Beacons of Light

From School Library Journal Grade 2-4-- Gibbons combines clear, colorful illustrations with lucid, simple text in tracing the history of lighthouses in this country. The important role of these "beacons of light" from the earliest lighthouse in Boston harbor to those existing today is outlined. Mention is also made of the lonely, sometimes arduous life of lighthouse keepers and their families, who lived year-round on these isolated outposts. Gibbons details in depth how the sources of light changed over the centuries, from the earliest oil-fueled wick lamps to modern electricity-powered signals. There is a paucity of material available on this subject; Smith's Lighthouses (Houghton, 1971; o.p.) and Carse's Keepers of the Lights (Scribners, 1969; o.p.) are targeted for older readers. This title could be a useful tool for reports, or for interested recreational readers. --Martha Rosen, Edgewood School, Scarsdale, NYCopyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. About the Author Gail Gibbons, author of more than one hundred books, is the winner of the Washington Post/Children’s Book Guild Award for her overall contribution to children’s nonfiction literature. Called a “master of picture book nonfiction” by ALA Booklist, Ms. Gibbons has a special talent for making complex subjects understandable and entertaining for young readers.