Peppe the Lamplighter

by Elisa Bartone

Illustrated by Ted Lewin

Publisher: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books 1993 32 pages

Genre: Picture book, Historical Fiction, and Family Life

Reading Level: Ages 4-8

Summary: This is a story about Peppe who goes to work as a lamplighter to help support his family. His father acts ashamed of him at first and so eventually Peppe doesn’t light the lamps and one of his sisters has not come home. He lights the lamps and finds his sister under one of the lampposts. He learned how important his job really is and his father is happy about Peppe’s job.

Response: I liked this book because it is true to life and Peppe and his father both learn a valuable lesson.