Peppe The Lamplighter

Written by Elisa  Bartone

Illustrated by Ted Lewin

Caldecott Honor  

Peppe The Lamplighter is the story of an immigrant family living in Little Italy, New York. Against his father's wishes, Peppe decides to get a job, lighting lamps at night, to help provide extra income for his family. However, after one night when his father scolds him, Peppe decides not to light the lamps and because of this, his sister gets lost. His father then begs Peppe to go and light the lamps, explaining and realizing that lamp lighting is a truly important job. Peppe runs all across Little Italy lighting lamps and helps to find his sister, making his family very proud. 

This book is good for children within the age range of four to eight. It highlights the importance of doing what you feel is right no matter what. I would use this book to introduce the struggles that immigrant families had to go through and still have to go through.