Status
Checked out
Call number
Genres
Publication
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (2018), Edition: Illustrated, 48 pages
Description
"Explores the life of one lighthouse as it beams its message out to sea through shifting seasons, changeable weather, and the tenure of its final keeper."--
User reviews
LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
With simple text and luminous artwork, Caldecott medalist Sophie Blackall spins the tale of a lighthouse-keeper and his life on "a tiny island at the edge of the world" in this newest picture-book. Joined in his solitary posting by his wife, the keeper performs all of his duties, from polishing the
Informative and engaging, Hello Lighthouse manages to be matter-of-factly interesting, with all the daily lighthouse-keeper duties it depicts, while also capturing the feeling of mystery and the sense of beauty that these massive structures evoke. There's something symbolic about a lighthouse, casting its light out into the darkness, offering a warning to passing strangers, representing the human hope for safety in the profoundly unsafe (and alien) realm of the sea. Somehow, Blackall manages to capture that sense of a lighthouse as standing in a liminal space, caught between land and sea, midway between reality and fantasy. The coming of mechanization may have ended the daily human caring for lighthouses, but it seems to have done nothing, to judge by the many people who travel the country and world to look at them, to reduce the human fascination with these vital structures. This is a gorgeous book, one whose artwork is every bit as beautiful as in Blackall's Caldecott-winning Finding Winnie, and which has a poetic cadence to the text that is well-suited to the visuals. Highly, highly recommended, to all fellow Blackall fans, and to anyone who loves lighthouses, and is looking for a picture-book about them. For my part, this might be my first pick, of 2018, for a mock-Caldecott!
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light's lens to winding the clockwork that keeps the light in motion, while also recording such momentous events as his daring rescue of some shipwrecked sailors and the birth of his first child. When the keeper himself falls ill, his wife cares for him, and for all the lighthouse duties as well. Eventually, the tender - a ship which supplies the lighthouse with everything it needs - comes to take them away. They are being replaced by a machine, which will keep the light running...Informative and engaging, Hello Lighthouse manages to be matter-of-factly interesting, with all the daily lighthouse-keeper duties it depicts, while also capturing the feeling of mystery and the sense of beauty that these massive structures evoke. There's something symbolic about a lighthouse, casting its light out into the darkness, offering a warning to passing strangers, representing the human hope for safety in the profoundly unsafe (and alien) realm of the sea. Somehow, Blackall manages to capture that sense of a lighthouse as standing in a liminal space, caught between land and sea, midway between reality and fantasy. The coming of mechanization may have ended the daily human caring for lighthouses, but it seems to have done nothing, to judge by the many people who travel the country and world to look at them, to reduce the human fascination with these vital structures. This is a gorgeous book, one whose artwork is every bit as beautiful as in Blackall's Caldecott-winning Finding Winnie, and which has a poetic cadence to the text that is well-suited to the visuals. Highly, highly recommended, to all fellow Blackall fans, and to anyone who loves lighthouses, and is looking for a picture-book about them. For my part, this might be my first pick, of 2018, for a mock-Caldecott!
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LibraryThing member nbmars
As a kid I was always fascinated by lighthouses: what could it possibly be like to live inside one? The award-winning author/illustrator Sophie Blackall was curious about this also. But unlike me, she researched, visited lighthouse museums, and climbed the towers of lighthouses all over the
“The lighthouse in this book is based on one I stayed in on a tiny island at the northern tip of Newfoundland. But as Herman Melville writes in Moby Dick, ‘it is not down in any map; true places never are.’”
The book shows what it would be like for a typical family to live inside a lighthouse, beginning when a fictional new keeper arrives to replace the old, “to carry on tending the light.” She explains what the keeper does all day, from polishing the lens, refilling the oil, winding the clockwork to keep the lamp in motion, and writing in his logbook. But often, there is not much to do. Eventually a wife arrives to live with him, and before long, they are three.
And all the while, when the sky grows dark, the waves rise and crash, and the keeper sends out a signal: “HELLO! . . . HELLO! . . . HELLO!”
One day however, the coast guard comes with a new light that can be operated by a machine. The days of lighthouse keepers are over.
Blackall, a Caldecott Award medalist, produces beautiful artwork in Chinese ink and watercolor of people both at rest and in motion, whimsically depicted to reflect their circular living situation.
Sometimes the scenes are shown as if the reader is looking through a porthole, changing up the view for alert readers. Blackall is skilled not only with drawing people; the sea changes from panel to panel, depending on whether it is stormy or calm or reflecting a fiery sunset.
