On the Way to Santiago de Compostela

Janelle Peregoy shared the new Seek and Find book by Geert de Sutter with her 7-year-old, who delighted in the book's format and fun features.

On the Way to Santiago de Compostela  

by Geert de Sutter 
Published by Ignatius Press/Magnificat

Seek and Find 

As in the previous two books in the Seek and Find series, On the Way to Santiago de Compostela by Geert de Sutter allows readers to look for recurring characters among many frenzied scenes. To my family’s delight, some of the familiar characters on each page are not just pilgrims. Lavan and Hoom, a couple of cats, and Gil the Goat make regular appearances in each section! 

My 7-year-old son would read a Seek and Find book every night if it were up to him. With his rapt attention, the slow and deliberate search of each section fosters a greater opportunity to explore a new idea — such as taking a pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago. 

The Way of St. James 

The book begins with a rudimentary map of France and northern Spain. For those familiar with the modern Camino Francés, the medieval routes noted in this story originated deeper into France. 

Through the pages, the characters explore many of the medieval customs and traditions that have come to be associated with the Camino. Adventure awaits as the characters will stop at abbeys and villages, meet monks and Templars, navigate the snowy Pyrenees mountains, brave dangerous river crossings, and avoid bandits as they travel to visit the tomb of Saint James the Apostle. 

As someone who aspires to one day walk the Camino, I had hoped that there would be a brief introduction to the modern pilgrimage. That was missing from this book, so I found myself telling my son about the scallop shells, yellow arrows and some of the other common Camino imagery. Our children deserve to understand that pilgrimages are not just something that people did a long time ago. Part of the significance of the Camino is that this medieval journey still has so much resonance for those traveling it today. 

Enjoy On the Way to Santiago de Compostela 

Between the inviting illustrations and the charm of seeking the recurring characters as they explore each of their new surroundings, this is a fun and engaging book for children (ages 5 and up). Parents, catechists, and Catholic-school educators may all want to consider adding this book to their library. I certainly look forward to exploring The Life of Jesus and The Lives of the Saints, the previous Seek and Find books, with my family. 

For adults interested in learning more about the Camino de Santiago, I recommend finding a local chapter of American Pilgrims on the Camino or listening to YOU on the Camino de Santiago podcast. 

Ask for On the Way to Santiago de Compostela at your local Catholic bookseller, or order online from Amazon.com or the publishers, Ignatius Press and Magnificat. 

Is this a book you'd like to read? Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles.

Copyright 2024 Janelle Peregoy
Images: Canva