Gr 3-5-Situated on a cliff overlooking the very dangerous Columbia River entrance to the Pacific Ocean near Ilwaco, WA, Cape Disappointment Light is the oldest lighthouse in the Pacific Northwest. Built in 1856, it is still in use. Activated in 1855, Point Pi-os is the West Coast's oldest continuously active lighthouse. These "first" and "oldest" designations are likely to confuse children. Each of these books gives the history of the featured lighthouse as well as a brief discussion of Augustin Fresnel, who invented a lens in 1822 that is still in use in lighthouses around the world today. The books' cluttered design may also be distracting for young readers. Lighthouse icons march across the top of every page, but they are not of either lighthouse under discussion. Tinted images provide background for the text, reproductions, and full-color photos. The page numbers are superimposed on photographs of lighthouses. In addition, some pages include a small sidebar and a photo of the lighthouse. Visually, it is all too much. For an overview of the topic, stick with Gail Gibbons's Beacons of Light: Lighthouses (Morrow, 1990). These newer titles may support regional collections.-Elaine Lesh Morgan, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.