None

This charming collection of letters to Pope John Paul II from school children of many backgrounds is a joyous celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of his pontificate. The final selections for Dear Papa were culled from more than ten thousand submissions, and the variety of tone and topic ranges from humorous to poignant and touching. One youngster asks the pope if it is hard to ski in a dress. A sixth-grade boy requests prayers for his family; his mother recently died and he is living with an uncle, "a good role model." Other letters in Dear Papa express concern for an end to war, an interest in the daily life of the Pope, and advice for living a good life. One of the shortest letters exclaims: "Keep up the good work!" Drawings submitted by children and photos from Vatican archives complement the endearing text of Dear Papa.