and
others, because, as Schoenberg explains to her young readers in the
book's introduction, when you practice looking for the positive things,
it becomes easier to see the positive things.
To help kids comprehend journaling as something that isn't like homework
and doesn't even necessarily involve writing, Schoenberg encourages
self-expression not just through words but also through drawings,
doodles, photos, collages, stickers… anything the child feels most
comfortable using to express her ideas. To trigger the creative
imagination, the author also includes 89 creative journaling ideas that
spark some great insights, from "Research your hero (historical,
musical, sports…) and find similarities between your hero and you" to
"Imagine the world you wish you could live in right now and write about
it or draw a picture of it."
Each of the book's thirty journal entries consists of:
-A "thought for the day"
- A place for the journal keeper and her journal buddy to write down
what they like about each other (This journal buddy can be anyone: a
parent, teacher, mentor, friend, or sibling, for example, and the
journal buddy can change from day to day.)
- A word to focus on for the day (such as "magical," "joy,"
"possibilities")
- Blank pages for creative self expression
Following the thirty journal entries is a special section for
reflection.
When I first picked up this book, I was concerned about the necessity of
the Journal Buddy. As an introverted child, I used my journal to write
about things that I wouldn't want to share with a buddy. But as I
started working with it, I realize that the buddy concept is what sets
this book apart. It takes creative journaling to a new level and helps
kids recognize and appreciate the positive aspects of one another. The
result is a book that the child will treasure as it contains lists of a
child's positive traits, as identified by another person – as well as
positive traits that the child has identified in her buddies. In the
book's introduction, Schoenberg writes: "If you choose to complete this
journal, here's what I think will happen: You'll begin to feel stronger
and braver day by day, and your kindness and creativity will expand too.
You might even strengthen your character so much that the day will come
when you will be able to be kind to anyone, anyplace, regardless of what
they are doing. You may also become brave enough to openly share your
magnificent self with anyone, anywhere, anytime!"