At the back of the book there is a two-page spread providing information about lighthouses.
Evaluation: This lovely picture book is geared to readers from preschool to grade 3.
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northeast coast. She explains in an author’s note that:“The lighthouse in this book is based on one I stayed in on a tiny island at the northern tip of Newfoundland. But as Herman Melville writes in Moby Dick, ‘it is not down in any map; true places never are.’”
The book shows what it would be like for a typical family to live inside a lighthouse, beginning when a fictional new keeper arrives to replace the old, “to carry on tending the light.” She explains what the keeper does all day, from polishing the lens, refilling the oil, winding the clockwork to keep the lamp in motion, and writing in his logbook. But often, there is not much to do. Eventually a wife arrives to live with him, and before long, they are three.
And all the while, when the sky grows dark, the waves rise and crash, and the keeper sends out a signal: “HELLO! . . . HELLO! . . . HELLO!”
One day however, the coast guard comes with a new light that can be operated by a machine. The days of lighthouse keepers are over.
Blackall, a Caldecott Award medalist, produces beautiful artwork in Chinese ink and watercolor of people both at rest and in motion, whimsically depicted to reflect their circular living situation.
Sometimes the scenes are shown as if the reader is looking through a porthole, changing up the view for alert readers. Blackall is skilled not only with drawing people; the sea changes from panel to panel, depending on whether it is stormy or calm or reflecting a fiery sunset.
At the back of the book there is a two-page spread providing information about lighthouses.
Evaluation: This lovely picture book is geared to readers from preschool to grade 3.
Show Less
LibraryThing member eduscapes
HELLO LIGHTHOUSE by Sophie Blackall tells the story of life in a lighthouse.
Told through full page illustrations, this fascinating picture book tells the story of a dedicated lighthouse keeper and his growing family. The precise text and repeated Hello phase make the book effective as a quick
Caldecott Medalist Sophie Blackall brings the history of lighthouses to life through her detailed illustrations. Of particular note are Blackall’s use of cross-sections and interesting viewpoints. The book concludes with a discussion of lighthouse history.
Librarians will find many uses for this beautifully illustrated picture book. Connect it with the many websites featuring primary sources such as lighthouse postcards, photographs, and log books. Use this fictional story to jumpstart an investigation of true stories connected with lighthouses. Involve youth in tracing the history of a specific lighthouse.
Look for this title on “best picture books” lists for 2018.
Published by Little, Brown, an imprint of Hachette on April 10, 2018. ARC courtesy of the publisher.
Told through full page illustrations, this fascinating picture book tells the story of a dedicated lighthouse keeper and his growing family. The precise text and repeated Hello phase make the book effective as a quick
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read-aloud to introduce children to this unusual lifestyle.Caldecott Medalist Sophie Blackall brings the history of lighthouses to life through her detailed illustrations. Of particular note are Blackall’s use of cross-sections and interesting viewpoints. The book concludes with a discussion of lighthouse history.
Librarians will find many uses for this beautifully illustrated picture book. Connect it with the many websites featuring primary sources such as lighthouse postcards, photographs, and log books. Use this fictional story to jumpstart an investigation of true stories connected with lighthouses. Involve youth in tracing the history of a specific lighthouse.
Look for this title on “best picture books” lists for 2018.
Published by Little, Brown, an imprint of Hachette on April 10, 2018. ARC courtesy of the publisher.
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LibraryThing member lycomayflower
The story of a lighthouse keeper, how he does his job, and how he and his family live in a lighthouse. Neat. Pleasant illustrations, and I really liked peeking into the business of keeping a lighthouse going before automation.
LibraryThing member Kyle98
This book is about a lighthouse that is used by many ships. The lighthouse keeper in the story takes great care of the lighthouse. The book goes over the different roles the lighthouse plays through careful story telling.
LibraryThing member melodyreads
Lovely and lyrical; author's notes about real lighthouses at the end make this an exceptional book.
