The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge

The Little Red Lighthouse stood on the banks of the mighty Hudson River, guiding the boats on that massive waterway as they passed the island of Manhattan. Proud of his work, the lighthouse shone his light at night and sounded his warning bell in the fog, keeping everyone safe. When the Great Gray Bridge is constructed right next to him, our lighthouse finds himself dwarfed, and begins to feel that he has no purpose. But when a tug-boat gets in trouble in the fog, it turns out that the lights on the bridge are too high up to be of use to those on the water. The lighthouse is needed after all...

Originally published in 1942, and a classic of American children's literature ever since, The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge is show more one of those books I somehow missed reading as a child, and have been meaning to get to as an adult for many years. I have read author Hildegarde H Swift's Newbery Honor book, Little Blacknose: The Story of a Pioneer, but not this one, even though I have lived a few blocks from the eponymous lighthouse and bridge for a number of years. Finally, prompted by the fact that a friend an I will be visiting both this coming weekend, I picked it up. How glad I am that I did. I found Swift's story poignant and her writing lovely, and I found illustrator Lynd Ward's watercolor artwork gorgeously expressive. This is definitely a book that deserves its status as a classic, and is one that I wholeheartedly recommend, to those looking for picture-books about lighthouses, about the need to feel needed, or about the utility of older, more traditional ways of doings things, even when newer ones have been invented. show less

Once upon a time, there was a picture book about a real little red lighthouse. Some time later, well after the book’s publication, when it was announced that the lighthouse would be razed, there was an outpouring of letters from children who had read the book and had grown to love the little beacon. So many letters, in fact, that the decision was reversed, and the lighthouse still stands to this day.

This, then, is the picture book that saved the lighthouse.

Swift has penned a lovely story about a very proud and useful lighthouse whose world is turned upside down when it is dwarfed by a gigantic bridge. Although the premise is simple, the story is quite memorable. The book’s text and images both explore the little tower’s very human show more emotions as it tries to understand itself in its changed environment. There is also room for both empathy and healing, here, and help from an unexpected source. I won’t spoil the ending here, but there it’s wonderful, heartwarming and emotionally satisfying. show less

This book is more than twice my age. Heck even the reprint I was reading was older than I am. But the story holds up. Even the artwork, ,while dated, still tells the story of the little red lighthouse who thought his proud days of helping boats was over because of the big steel bridge. It makes me wonder if now, almost 80 years later, that lighthouse is still standing?

A children's classic about real landmarks....the Little Red Lighthouse and the George Washington Bridge on the Huson river.

There are plenty of things I like about this book....the illustrations, the educational info, the good life lesson, etc. But the story is a bit underwhelming in my opinion. The interminable storyline feels so needlessly drawn-out....it gets a bit tedious. My children are pretty lukewarm about this one as well.

A nice addition to the home library and a good occasional reread, but not one that is pulled out often.

This classic is the tale of a small red lighthouse on the Manhattan bank of the Hudson River who proudly protects boats with his beam. When a great expanse of gray steel, which also shines a bright light into the fog, is built over the little red lighthouse, he feels useless in comparison. But he soon learns the importance of all things, big or small.

This delightful tale is about a little lighthouse who is quite proud of the job it does, warning ships away from the rocky shore. When a great grey bridge is built, with a much stronger light, the lighthouse believes it has been replaced. But the moral of the story is that there is a place for both kinds of light and both are needed. The book is filled with many wonderful illustrations which add immensely to the enjoyment of the story. Though written in 1942, it still should appeal to children today.

We regularly drive over the George Washington Bridge, and my husband has told us the story and we've looked for the lighthouse, but I only sought out [b:The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge: Restored Edition|18860|The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge Restored Edition|Hildegarde Hoyt Swift|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328876995s/18860.jpg|20213]at the prompting of [b:1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up|6936332|1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up|Julia Eccleshare|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1342805030s/6936332.jpg|7168376]. My kids are past the age where this would be a hit, but I wish I had taken the time to find it when they were aged 4-6 and obsessed with boats and show more transportation. If your child loves classics like [b:Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel|153542|Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel|Virginia Lee Burton|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1349044993s/153542.jpg|1069773] or [b:Little Toot|819198|Little Toot|Hardie Gramatky|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328053653s/819198.jpg|805057], they might well like this as well.

I was charmed by the illustrations and recommend that if you read it with a child that you tell them to look for the faces on the lighthouse and boats. show less