Review of Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall

In the 2019 Caldecott Award-winning Hello Lighthouse, Sophie Blackall tells a story that explores the history of lighthouses and the dedicated keepers who tended the lights. In this beautifully illustrated picture book, a new keeper has just arrived at a lighthouse on a rocky island. He spends his days polishing the lens, refilling the oil, trimming the wick, winding the clock and wishing for company. One day, his wife arrives, and the two make a life for themselves on the island, tending the light and keeping ships safe. A detailed note at the end of the book gives more background information about lighthouses.

Image

Cover image of Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall. Blackall, S. (2018a). [Cover image of Hello lighthouse]. Retrieved from https://www.lbyr.com/titles/sophie-blackall/hello-lighthouse/9780316362382/

Evaluation

In Hello Lighthouse, Blackall uses repetition as a literary device throughout the book. “From dawn to dusk, the lighthouse beams. Hello! …Hello! …Hello! Hello, Lighthouse!” (Blackall, 2018b, p. 3). The beam of light is the lighthouse's way of saying hello; it is a repeated warning message to nearby boats. Blackall changes the spacing and punctuation of the words, so even though the phrase “hello, hello, hello” repeats, the words take on new meanings based on how they appear on the page. For example, “the sky grows dark and the waves rise and crash. HELLO! …HELLO! …HELLO!” (Blackall, 2018b, p. 11). Here, "HELLO" is purposely capitalized to show that it is a loud warning; the storm is severe, the sky is dark, and the waves are dangerous. When the wind blows and blows, the words “Hello! …Hello! …Hello!” move and tumble on the page, thrown about by the wind (Blackall, 2018b, p. 7). The repetition of the word "hello" helps to both orient the reader and show the lighthouse’s purpose.

The illustrations in the book are done in Chinese ink and watercolor, and Blackall’s use of colors reflects the weather outside the lighthouse. There are perfect, sunny days with brilliant turquoise skies and a calm, blue ocean. There are windy days when the sky is a soft blue and gray waves with whitecaps roll over the sea. On stormy nights, the sky is inky black and the blueish-black waves crash into the lighthouse. On a foggy day, everything is shrouded in gray; the sea and the sky are one color and the lighthouse is barely visible. On these days, the beam of light is useless and the bell rings to warn the ships of danger. The lighthouse sends its revolving light out to sea, day after day; “the fog rolls in, and the fog rolls out. The waves rise and crash. The wind blows and blows. Hello! …Hello! …Hello?” (Blackall, 2018b, p. 39). Blackall’s use of a variety of colors perfectly corresponds with the weather.

Throughout Hello Lighthouse, Blackall uses circular frames to add detail to the story and to mimic the circular nature and isolation of the lighthouse. The entire structure of a lighthouse is round, and the round frames throughout the book mirror the circular nature of the rooms. The inset circles, framed in rope, have a nautical feel. Besides the circular shape of the lighthouse, circles are also prevalent in maritime themes, from the round portholes of a ship to the round end of a telescope. Even the bedroom quilt and rugs feature circles. One of the most striking examples of Blackall’s use of a circular frame is the two-page spread where the keeper’s pregnant wife is walking around and around the room as her body prepares for labor. The room is tiny and she paces in a circle; the words on this page circle around the frame, emphasizing the roundness of the room. The use of circular frames throughout the text also serves to reinforce the isolation and loneliness of the lighthouse. The world of the lighthouse keeper is tiny, as evidenced by the tight circles showcasing his life. The use of circles is a brilliant detail that mirrors the shapes of the lighthouse and showcases the loneliness of the nautical life.

Response

I fell in love with Hello Lighthouse as soon as I saw the cover because I adore lighthouses. I love them so much that my younger son’s nursery was decorated with lighthouses, including lighthouse murals on the walls. I grew up in Pacific Grove, California, a foggy coastal town with a functioning lighthouse. As an adult, I have visited lighthouses in Maine, Scotland, and up and down the West Coast. I have always known the importance of lighthouses and was delighted to see a picture book devoted to these beautiful and important structures. For those less familiar with lighthouses and their history, Hello Lighthouse provides a engaging introduction for young readers. The story itself gives plenty of insight into the duties of lighthouse keepers, the necessity for lighthouses, and the technological changes that allow lighthouses to be automated today. The detailed historical note at the end of the book provides more in-depth coverage for those who want to explore further. Overall, I thought Hello Lighthouse was absolutely brilliant. The art is mesmerizing and fits the story perfectly. This book was worthy of the 2019 Caldecott Award.

Conclusion

Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall explores the history of lighthouses in a delightfully well-written story with beautiful illustrations. Blackall repeats the phrase “Hello! …Hello! …Hello!” to mirror the calling beam of the light from the lighthouse. The art also reinforces the text; the colors on each page mirror the weather outside and the use of round frames mimics the circular structure of the lighthouse. This book is well written and gorgeously illustrated, and I highly recommend it to all elementary-aged students. This would be an excellent choice for fans of Town Is by the Sea by Joanne Schwartz and The Lighthouse Cat by Sue Stainton. 5 stars.

Citations

Blackall, S. (2018a). [Cover image of Hello lighthouse]. Retrieved from https://www.lbyr.com/titles/sophie-blackall/hello-lighthouse/9780316362382/

Blackall, S. (2018b). Hello lighthouse. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.

Schwartz, J. (2017). Town is by the sea. Berkeley, CA: Groundwood Books.

Stainton, S. (2004). The lighthouse cat. New York, NY: Katherine Tegen Books.