Parents' Guide to

Hello Lighthouse

By Regan McMahon, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Unique, engaging look at the life of a lighthouse keeper.

Book Sophie Blackall Picture Book 2018
Hello Lighthouse Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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What's the Story?

HELLO LIGHTHOUSE begins with a bearded man who arrives at the lighthouse on a tiny island to start his job as the new lighthouse keeper. We see all the tasks he completes each day, including warning ships of danger and rescuing shipwrecked sailors, always keeping his log. He writes letters to his wife on the mainland, and one day she arrives on a ship that's bringing supplies. When he gets sick, she takes care of both him and the lighthouse until he's healthy again. He cares for her when she gives birth to their first baby. Eventually, a mechanical light puts him out of a job.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This unique, intimate view of what lighthouses and lighthouse keepers do envelops readers in a distinctive world beautifully illustrated by author-illustrator Sophie Blackall. The vertical orientation of the book itself echoes the lighthouse shape, and cutaway interior views give readers a vivid understanding of the small spaces and spiral staircases that confine the lighthouse keeper's days. It's a captivating look at a rare and now obsolete hands-on profession.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what it's like to live in a lighthouse, as shown in Hello Lighthouse. Does it look like fun or seem too hard? What might happen to boats if there was no lighthouse?

  • How does the shape of the book -- tall and narrow like a lighthouse -- help tell the story and give you a feel for what it's like to live in a lighthouse?

  • How does the author show movement of the ocean and the wind?

Book Details

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