Customer Reviews

Peppe the Lamplighter

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A children's book about immigrant life in Little Italy in lower Manhattan around 1900. A young boy gets a job as a lamplighter to help bring in income for his family. His father doesn't like it but comes to recognize its value and contributions to the community. The book is beautifully and authentically illustrated by Ted Lewis and it was a 1994 Caldecott Honor book (i.e., runner-up to the Medal winner) for best illustrations in a book for children. Children come to appreciate the importance of all jobs.

"Peppe the Lamplighter" combines a story by Elisa Bartone with illustrations by Ted Lewin. The story takes place "[a] long time ago when there was no electricity and the street lamps in Little Italy had to be lit by hand." The hero of the book is Peppe, who lives with his widowed father and sisters in a tenement. Peppe's decision to get a job as a lamplighter leads to conflict between Peppe and his father.

This is a good story that is greatly enhanced by Lewin's superb artwork. Most of the illustrations are two-page spreads that are packed full of energy and emotion. Lewin's realistic style is well-suited to capturing many colorful details: the sausages hanging in the butcher shop, a crowded street scene, the old-fashioned iron stove in Peppe's home, etc. Overall, a memorable celebration of Italian-American history.

As a collector of children's books, I was delighted to come across this beautifully illustrated story of an Italian family in early America, before electricity. It is historically correct, spiritually uplifting, and reinforces the value of hard work, regardless of your age or ability.

I purchased this book for my husband for Father's Day (he's Italian American")--I didn't really think that our then 2.5 year old would really care for the book. But he loves it! It's a good story, although at times the messages can be a bit confusing for a very young child--but my son seems to enjoys the illustrations, the sounds of the Italian names, and of course the most elemental aspects of the story.

A wonderful, beautiful book that truly inspired my child. He now recognizes that even the "little things" are important. The illustrations are outstanding.

There's a whole genre of picture books that examine the working class members of American society throughout history. These stories are usually based on the lives of the relatives and ancestors of the authors. "Peppe the Lamplighter" is no exception. Loosely based on the grandfather of author Elisa Bartone, the book examines one boy's occupation and his struggle be accepted in the eyes of his father.

Peppe lives with his sick father and seven sisters (not including the one in Naples) in the section of New York known as Little Italy. Taking place in what looks to be the 1910s, Peppe moves from store to store, attempting to find work. His father, is too sick to work himself, and all the children in the family must strive to find some kind of money. One day, old Domenico the lamplighter asks Peppe if he would light the lamps for him while he returns to Italy to fetch his wife. Peppe agrees readily and is delighted with the prospect. Delight slowly sours to shame, however, when his father is horrified by the job. Says he, "Did I come to America for my son to light the streetlamps?". As time goes by, Peppe's disenchantment with the job grows until he doesn't light the lamps at all. Only through the discovery of how important his job is to others can Peppe find the strength to return to lighting the lamps of New York City.

The pictures in this book are wonderfully rendered. Here we find the New York City tenements in all their filthy glory. At the same time, we see the strength of the people living in them. The first painting in the book shows Peppe and his family staring at the viewer as if they were posing for a formal family photograph. The light from a single latern lights them all, and illustrator Ted Lewin shows off his talents. In many ways, the book is similar to Chris K. Soentpiet's style (of "Molly Bannaky" fame). Reading this book is to actually find yourself in early New York itself. Crowds come alive and individuals display a wide range of emotions. The best picture in the whole book, to my mind, is the image of Peppe lifting his little sister so that she can light the lamp on the street herself. The light is above them, illuminating their faces with incredibly intensity. The two stare up at it, entranced.

The story itself if good, if not overwhelming. Peppe's father has a somewhat unbelievable change of heart towards the end of the tale. For a man who has harbored so much bitterness towards his son's chosen profession, he seems to come around to it mighty fast when the mood calls for it. Otherwise, it's lovely. Peppe compares the lighting of the lamps to the lighting of candles at Mass, and even goes so far as to say a small prayer for each. Small details like this truly bring the story to life.

The book celebrates one small boy who can, in his sister Assunta's words, "scare the dark away". It is a book about how every human being, if they've a mind to, can bring light into the world in their own humble fashion. Peppe may only be a lamplighter, but even his father recognizes by the end that this honest job gives safety and comfort to others. We should all be so lucky as to have jobs that do half as much.

I think this is a moving book which helps students think about the lives of many immigrants in early 20th century New York.

Poor Peppe!

Full of excitement that he has found work to help his family's finances, he rushes home to tell his immigrant father about his opportunity -- he will substitute for the lamplighter!

His father disapproves of this menial work -- he has high hopes for his son.

But Peppe goes to work, and with each lamp he offers a hope for a member of his family. He sees the lighted lamps as symbols of the promise of America.

But the daily discouragement of his father causes Peppe increasing sadness, till one evening he refuses to light the lamps. His father urges him, since his sister will not be able to find her way home in the dark. Peppe declines. His father tells him it is honorable work. Finally Peppe relents and lights the lamps. All the joy in his work is GONE, and Peppe ends the book back at work, but now he has to pretend to feel the hope that used to be real within him.

"So Peppe lit the lamps again, pretending with all his might that each one was a small flame of promise for tomorrow, like it used to be."

Great use of light and darkness in the illustrations -- chiaroscuro!

This book is skippable.

Peppe, a young boy, is forced to get work. His father is ashamed of his son, because the only work he can get is as a lamplighter. Peppe is initally thrilled to have the job. He makes wishes for each of his family members each time he lights a lamp. -After enduring his father's negative remarks for a period of time, the boy begins to feel ashamed of the job he once loved. He is sure everyone in the town looks down on him and he can no longer bear living with the contempt his father has for him. One day,Peppe decides to no longer light the lamps. That evening, his little sister cannot find her way home in the dark. The father then realizes how important the job of the Lamplighter is. He apologizes to his son and tells him he would be proud if he would, once again, light the lamps in town. This book teaches an importan lesson in acceptance and value. The book, which is beautifully illustrated, is one which I highly recommend.

~DeeDee Fox, Author and Illustrator, The Ruby Red Slippers

My son is 5 and absolutely loves this book. It's a story about young boy and how he must help to care for his large Italian family that has come to America in hopes of having their dreams fulfilled. Disappointment of a father leads his young son to think his job is meager. But in the end one little boy does make a difference, for without his light the whole world is a dark place. The book just gives you a warm wonderful feeling when you finish reading it. The illustrations are beautifully drawn and give you the contact to really feel what Peppe and his family are feeling.