The Book Lover’s Companion journal is a place for your child to explore and expand their reading journey.
With a variety of ways to record their life in books, the journal includes:
- Space to write fifty personal book reviews — each with thoughtfully guided prompts and ample room to write notes (helpful for book reports!)
- Room to draw a picture from each book (and let their creativity run wild)
- Ways to identify and explore how a book made them feel (with help identifying emotions and space to write about them)
- Room to compose a “To Read” list - books they encounter but don’t yet have the bandwidth for (#homeworkproblems)
- A record for books lent and borrowed to friends so that they never accidentally keep a friend’s book (and get to pester whomever keeps theirs!)
- Book discussion questions that spark conversation with friends, at school, or at the dinner table (these questions are also great for parents to ask kiddos - deepen your connection while exploring a topic your child cares about!)
- Space to track how many books were read in a year with the Reading Habits Calendar (with room for four different years’ worth of records)
- And much, much, more
This journal can promote reading and writing skills, social connection with peers and family, and also provide a place to explore, understand, and give language to feelings.
It’s a journal about books but it’s really a journal about your child’s inner world. Allow the Book Lover’s Companion to help your child navigate these formative years with confidence, emotional intelligence, and deeper understanding of themselves.
Because what we read as kids changes us - let’s give kids a place to write it all down.
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Commonly asked questions:
How many books can be reviewed within the journal?
The journal includes space to record and review fifty books.
How much space in included to write reviews?
Each book review space includes one page of guided prompt questions and one page for free writing notes and drawing. It’s a perfect combination for kids who have a lot to say about a book but don’t always know where to start.
Does the journal need to be started at the beginning of a new year?
No! Your child can start tracking reading habits at the beginning of a new year or in the middle of a current one - the calendar contains room for four years' worth of records and the ability to write in the year as needed.
Who is this journal for?
The Book Lover’s Companion journal is the perfect gift for:
- Book loving kids (from 8-12 years old)
- Journal or diary keepers
- Kids who might need extra support in reading, writing, or language arts at school
- Graduations, birthdays, or anyone embarking on a new school year or educational milestone
- Thoughtful book-loving introverts
The book discussion questions are meaningful conversation starters even when not everyone present has read the book. As long as those present don't mind a few spoilers, the questions promote connection at the dinner table, school, long car rides and roadtrips, campfires, or any setting with time to connect over meaningful reflections.
⚠Warning: this journal may prompt your kiddo to put on cozy socks, curl up with a cup of hot cocoa, and love reading more than they ever have. A cat in their lap won't hurt, either.
Melissa Pennel is a writer, mother, and coach living in Northern California with her family. She believes that every story matters, that everyone is a writer if given the right prompts, and that life is less about having the right answers and more about living the questions. Find more of Melissa's work at Followyourfirecoaching.com.
