This month, I’m showcasing a picture book. 

Do you Love Lighthouses? 

A while back I visited several lighthouses up north with my family. This picture book sits on my bookshelf—I absolutely adore it.

Hello Lighthouse
Written and Illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Genre: Picture Book | Ages: 4–8
Awards: 2019 Caldecott Medal Winner

I love Hello Lighthouse because it reminds me that beauty often lives in the quiet moments. The rhythm of the text, like the sea itself, feels comforting and timeless. The illustrations pull me in—I find something new every time I read it. But what stays with me most is the feeling: a deep respect for hard work, aloneness, love, and the passage of time. It’s amazing that this book shows that even a single place—a lighthouse—can hold a whole world of emotion. It’s the kind of book that lingers long after the last page, like the light from the tower still shining out to sea.

The reader steps into a tall, white lighthouse that sits on the edge of the sea. The author’s lyrical writing, and rhythm is beautiful. “The sky grows dark, and the waves rise and crash. Hello! Hello! Hello.” The text describes the daily life of the keeper, the visit with his wife, the birth of his baby, and his departure from the lighthouse. But even after the departure, the light in the lighthouse continues to shine! The book is beautifully illustrated and provides the reader with more insight into how the keeper lives. Each level of the lighthouse there is a room—a bedroom, an office, a family room, ect. I wonder whether or not I could live there for months on end? 

Today, most lighthouses are automated, and only a few in the United States still require keepers. Yet their historic significance remains. Hello Lighthouse (ages 4–8) is perfect for classroom discussions about the past, changing technology, or a read-aloud that inspires curiosity

I’m giving away one free copy to someone who sends a message to me at leslieevatayloe.com, contact me page, by Monday, midnight EST. U.S. residents only. 

Best, Leslie

P.S. My books are available for purchase on Amazon or the publisher’s website. Thanks for your support!