Lighthouses
Gr. 4-7. Plisson's magnificent color photos will draw young people to this introduction to lighthouses and the work of tending them. Each spread in the oversize volume introduces a different aspect of the history and technology of the structures or the work of maintaining them, from the lighthouses of ancient Egypt to the automated towers of today. Dreyer's engaging text, which makes up a brief column on each spread, will pull readers to the facts through anecdotes about lighthouse keepers' lives, including the danger and drama of storms and accidents and the monotony of the everyday work. But it's the stunning photographs that bring the subject close. Perilous views show lighthouses drowning in waves or perched on cliffs, while close-ups offer a glimpse of the keepers' quarters and the lenses that make up the lantern. Small fact bars and watercolor sketches contributed by Daniel Dufour add more information. There's enough solid information here to support reports, but the largest audience for this will probably be browsers, who may flip through and daydream about life in the stormy, solitary towers.Gillian EngbergCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved