The Upside-Down Lighthouse

Stars out during the day, flying fish, swimming birds, and an upside-down lighthouse, Meara doesn’t believe Grandad when he tells her they’ll see all this and more as they row out to a small, foggy island (actually Rathlin Island off Ireland’s Causeway Coast). Their trip is as eye-opening for readers as it is for Meara as we spot starfish in rockpools, razorbills, puffins and gannets, as she learns about fish that build nests. As for the lighthouse, it really is upside down, built that way, as Meara works out, in order that the light will shine strong during the low-lying fog common round the island. This is the third outing for this intrepid pair, following The Vanishing Lake and The Golden Hare, and once again, it’s a rich and rewarding experience for readers young and old. Paddy Donnelly’s skilful use of perspective and composition, plus the palette – rich, buttery yellows and cool greens and blues – take us right to the island and shows off the wildlife and plants, under and above the waves, beautifully. The sense of a warm family relationship is strong as ever too. A mesmerising adventure in a book.