How to Keep a Book Journal

"How to Keep a Book Journal" directions and suggestions by The Big Sister, The Little Sister, and The Mom:

How to Keep a Book Journal

by The Books for Walls Project

The key to keeping a book journal is simple: 

Write It Down.

But what to write down? Here are suggestions to get you started:

• Title of the Book, Author and Date Started/Finished Remember sometimes it can take a long time to finish a book, you can do it, and sometimes we may read the same book over, and over, be sure to record the date each time you re-read!

• Quotes/Phrases/Sayings Words that make you go “Wow” and include the page number.

• Write down words you don't know or want to remember, even better, look up words in the dictionary and write down the definition in your journal.

• When you are done with the book, whether you finish it, or not, write a review, one sentence or a whole page, just write it down.

• Take a photo of yourself with the book and glue it in your journal -your future you will thank you.
• In the back of your journal begin a list of books you want to read. 

The Sisters suggest printing the directions

and gluing them inside your journal.

 A couple of extra tips:

Keep your journal handy with a dictionary, pens/pencils, and post-it notes, along with your current books, in a basket or on a table. That way you are always ready to write it down!

Not sure what to read? Ask friends, teachers, or librarians for suggestions. And visit www.booksforwallsproject.org, check out our book lists (coming soon!), read comments on challenges, or ask us, we'll be happy to help you find something!

Visit The Full List of Books for Walls Project Challenges every time you are inspired and share what you are reading! Take challenges, as many and as often as you like.

Now go ahead, get started! 

Enter your email address and receive our posts and challenges in your email box! Don't miss a new challenge!

Save Troy Library Tuesday: The Sisters research book burning.

How do you explain a "Book Burning Party" to a 7 and 11 year old? Well, The Dad and The Mom have been working on that since "John" posted a comment last week on Save Troy Library Tuesday announcing a "Book Burning Party" on August 5th. We let history and the girls curiosity guide our conversation, we played reporter, did a little digging, and even tried to contact the organizer/s of the event.  

This week we'll share quotes and information we found. Serendipitously** we begin with a voice from 1971, one of the Letters to the Children of Troy:

________________________

John_A. Love
Who was John A. Love?

A public library is the first resource of a free people. We need only to look to the history of Nazi Germany in our own century to remember that the first act of the tyrant is to destroy the people's accumulated sources of knowledge;  the brief years of the Third Reich, which grew from the ashes of the German Reichstag and the proscribed burned books, was the ugliest period of human history.

Western civilization is a fragile structure, dependent alike upon faith, wisdom and good will. But beneath that fragility of the structure itself there is the most fundamental of all human aspirations: the will to be free. Freedom is based on knowledge, just as wisdom is based on learning; it is here in your library, that children of the City of Troy can realize the grandeur of the legacy of liberty which the American people cherish more than any other human institution.

As Governor, and on behalf of the people of Colorade, I extend congratulations to the City of Troy on the occasion of the completion of the library, and our best wishes to all the citizens who have built, and who will come, to this place of inspiration and meditation.

Sincerely,

John A. Love

________________________

We asked around, hoping to find an answer to The Sister's question "but why a book burning party"? Paul Nelson, author of Retiring Guy's Digest, shared his correspondence with Troy Pulic Library's Director Cathy Russ, in which she explained:

"I wish I could tell you if this were someone's idea of a joke (sick!), or, as some have speculated, an attempt at reverse psychology to get people to vote yes. But those signs cost real money, and it takes time to put them out, as well as to file paperwork with Oakland County to register as an organization. More money than brains and too much time on their hands? Who knows? And this Tom Ball, who filed the paperwork, said he had to talk to his “board” before he could comment, which is also pretty weird. I will keep you posted!"

We found all sorts of historical quotes on book burning:

"And on the subject of burning books: I want to congratulate librarians, not famous for their physical strength or their powerful political connections or their great wealth, who, all over this country, have staunchly resisted anti-democratic bullies who have tried to remove certain books from their shelves, and have refused to reveal to thought police the names of persons who have checked out those titles.

So the America I loved still exists, if not in the White House or the Supreme Court or the Senate or the House of Representatives or the media. The America I love still exists at the front desks of our public libraries." Kurt Vonnegut, American Writer

"The burning of a book is a sad, sad sight, for even though a book is nothing but ink and paper, it feels as if the ideas contained in the book are disappearing as the pages turn to ashes and the cover and binding--which is the term for the stitching and glue that holds the pages together--blacken and curl as the flames do their wicked work. When someone is burning a book, they are showing utter contempt for all of the thinking that produced its ideas, all of the labor that went into its words and sentences, and all of the trouble that befell the author..." Lemony Snicket, pen name of American Author Daniel Handler

"Don't join the book burners. Don't think you're going to conceal faults by concealing evidence that they ever existed. Don't be afraid to go in your library and read every book..." Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th President of the United States

The latest news on Troy Public and how to get involved:

• Articles from Troy Patch: Library Millage Debate Heats Up with Signs that Suggest Book Burning and Troy To Hold Community Meetinsgs to Discuss Library's Future
• Does the City of Troy allow "temporary signs"? The answer is yes, if the rules are followed: Click here for details on the Troy City Sign Ordinance.
• Live in Troy, have questions about the election? Attend a meeting!

  
  

  In order to answer any questions you have about this millage, the Library staff will hold a a series of Community Meetings throughout July. These meetings are open to the public. Please attend and bring a friend! The meeting dates are:

  
  

  Wednesday, July 6, 10 am, Troy Community Center Room 303

  Thursday, July 7, 1:30 pm, Troy Community Center Room 301

  Monday, July 11, 11 am, Troy Community Center Room 301

  Tuesday, July 12, 7 pm, Troy Community Center, Room 302

  Wednesday, July 13, 10 am, Troy Community Center Room 302

  Thursday, July 14, 2 pm, Troy Community Center Room 301

  Monday, July 18, 10 am, Troy Community Center Room 301

  Monday, July 18, 7 pm, Community of Christ Church

  Tuesday, July 19, 1 pm, Troy Community Center Room 305

  Tuesday, July 19, 7 pm, Big Beaver United Methodist

  Wednesday, July 20, 1:30 pm, Troy Community Center Room 303

  for more information: visit the TPL website.

• Follow along and spread the message with social media: On Facebook? Save Troy, Troy Public Library and Books for Walls Project OnTwitter? Books for Walls, Troy Public Library, Save Troy
• Are you a Troy resident? Mark your calendar for August 2nd and please vote YES! For more click here.
• Have some time to volunteer? Click here, contact www.savetroy.org and see what you can do to help.
• Want to display a yard sign? Send your name, address and email to: yardsign@savetroy.org

Great advice from the wonderful Dr. Suess! 

While we don't have many clear answers about the "Book Burning Party", we feel strongly that lovers of books and supporters libraries will prevail and the millage will be won! The Little Sister suggests, "forget about book burning and just read more books from the Troy library!!!!!" 

Next Week: The Sisters interview Troy Public Library Director Cathy Russ.

**The Mom divided the 97 letters over the 7 weeks we planned our Save Troy Library Tuesday, John Love's letter, mentioning burned books,  just happened to be in this week's letters!