My Childhood Memories: A Keepsake Journal

I am very pleased with this book. My 2 other children have this book and I am keeping it for them to fill out when they get older. I think this will be neat to use at graduation time.

Kids like Kinkade more than I do. I went into this book, realizing my bias against the heavily marketed Thomas Kinkade art I see in the malls and on every possible item, especially ones with a Christian bent. By the time I was done reading through "My Childhood Memories," I found myself buying into the pictures. They are perfect for this context. The Currier and Ives tone bores me. Still, kids are thrilled with this, and so, my bias takes a back seat. I asked around, and showed it to a few neighbor children. They loved the book. They aren't as jaded as I am, and find Kinkade's ability to consistently paint postcard pictures with the same rich colors and subtleties that show a child what art can be. With a Norman Rockwell sensibility, minus the people, Kinkade illuminates each scene with details that will remind every child of a clean and cultured worldview. These images show slices of life within this gorgeous journal. Although the Kinkade pictures dominate the book (over 40 of them), there are quotes on almost every spread. Vincent Van Gogh, Gelett Burgess, Janusz Korczak are all quoted. Scripture verses, though, are the primary source of quotes, all short enough to be read and remembered. This journal asks questions. Unlike the very contemporary girls "Piece of My Mind Devotionals" journal series by Linda Washington, "My Childhood Memories" straightforwardly asks the young reader to fill in thoughtful scrapbook-type information. From "The thing I love about my grandfather..." to "I believe that angels..." to relating anecdotes about parents, this book will be something to be looked back through for years. There are places to affix photos, and places to list things and tell stories. I recommend this for parents (especially homeschoolers) looking to encourage writing while collecting memories. It will reinforce the family life, introduce Scripture, and forge a bond between childhood and growing older as the child reflects back on the book as he or she grows older. Anthony Trendl editor, HungarianBookstore.com