Shining a Spotlight on Hardy Heroines
A TRUE TALE WITH
A CHERRY ON TOP
Clarion Books
(Harper Collins)
(pub. 5.27.2025)
48 pages
Ages 4- 8
Author: Kris Coronadao
Illustrator: Islenia Mil
Character: Four Lighthouse Ladies - Ida Lewis, Juliet Nichols, Venus Parker, and Julia Toomey
Overview:
" To man a lighthouse over a century ago in America required guts, courage, and bravery. It was a job tackled by hundreds every day, many of whom . . . were not men! This true tale chronicles the amazing feats of four fascinating women. Each real lighthouse lady featured in this book—whether she’s on a wind-walloped Hawaiian clifftop or an icy channel off the Virginia coast—shows that girl power was around long before it became a popular phrase. "
Tantalizing taste:
"In a time when women were expected to stay at home to balance chores with children, these ladies defied convention with conviction...It was a life where stairs spiraled like a conch shell. Quarters were sometimes snug, and work wasn't a breeze. (Especially considering that many wore long skirts instead of pants!)
Nevertheless, the ocean called."
And something more: Kris Coronado shares in the Author's Note: "The last United States Coast Guard lighthouse keeper was a woman. Sally Snowman kept Boston Light from 2003 to 2023... 'It is amazing to witness the calm before the storms and the storms, followed by awesome rainbows,' Snowman said of her job in 2021. 'With nature around me all the time, it clears the head and heals the soul.'"
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