Thursday 15 August 2024

Why Does the Pope Wear White - Pierpaolo, Ettore and Mattia Finaldi - CTS Children’s Books

Why Does the Pope Wear White:
And Other Questions
Pierpaolo Finaldi
Ettore & Mattia Finaldi (Illustrations)
ISBN 9781860826733
ISBN 1860826733
CTS Booklet CH25

Why Does the Pope Wear White - Pierpaolo, Ettore and Mattia Finaldi - CTS Children’s Books

As of the reading of this book over the last several years I have read over 399 volumes from the Catholic Truth Society. This is one of only a few books in the CTS Children's Books I have read, but I will continue tracking down others to read, review and share with our school library. The few I have read are all excellent volumes, both for the young and the young at heart!

The description of this book is:
 
Why does the Pope wear white?
And other Questions

This book, illustrated with children's drawings and photographs, answers children's real questions about who the Pope is, how he is chosen, what he does and even what he wears!.”

We are informed that the illustrations are by Ettore & Mattia Finaldi and the children of Year 5, Holy Cross School, Catford, London. And they make this a wonderful little volume. The sections in this book are:

‘Viva Il Papa !’ - Long live the Pope! 
When did Pope Benedict become Pope? 
Why does the Pope choose a new name? 
Why does the Pope wear white? 
Why docs the Pope live in Rome? 
Why does the Pope wear a special ring? 
Why docs the Pope carry a big cross and wear a funny hat? 
Docs the Pope have anyone to help him? 
Why can't a woman be Pope? 
Does the Pope travel a lot? 
How does the Pope make people saints? 

Each question and answer spans a two page spread. Most contain a photo or replication of famous artwork as well as an illustration from a child. At the bottom of the second page is a question to see if the child or children the book was being read to are paying attention. A sample chapter is:

Why does the wear a special ring?

The Pope wears a gold ring which is called the fisherman's ring. It is engraved with an image of St Peter, who was the first Pope, fishing from his boat. This reminds the Pope that he is a fisher of men just like St Peter. In the old days the ring was pushed into warm wax which was dripped onto the bottom of important documents. It meant that whatever was on the document had been said by the Pope himself and had to be done.
Today every Bishop wears a ring and the Pope is the Bishop of Rome. The ring is a bit like a wedding ring and symbolizes that the Pope will look after his church as though it was his wife and that he will be faithful to it and love it until the day he dies.

‘Why does the pope wear a special ring?’

This is a great little picture book. My children are well past the age of picture books but I have loved this and the other CTS Children’s Books I have picked up so we donate them to their school library. My youngest finished grade 8 (or year 9 in the UK) this spring but I will continue to pick up CTS Children’s books to give them to the school library. The librarian and teachers have loved them.

We really enjoyed this volume and we are donating a copy to the School Library, the primary school our children have attended has a resource section for the teachers and we thought this would be an excellent addition. This is a great resource from the Catholic Truth Society. I am very thankful I picked it. A wonderful resource I can easily recommend for church, home, or school library or even classroom prayer corner. I am looking forward to reading other books by Pierpaolo Finaldi  and from the CTS Children’s Books series.

Why Does the Pope Wear White - Pierpaolo, Ettore and Mattia Finaldi - CTS Children’s Books Sample 1

Why Does the Pope Wear White - Pierpaolo, Ettore and Mattia Finaldi - CTS Children’s Books Sample 2

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books from the Catholic Truth Society click here.

For reviews of other books in the CTS Children's Books series click here.

Book by Pierpaolo Finaldi:

Books In Polish:
Moja Mala Ksiazeczka do Nabozenstwa
Mój Mały Modlitewnik

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