Blackout (Caldecott Honor Book)

One hot summer night in the city, all the power goes out. The TV shuts off and a boy wails, "Mommm!" His sister can no longer use the phone, Mom can't work on her computer, and Dad can't finish cooking dinner. What's a family to do? When they go up to the roof to escape the heat, they find the lights--in stars that can be seen for a change--and so many neighbors it's like a block party in the sky! On the street below, people are having just as much fun--talking, rollerblading, and eating ice cream before it melts. The boy and his family enjoy being not so busy for once. They even have time to play a board game together. When the electricity is restored, everything can go back to normal . . . but not everyone likes normal. The boy switches off the lights, and out comes the board game again.Using a combination of panels and full bleed illustrations that move from color to black-and-white and back to color, John Rocco shows that if we are willing to put our cares aside for a while, there is party potential in a summer blackout.

Author: John Rocco
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: 05/24/2011
Pages: 40
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.06lbs
Size: 11.27h x 9.43w x 0.40d
ISBN: 9781423121909
Audience: Ages 4-8

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 1
Point Value: 0.5
Interest Level: Lower Grade
Quiz #/Name: 157808 / Blackout


Award: Florida Children's Book Award - Nominee
Award: North Carolina Children's Book Award - Nominee
Award: Cybils - Finalist
Award: Texas 2x2 Reading List - Recommended
Award: Caldecott Medal - Honor Book
Award: Capitol Choices: Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens - Recommended
Award: Black-Eyed Susan Award - Nominee
Award: Monarch Award - Nominee
Award: Beehive Awards - Nominee
Award: Ladybug Picture Book Award - Nominee
Award: Red Clover Award - Nominee
Award: Georgia Children's Book Award - Nominee
Award: Golden Archer Award - Winner
Award: Young Hoosier Book Award - Nominee
Award: Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award - Nominee
Award: Star of the North Picture Book Award - Nominee
Award: Volunteer State Book Awards - Nominee
Award: Nevada Young Readers' Award - Nominee
Award: Golden Sower Award - Nominee
Award: Buckaroo Book Award - Nominee


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 03/07/2011
Kirkus Reviews 04/15/2011
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 06/01/2011
Booklist 06/01/2011 pg. 90
New York Times Book Review 06/05/2011 pg. 26
School Library Journal 07/01/2011 pg. 77
Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2011 pg. 328 - Recommended, Satisfactory
Publishers Weekly Best Books 11/07/2011 pg. 38
Kirkus Best Children's Books 11/15/2011 pg. 2121
NY Times Notable Bks of Year 12/04/2011 pg. 33
SLJ's Best Books 12/01/2011 pg. 27
BookPage 06/01/2011

About the Author
John Rocco (www.roccoart.com) has held a wide variety of jobs in his life, from working in the shell fishing industry, to designing attractions for Walt Disney World's Epcot, to creating illustrations for the DreamWorks movie "Shrek." Since 2005 his focus has been on creating children's books, such as Wolf! Wolf!, a Borders Original Voices Award-winner; Moonpowder; and Fu Finds the Way. He has also created the cover artwork for Rick Riordan's best-selling Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Kane Chronicles series. John and his family live in Brooklyn, New York, where they have experienced their share of memorable summer blackouts.