Light for All
By Mary Krawczyk,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Inspiring tribute to Statue of Liberty and immigrants.
Add your rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
Where to Read
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
LIGHT FOR ALL pays tribute to the Statue of Liberty and the welcoming light that shines for immigrants to the United States. Immigrants from the past and present come to the U.S. to be reunited with their families or to escape wars, natural disasters, and other threats. The book shares challenges that immigrants face, such as not always being accepted and learning a new language. Immigrants' dreams and contributions are also conveyed, especially through the beautiful illustrations that show people of various races together playing, making music and art, working, and reading. The Statue of Liberty and her light appear throughout the story, as do themes of welcome, hope, and diversity.
Is It Any Good?
This inspiring picture book introduces the Statue of Liberty as a starting point for past immigrants to the United States and a continuing symbol of welcome and hope for those who immigrate today. Light for All shows Immigrants are shown as brave, determined, and involved in their new communities while honoring the places they left. Raul Colon's eye-catching illustrations, especially those of children in familiar situations like playing at a park and learning in a classroom, will connect young readers to the story. The text briefly mentions negative actions of early immigrants, such as stealing land from Native Americans and bringing enslaved people from Africa. This hopeful and uplifting story about immigration celebrates diversity and inspires acceptance and unity.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Light for All shows different experiences of immigration. Do you have family members or friends who came to the United States from another country? Where did they come from and why?
The Statue of Liberty is a famous statue. Are there any statues in your neighborhood, at a nearby museum, or in your city or town? Describe a statue that you like. Why do you like it and how does it make you feel?
Taker a closer look at the illustrations in the book. What's your favorite illustration and why? Raul Colon illustrated the book with colored pencils and special crayons. Do you like to draw? What tools do you use to draw?
Book Details
- Author: Margarita Engle
- Illustrator: Raúl Colón
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models , History
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
- Publication date: December 7, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 8
- Number of pages: 40
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: December 13, 2021
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Picture Books with Truly Amazing Illustrations
Kids' Books About the Immigrant Experience
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate