Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Lighthouse Lullaby
Picture Book
For ages 3 to and up
Down East Book, 2001 ISBN: 978-0892724864
It is a winter evening on a lighthouse island. Indoors it is warm and snug while outdoors it is snowing. The livestock needs to be tended to and settled in for the night. Wildlife stirs in the trees. A snowman stands in front of the lighthouse with shells for his eyes and buttons, and a sea urchin nose. These are the images that we are given in this gently rhyming story, which describes a snowy lighthouse evening which turns into a lighthouse night. The children are put to bed and fall asleep and the keeper takes up his post, looking after the light all night long.
Executed using delicate color stippling, the artwork in the book is breathtakingly lovely. It helps to convey the sense of peace and quietness that exists on this island. With snow floating down in every picture except for one, the characters in the story are brought together, snugly, on this white winter night. We are also constantly reminded of the presence of the sea, by images of nautical life in the full-page illustrations and in the banners which decorate the text pages. A beautiful book that both children and adults will enjoy.
