I discovered this picturebook while searching for winners of the Caldecott Medal (which this book was awarded in 2019) on Goodreads. I checked out a digital copy from my local library.

Sophie Blackall’s Hello Lighthouse follows the story of a lone lighthouse keeper. We see his day-to-day routines, such as writing letters and fishing out the window, and we see him tend to the lighthouse. His existence is lonely, until a ship arrives one day carrying his wife. It is not before long that the two start a family and raise their daughter. Then, some years later, the coastguard installs a new automated light in the lighthouse, and the keeper and his family retire to the mainland.

I found the story told in Hello Lighthouse to be a bit on the mundane side. There are a few moments in the book that I found interesting, such as when the lighthouse keeper and his wife have to rescue a boat that crashed upon the rocks. But overall, this narrative did not hold my interest. This is, of course, just my opinion, and I still think the book has great value despite it not captivating me. However, the artwork in this book is spectacular! It has a wonderfully unique art deco style that was so captivating, I sometimes forgot to read the text on the page. Blackall’s use of shadow and light is also fantastic. She is able to communicate so much to the reader just through the tones and shades she uses in her illustrations. Her use of whites and yellows really make it seem like the lighthouse is glowing on the page.

I think young readers, maybe K - 5, who have an interest in lighthouses, boats, or the sea will really enjoy this title. It’s fun, playful depiction of these topics will undoubtedly capture their imaginations. For older readers, this book may be best used as an exemplar of excellent picturebook art design and layout.