Every Child a Light: The Pope's Message to Young People - Hardcover

Gr. 4-7. Pope John Paul II's affinity for young people is well known. Here, Father Vereb has taken snippets from the pope's messages to children and teens and matched them with very appealing full-color photos: the pope holding, patting, and kissing babies and toddlers, and having a laugh or celebrating with older kids. The format is always accessible. The pages are bright white, and the text is given line by line, so it doesn't look intimidating. Despite all that, it's difficult to say if kids will pick up this book for themselves. Even though the excerpts are short, they are not always kid friendly: "It is above all in raising children that the family fulfills its mission to proclaim the gospel of life." Some of the pieces, however, are right at a child's level: "The pope has a great love for children! I want to see you grow up happy." An afterword tells readers more about Pope John Paul II and his philosophy concerning children. Libraries with Catholic populations will probably want this on hand. Ilene Cooper
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Grade 3-5-Color photographs show Pope John Paul II interacting lovingly with infants and young children. The warmth and sincerity of his feeling toward them are obvious, and he allows them to respond with their own enthusiastic embraces. Each full-page, well-reproduced picture is attractively framed and faces a quotation directed to children or their caregivers from messages the Pope has given during his travels throughout the world in the '80s and '90s. His emphasis is on the love and peace of God and Jesus; the importance of family, prayer, friendship, and moral behavior; the value of the Church; and the beauty of childhood. Surprisingly, since the Roman Catholic faith is worldwide, only 2 photos of the 18 show children of color. Parochial schools and Roman Catholic churches and families would be the most appreciative audience for this book. Text and photographs are from L'Osservatore Romano.
Patricia Pearl Dole, formerly at First Presbyterian School, Martinsville, VA
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