For the Children: Life Lessons From Pope John Paul Ii: Life Lessons From Pope John Paul Ii

Grade 2-6-Fourteen inspirational selections from the writings, prayers, and speeches of Pope John Paul II. Most are short, generally between 5 to 10 lines, and are accompanied by a full-color photograph, often of the Pope with children. Themes are school, home, family, faith, prayer, etc. Each piece includes the place (but not the date) of its issuance (e.g., "Speech to children in Drogheda, Ireland"). Useful for libraries with requests for the Pope's words or his messages to young people.
Linda Beck, Indian Valley Public Library, Telford, PA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

This beautifully produced, thoughtfully conceived book seems an ideal ceremonial gift for a Catholic child. Excerpts from pope John Paul II's letters and speeches to children serve as text, and his words embody both comfort and challenge. Speaking about world issues (poverty, "groups who do violence," illiteracy) and about such concepts as love, hope and prayer, the pontiff addresses children as full participants in the Christian faith. "The Pope counts very much on your prayers," he writes. "We must pray together and pray hard, that humanity, made up of billions of human beings, may become more and more the family of God and able to live in peace." Glowing color photos of the Pope and of cherubic children who make up his international audience strike a reverent yet tender tone. Offering communion, visiting a classroom, embracing or being embraced by children, the pope projects affection, while the children themselves, many dressed in national costumes, are the very picture of innocence and piety. From the padded cover to the ornate black-and-white capitals to the tiny reproductions of paintings of angels and saints above the page numbers, the production values are uniformly high. Several purely Catholic references, e.g., to God's call "to live in marriage or to be priests," and the pope's delivery itself indicate the original Catholic audience for his remarks; accordingly, this book will be of interest primarily to Catholic families. A Spanish-language edition, Para los ni?os ($16.95 -14718-2) will be released simultaneously. Ages 7-up. (Mar.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Excerpts from letters and speeches by Pope John Paul II are juxtaposed with full-color photographs from his many visits with children around the world, from Ecuador to South Korea. Each excerpt and photo falls under a general heading, such as "Hope," "Faith," and "School," but the pope has words on violence and suffering as well. Also included are black-and-white photographs of the young Karol Wojtyla, as an 11-year-old altar boy and on the day of his First Communion in 1929. This book, of course, will appeal to many Catholics, but the pope's faith in children transcends one religion. A beautifully made, well-thought-out volume with a message of respect for children and welcome spiritual advice for being strong in today's world. Kathy Broderick