Don't we all have a fascination with lighthouses? 

This is a stunningly beautiful picture book aimed at children aged 4-7 years, though it will appeal to anyone of any age!

From ancient days when a fire burning on clifftops warned those at sea about the perils of the shoreline up to the present day when the use of GPS and satellites guide ships to safety, this book covers the history, technology and human stories behind the beacons used throughout time. 

There are depictions of the distinctive lighthouses throughout the world. 

There's Hook lighthouse in Ireland which was built by monks around 1200 and is the oldest operating lighthouse in the world. Boston lighthouse which was the first lighthouse in the USA and destroyed in the American Revolution. Rebuilt in 1783, it is still in used today. And there are floating lighthouses - lightships where crews live on board for weeks or months at a time. 

It shares details of how each lighthouse has its own pattern of light flashes so that sailors can tell which lighthouse they're seeing even in foggy weather. And how their construction is designed to suit their location and withstand the extreme conditions it might face.

It's a beautiful book!