LibraryThing member MaowangVater
A new keeper arrives at a lighthouse. It’s a lonely job until his wife arrives to accompany him. As the weather and the seasons pass the duties of the lighthouse and the keeper, his wife and baby girl are illustrated as the waves and the wind swirl around it in circles, visually echoing the round
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interior of the lighthouse. Ships, whales, fish, and icebergs pass by. There’s a fierce storm and a dramatic rescue at sea. The little family’s solitude is interrupted only when the tender comes by with supplies and news, until the day when it brings an automated light, and the humans depart their rocky outpost, to watch their old home from a new one overlooking it on the coast. Blackall’s rendering of the patterns and colors of the waves in ink and watercolor are truly remarkable, as are her circular lighthouse interiors. Show Less
LibraryThing member Lisa2013
I’ve loved lighthouses since I was a girl, and I know I would have poured over this book many times during preschool and early elementary grade ages. I enjoyed viewing the lighthouse rooms and their contents. Entrancing and enchanting. As a child the pictures could have kept me captivated for
The illustrations definitely make the book. They’re gorgeous. Mesmerizing. The illustrations of the lighthouse and especially the natural beauty of the sea, sky, rocks are spectacular. I wasn’t 100% a fan of the depictions of people but I liked them well enough.
The repetitive lines story was rather sad, and more than a bit gloomy at times, though it’s also sweet and has an ending that while not idyllic is pleasant and happy enough. Some might also love the story but this could have worked fine for me as a wordless or nearly wordless picture book. For young children I can see how the words might be lulling and entertaining.
The final two text pages about lighthouses and their keepers for older children/readers were interesting and were for me a welcome part of the book.
This is a lovely book and can be enjoyed by independent readers, reading aloud for families, schools, libraries, etc.
I’d had this on my list and when I found out it won the Caldecott Medal I made a point of getting to it. I think the honor is well deserved.
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long periods of time. The illustrations definitely make the book. They’re gorgeous. Mesmerizing. The illustrations of the lighthouse and especially the natural beauty of the sea, sky, rocks are spectacular. I wasn’t 100% a fan of the depictions of people but I liked them well enough.
The repetitive lines story was rather sad, and more than a bit gloomy at times, though it’s also sweet and has an ending that while not idyllic is pleasant and happy enough. Some might also love the story but this could have worked fine for me as a wordless or nearly wordless picture book. For young children I can see how the words might be lulling and entertaining.
The final two text pages about lighthouses and their keepers for older children/readers were interesting and were for me a welcome part of the book.
This is a lovely book and can be enjoyed by independent readers, reading aloud for families, schools, libraries, etc.
I’d had this on my list and when I found out it won the Caldecott Medal I made a point of getting to it. I think the honor is well deserved.
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LibraryThing member thornton37814
Excellent picture book with magnificent illustrations about lighthouses, lighthouse keepers, and automation of lighthouses. Definitely deserving of the Caldecott it earned. I read a library copy, but I plan to purchase this for my own library when the paperback comes out later this spring!
LibraryThing member lflareads
Beautiful book with rich text giving warm feels. The loneliness felt in the beginning replaced with partnership, family, and new adventures. A Caldecott medalist and agree the illustrations are absolutely beautiful with the watercolors, light, circle of life, etc. My students and I enjoyed this
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book and added it to our classroom library for future 7th graders to analyze engage with a beautifully told and illustrated artistic gem. Show Less
LibraryThing member RaeganZuyus
Touching story for intermediate aged children about a mans journey with his lighthouse. From tending it alone, going through sickness, to getting married and having a baby, the lighthouse has been a constant in his life. I would use this to show students responsibility and how sometimes change can
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be good Show Less
LibraryThing member jennybeast
Contemplative and full of gorgeous patterns in the art -- really gorgeous, constantly shifting patterns that beautifully convey the restless motion of the waves and wind. Lighthouses are fascinating, and the book feeds that interest while maintaining a simple storyline.
LibraryThing member witchyrichy
A lovely, beautifully illustrated story of the life of a lighthouse keeper
LibraryThing member bookworm12
The loveliest book about a lighthouse keeper and his family on a remote island. I thought the illustrations were breathtaking and the author managed to fit such a beautiful story into such a sweet little book. We read this in anticipation of an upcoming trip to Maine with lots of lighthouse visits
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and my kids loved it. Highly recommended for any age! Show Less
Awards
A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book (Picture Books — 2018)
Caldecott Medal (Medal Winner — 2019)
CBCA Book of the Year (Shortlist — Picture Book — 2020)
Volunteer State Book Award (Nominee — Primary — 2021)
CCBC Choices (2019)
Notable Children's Book (Younger Readers — 2019)
Nerdy Book Award (2018)
Los Angeles Public Library Best of the Year (Children's Books — 2018)
Picture This Recommendation List (Fiction — 2019)
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best: Kids (Picture Books — 2018)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2018
Physical description
48 p.; 12.06 inches
ISBN
0316362387 / 9780316362382