To Our Children's Children Journal

by Bob Greene

You collect a lot of memories over a lifetime. Here is the place to keep them.

First there was To Our Children's Children: Preserving Family Histories for Generations to Come. A collection of over one thousand evocative questions, the book offered a very personal, human approach to genealogy, awakening readers to the possibility of creating a family history through the simple act of remembering.

From this book, hundreds of thousands of individuals have learned the value of passing on family treasures made of words. However, readers kept asking Bob Greene and D.G. Fulford for a version of the book with room to record the answers.

The To Our Children's Children Journal is just that: a handy and beautiful journal posing 365 questions (one for each day of the year), with ample space for families to write their own answers. Approachable, enjoyable, and thought-provoking, the Journal is a pleasure to read and to ponder--something that, once completed, will become a lasting part of any family's history, to be put on the bookshelf and treasured for generations to come.

Genres: Nonfiction, Writing, Self Help, Reference, Family, Memoir, History

240 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1993

About the author

Robert Bernard Greene, Jr., who writes as Bob Greene, is a journalist.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Ann Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book and I've been using it for more than 15 years now, in my own writing, in my family history classes, and as a gift for friends who want to write their stories. If you want to capture your stories, this is the best book of prompts out there. Seriously. I've read dozens of books on writing personal histories. This one is a must have. The prompts are so interesting and thought provoking--they go gently beyond the normal questions into things that are really interesting to read and write about.
If you have a parent or relative who needs a little nudge to start recording stories, this is the perfect way to get them started. Seriously, BUY THIS BOOK. I've probably bought more than 100 copies of this book since I discovered it. (Look for used copies, they're just as valuable.)
I take this book with me when I go places where I'll have time to write. I love this book. I read it again today, cover to cover, just to put the questions back into my little brain.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a treasure has served as the basis for two things: understanding my family of origin, and to help my students understand their parents. The author lists questions by category, one for each chapter, that can be addressed to an individual, on which they may expand.

When my parents entered their 70s, I sent them one question per month, and at the end of the year, I compiled their responses for myself and for my siblings. This document remains a treasure of family history, now that my dad has passed. I coupled this history with photos and a genealogy, and when my dad was in his last year, it helped us come to terms with his passing.

Students who interview their parents are asked to obtain a story from their parents' history about their childhoods. These are turned into storytelling pieces that are performed for younger students. It remains one of the highlights of the year.

[Pamela Fishel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of questions to help you write your life story. I checked it out of the library and renewed it and still did not answer all of the questions. I wish I had my grandparents answers to these questions.

[nokomis · Rating 3 out of 5]

nice collection of questions, lots of reflecting

[Jan Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this little book to help you start writing your life history. The questions in this book bring back so many memories, it's really quite amazing.

[Marilyn]

Aunt Jean sent this to me in Sep 2021.
Dewey 649

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bob Greene's book To our Children's Children is one of the most valuable books a family can have. I bring this book with me when ever I am visiting my eldest family members. This book has questions in it that I would never think to ask, and they are categorized by family, career, childhood, etc. These questions generate the most interesting stories you can get from your relatives that you will appreciate for years to come.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't actually read this myself. I skimmed it and then gave it to my mother back in 1996. She did a wonderful family history following the questions. I just ran across it today. Her memory is nowhere near where she'd be able to do it now so I'm really grateful for this book leaving me such a great narrative.

[Kim · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was hoping to get ideas for making/writing a family tree book of Q/A. This did next to nothing for me. I might have gotten an idea for a question that led to an idea for a different and better question from here. But not much more.

Could be a great book but not what I was looking for.

[Barbara Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great way to start writing your family history. It is filled with questions--mostly about every day life-- that will jog's the reader's memory. The answers to these questions are things I would love to have known about my ancestors--even my parents.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I ordered several copies of these books years ago, and gave one each to my parents, my husband's parents, and my grandmother who was still alive. The only copy I received back so far was from my MIL. A nice way to try to preserve some family history, for those interested in their family genealogy.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you scrapbook and if you do "All About Me" pages, there are wonderful/thought provoking topics that you can incorprate onto the pages.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I often go back to this book to review it when I have opportunities to speak at length with family members. We've used it as a springboard to come up with family stories for our children.

[Cws]

920.02

[Kathryn Norris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book of questions. If you are looking to preserve your family history this is a great starting point. A helpful tool for those looking to start cross generation conversations.

[John Hoag · Rating 2 out of 5]

Got one each for the surviving Grandmothers...

[Lynn Calvin]

Amazon preorder

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been using this book for the past month to get info from my parents on their life stories. It's a great resource for that, and the questions really open up the floodgates of memory.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great questions for families to answer together, or for individuals to answer and present in gift format give to family members for keepsakes.

[Kaethe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the idea, the concept behind the thing. But like anyone is ever going to fill it out? Ha!

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful guide-book to writing one's family's history. Very practical and motivational.

[Jerry-Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13614048

[Covenant Presbyterian Springfield Ohio]

Call Number: 920 GRE

Checked Out.