Celia's Island Journal

by Celia Thaxter, Loretta Krupinski (Illustrator)

An illustrated journal of a small child from the nineteenth century describes the colors, sounds, and textures of her home on the Isles of Shoals.

40 pages, Library Binding

First published September 1, 1992

About the author

Celia Laighton Thaxter was an American writer of poetry and stories. Thaxter grew up in the Isles of Shoals, first on White Island, where her father, Thomas Laighton, was a lighthouse keeper, and then on Smuttynose and Appledore Islands.

Her poems first appeared in The Atlantic Monthly and she became one of America's favorite authors in the late 19th century. Among her best-known poems are The Burgomaster Gull, Landlocked, Milking, The Great White Owl, The Kingfisher, and especially The Sandpiper.

Reviews

[Gina House · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of Celia Thaxter's early journal entries! There's nothing I like more than a shared journal, especially if it's about a young girl interested in beautiful flowers (and nature).

The beautiful, soft and nostalgic illustrations are absolutely perfect for the tone of the book. Every time you look at each page again, you find something new in the background. It's almost like an I Spy book!

I love knowing that I'm reading Celia's own words describing her thoughts and her family's progress beginning a new chapter in their lives. Taking on life as caretakers of a lighthouse on the island of White is a daunting prospect, but Celia and her family continually show how strong, determined, and brave they are as days go by.

I'm looking forward to reading more about Celia Thaxter soon. I have a book of her poetry and another book contemplating her earlier life on the islands. If this book appeals to you, I highly recommend reading An Island Garden by Celia Thaxter, Celia's Lighthouse by Anne Molloy, and Celia Planted a Garden by Phyllis Root and Gary D. Schmidt.

So lovely in every way!

[Grace Livengood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Krupinski, L., & Thaxter, C. (1992). Celia's island journal. Boston: Little, Brown and Co.
Celia Thaxter spent many years on the islands of Shoals, where her father had to work, therefore her and her family were very isolated. But Celia found joy and company in the animals surrounding her and co-inhabiting their island. She liked to write poems about her observations and ended up becoming a famous writer and poet. The media was calm and tranquil paintings which added to the serenity of her quiet life on the island. I liked this story because it showed how one little girl was so fascinated by her surroundings and was inspired to write about what she saw and how she felt. I think this would be a good book to show to students to show them what you can do when you pay attention to what's around you and what you will find when you look at the world more closely.

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

i don't typically pull books from the weeding list, but this one i did. it was so inviting and gentle...i couldn't wait to read it to my kids. celia (real person) lived on the isle of shoals while her father was a lighthouse keeper. this book is diary entries (picture book style) from her time there.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Journal-style entries tell about a girl's experiences living on a lighthouse island. Wordy and more poetic than plot-driven. For older children.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet book of journal entries by Celia Thaxter. She lived on a small island with her family because her father maintained a lighthouse. She spent days outdoors in the garden and by the sea. I originally picked this book up because my daughter’s name is Celia and I thought it would be a nice treat for her to read about another person named Celia.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice historical book about two children whose father is a lighthouse keeper off New Hampshire in 1839.