Peppe the Lamplighter

Title: Peppe the Lamplighter

Author: Elisa Bartone

Illustrated By: Ted Lewin

Publisher: Harper Collins Publishing

http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/books/Peppe-Lamplighter/?isbn13=9780688102685&tctid=120

Publication Date: 1997

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Audience: Gr. PreK-2

Awards: ALA Notable Children's Book, Caldecott Children's Book

Overview: Peppe is a young boy who lives with his immigrant in America. He lives with his father and has many sisters. He wants to help support the family and find a job. He meets the town lamplighter and becomes his apprentice, and then it become his job. His father is angry at Peppe and is not proud of him. He is ashamed of Peppe for taking on such a insignificant job and stops talking to his son. Peppe becomes frustrated and decides to stop lighting the lamps. After a while Peppe's youngest sister goes missing. He goes out to search for his lost sister and finds her on the street under an unlit lamp. She tells him that she could not find her way home because there were no lights to follow. Peppe's father is so thankful of Peppe and changes his thoughts about his job. He is not ashamed anymore, he is thankful and proud.

Activity: I think this lesson would be good for learning about jobs and family situations of immigrants and understanding how they have to deal with poverty. It could also be used for a lesson on special qualities that everyone has. Even the littlest skills and abilities should be recognized. Have you ever done something that people were annoyed or embarrassed by but in the end it turned out to be positive and help someone else?

Reviewer's Name: Emily Trees