B is for Beacon: A Great Lakes Lighthouse Alphabet

The Great Lakes, with the rivers, canals, and channels that connect them, form one of the busiest waterways in the world. Lighthouses were needed to secure the safety of ships over these freshwater seas. But over the hundreds of years since the first lighthouse was established on the Great Lakes in 1781, these structures have come to represent something beyond their initial navigational function. Often situated on remote and beautiful shorelines, lighthouses hold a special fascination for people, serving as symbols of courage, perseverance, safety, and comfort. B is for Beacon: A Great Lakes Lighthouse Alphabet uses poetry and expository text in this alphabetical exploration of the history of lighthouses on the Great Lakes, detailing famous structures, local lore, as well as notable moments in Great Lakes history.

About the Author

A former librarian, Helen L. Wilbur spent many years in the world of publishing. She has a B.A. in English Language and Literature from the University of Chicago and an M.A. in Library Science from Columbia University.

Helens award-winning childrens books includeFinnegan and Fox: The Ten-Foot Cop(2014 Bank Street Best Books of the Year for Children, 2013 Creative Child Seal of Excellence Award),Lilys Victory Garden(2011 Storytelling World Resource Honor Award: Stories for Pre-Adolescent Listeners Category, 2011IRATeachers Choices Reading List Primary Category),Z is for Zeus: A Greek Mythology Alphabet(2009 Moms Choice Award) andM is for Meow: A Cat Alphabet(a 2007ASPCAHenry Bergh Honor Book).

She shares her writing experiences at conferences, schools, and libraries. Helen lives on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and spends her summers in the mountains of New Hampshire. Read more about her at helenwilbur.com.

About the Artist

Rene Graef has illustrated more than 80 books for children, including books for HarperCollins’s My First Little House series. She splits her time between Wisconsin and California.