The Lighthouse Keeper's Lunch (45th Anniversary Edition)
The Lighthouse Keeper Series
What’s inside...
Every day, Mr. Grinling, the lighthouse keeper, looks forward to his lunch, prepared with care by his wife, Mrs. Grinling. However, a group of mischievous seagulls keeps stealing his food. Mrs. Grinling comes up with various ingenious plans to thwart the seagulls and ensure that her husband can enjoy his lunch in peace.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
3-6
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Mr. Grinling
Mrs. Grinling
The Seagulls
Discussion points
Why do you think the seagulls were attracted to Mr. Grinling's lunch?
How do you think Mr. and Mrs. Grinling felt when their plans to keep the seagulls away didn't work?
What creative solutions would you come up with if you were Mr. Grinling?
How does the teamwork between Mr. and Mrs. Grinling help solve their problem?
What do you think is the moral of the story?
Tip: Role play these questions
While reading, point to the illustrations that show the various ingenious solutions Mr. and Mrs. Grinling try, asking your child what they notice and think about each attempt.
After reading the book, encourage your child to draw their version of the perfect lunch for Mr. Grinling and describe how to protect it from the seagulls.
Discuss the characters’ emotions throughout the story, asking how your child might feel in similar situations and what they would do.
Use the story's setting to explore topics like lighthouses, the role of a lighthouse keeper, and why such measures are important in certain professions.
Connect the story's themes to your child's experiences, such as times when they had to keep trying different solutions to a problem.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Problem-solving
Explanation: The book portrays the lighthouse keeper and his wife ingeniously devising plans to protect his lunch from hungry seagulls.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of thinking creatively to solve problems, which can be applied in school projects or everyday challenges.
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: Despite multiple setbacks with the seagulls, the couple persistently tries new methods until they succeed.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the value of persistence and trying again even when faced with difficulties, a crucial skill in learning and personal growth.
Example Lesson: Cooperation
Explanation: The lighthouse keeper and his wife work together to solve the problem of the seagulls, highlighting teamwork.
Real-World Application: Children see the power of collaboration and how working with others can help overcome obstacles, which is beneficial in group activities at school or with friends.
Example Lesson: Innovation
Explanation: The use of a dummy lunch to trick the seagulls showcases innovative thinking.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to think outside the box and develop unique solutions to problems, enhancing their creative thinking skills.
Example Lesson: Resourcefulness
Explanation: The characters use available resources at hand, like making a decoy lunch, to tackle their problem.
Real-World Application: This can inspire children to use what they have around them to address issues, promoting an efficient and resourceful mindset.