Beacons of Light

by Gail Gibbons

FLASH... FLASH... FLASH... A lighthouse signals from the rocky shore, guiding ships away from danger. Once sailors watched for giant bonfires that were set high on hills. Now, most lighthouses are fully automated. In Beacons of Lighthouses, Gail Gibbons tells all about these beautiful and useful structures, using careful explanations, colorful facts, and helpful illustrations to show how lighthouse technology has developed and changed over the years. FLASH... FLASH... FLASH... In this informative, delightfully evocative book, lighthouses are beacons of light thatremind us of our past.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, History

Hardcover

First published March 1, 1990

About the author

From gailgibbons.com: I was born in Oak Park, Illinois, in 1944. Even as a little child, I was always busy putting books together. Sometimes I would bind them with yarn to hold the pages together. I've always loved drawing and painting. I was also a very curious child. My parents tell me that I was always asking lots and lots of questions.

Later, I went on to the University of Illinois, where I studied graphic design. Then I moved to New York City, where I got a job doing artwork for television shows. Eventually I was asked to do the artwork for a children's show. While doing that show, some of the children asked me if I had ever thought of doing children's books. My mind immediately recalled how much I enjoyed doing that type of thing when I was a child. So I put an idea for a book together and right away a publisher bought it. That book was called Willy and His Wheel Wagon. Since then, over 170 books that I have written and illustrated have been published. The type of books I write are non-fiction books. This is because I love researching so much. I get to ask lots of questions, just like when I was a kid. I also get to travel and meet lots of interesting people. While doing research for my book Nature's Green Umbrella: Tropical Rain Forests, I traveled to two islands where there are tropical rain forests, Saba and Dominica. I also had a great time writing and illustrating the book. I get a lot of pleasure from doing the type of work I do.

Reviews

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shows its age but still a solid offering.

[Rebekah Boehme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beacons of Light was a beautiful informational text. Gail Gibbons does an excellent job explaining the importance and history of lighthouses in our country. She begins at the very beginning and takes readers through the time periods of the lighthouses. There are beautiful illustrations of each of different lighthouses with labeled parts. Not only does she talk about the lighthouse, Gibbons also tells of the lighthouse keepers and their families. This was a very informative text appropriate for second or third grade. In my future classroom, this could be an excellent tool to help introduce research. The students could use the book to find facts about the history of lighthouses.

[Cecile]

p about Fresnel lens to end (pour moi(

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I would have had this book when my grandchildren began asking why I was so interested in lighthouses. Gibbons explains, in a way a young child can understand, why we have lighthouses, the history of the ancient lights, the lamps, light patterns, foghorn, and the lighthouse keeper’s duties. The author ends by answering why: “ . . . lighthouses are still beacons of light to guide and warn of danger and to remind us of the past.”

[Courtney Bemiller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite today's technology, it is not uncommon for people to get lost every now and then. This also holds true for the captains of ships. That is why lighthouses are important, and in her book "Beacons of Light: Lighthouses", Gail Gibbons provides further details as to the history, structure, and purpose of lighthouses. She also includes pictures of different lighthouses and where they are located. Gibbons also provides a list of interesting books at the end. Although this book is chalk full of information regarding lighthouses with the appropriate use of kid-friendly language, I felt like this book was quite lengthy for its grade level equivalent (3.5).

[Joanne Cinquemani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gail Gibbons has written numerous non fiction books for young readers. Gibbon's books are full of colorful illustrations and explanations.
Her books can be used to teach a variety of lessons in both the library and the classroom.

[Audrey Harlan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives a brief history of light houses. The illustrations are really pretty and its a great way to introduce students to what light houses are and how they have evolved.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is chock full of information about lighthouses. The illustrations are also great. I particularly appreciated that the illustrations were of actual lighthouses.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable read.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ellie read for November Pizza Hut reading Challenge...krb 11/10/16 She rates 2 stars

[krzysamm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice introductory history of the lighthouse and its uses for children.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sullivan digs this way better than my three stars