Blackout (Caldecott Honor Book)

I love the way this story is not just about what happens during a blackout, but about the way disconnecting technology and electricity for one evening brought a family close together. The illustrations are beautiful - they show how many colors make up the dark , for example: blues, blacks, grays,

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greens, and how bright even the stars can seem when nothing else is lit up. This would be a great story to have on hand to read to kids during a power outage, and it is also a neat way to share the experience with kids who haven't yet experienced a blackout. I think this is also a great, positive title for combating fear of the dark, and for empowering younger siblings who often feel left out or inferior. -Gina

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An amazing book! A great story about what can bring a family together. Amazing illustrations and panels.

What a beautiful book - a surefire Caldecott contender, I would think.

the story is ok, but younger kids got a little restless with it and it was too simple for older kids. but the colors are nice and the idea behind it is too.

No one has time to play a game with a little boy. Then the lights go out and everything is changed. The family’s electronic gadgets don’t work and suddenly everyone has time. The family goes up on the roof and then down to the street where everyone is having a party. And even when the power

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comes back on, the family decides now and then to voluntarily cut the power off and enjoy each other’s company.

A beautifully illustrated story of how crisis remind people of the important things in life, told from the point of view of a child.

“Inside, everyone was busy.
Much too busy.
And then…
The lights went out.
‘Mom!’”

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A good book to remind everyone of the dependence we have on our "possessions."

The main character, a young boy, can't find any family members to play a board game with him until the city's lights go out. Then his family spends the time playing his game and having a block party with the other families during the blackout. Sadly, when the lights go back on the family dispenses

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again but soon after the boy turns off the lights and the family restarts their game.

A very great family tale that really hits a good note about spending too much time with technology and not enough time with family.

John Rocco is one of my favorite childrens book authors. His tales are so full of honesty and he teaches such great life lessons through his simple words and amazing illustrations!

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Everything is as usual in the city until the electricity goes out, forcing everyone to stop what they are doing and come together, if only for a short while. After a sudden blackout in the city, there is no using the internet, no cell phones, no cooking. What’s a family to do? The parents and

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children in this picture book make the most of their time together, going outside and playing a board game underneath the only lights still on—the stars. The sparse text allows the rich, full-page illustrations to saturate the pages and spark the reader's imagination. A relevant read in today’s over-connected world, Blackout will remind readers of warm summer nights, game nights with the family and simpler times. While the premise of the plot is simple, the illustrations are sure to captivate. For ages 6-8. Recommended.

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This book was a great read, and reminded me of what my family did during blackouts. The illustrations were beautiful, and complimented the story wonderfully.

5Q- The illustrations in this book and the layout of the text draw the reader into the story. The tall pages help block out any surrounding distractions and the color tones recreate the experience of a power outage. I found myself anticipating what lies ahead as the family climbed up and then down

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the stairs to the roof. The images successfully stimulate the emotions that come along with a child in complete darkness or a starry night or a street party.
4P- Kids and adults reading aloud will relate to the realistic events and reactions of the characters while the illustrations on the cover and inside are eye catching.

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This book starts out with cartoon-style pictures, several to a page, with perspective and color, though as it is already night when the book’s narrative begins, the colors are somewhat limited. It show various scenes in lit rooms, with very little dialog or description. Many of the pictures are

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so eloquent that they do not require a single word, like a little girl going upstairs despondently with her sympathetic cat after various adults have declined to play a game with her.

The setting is a large urban center, probably New York City. The setting is crucial to the book, as the message of the book is that people are separated from each other and a bit unhappy in their normal lives, but during the blackout when people's schedules are disrupted and usual activities are not possible, they have a joyous time being together. In a village in another part of the world, people would already be much closer to each other. In a countryside town in the US, kids are already used to prowling around at night, so a blackout would not be so exciting.

After the blackout, which we see sweeping across the city, the people are in silhouette, but the action and fun begins. The story is very well told in pictures, and really hardly needs words.

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Although it is a cute concept, this story was just okay. Mostly, it wasn't very believable. At least from personal experience, when the power went out we lit candles and continued doing whatever we were working on before the lights went out. I also wasn't that impressed with the fluency of the

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plot. It was jumpy, inconsistent, and had a very rushed ending. I'm not saying this book shouldn't be shown to children, it just wouldn't be my first choice for a recommendation.

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This book is about a family who after experiencing a night in the dark learns to enjoy the time together. This is a great book that has lots of illustrations and very little story line. This book can open children’s imagination.

Really every family needs to read this book together and plan their own "blackout." I love how the illustrations are dark enough for the story, but still so vibrant and glowing.

The illustrations in this picture book are nothing short of outstanding. Each page draws you in to the sights and even sounds of an apartment block stopped in mid-action by a blackout. From the glow of a candle to the impromptu street party, this book brings the experience alive. Fantastic!

I would frankly give it 3 1/2 stars if I could. It's an almost wordless story about what a New York family does during a power outage. I probably like the cover as much as anything I found inside the book, not that the illustrations weren't good. My favorite was when they went up on the rooftop and

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saw the stars. This could sparkle some interesting discussions with our laptop, ipad, internet, TV, phone dependant youth. It's kind of a good wake up call though that here it's the youngest in the family who most appreciates the blackout and the return to "simpler", calmer, more relaxed times ...

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Beautiful artwork showing a family finding time together when there is a blackout in their neighborhood. It supports family values and finding time to find activities that involve the family and neighborhood.

I loved the way the colors in the illustrations help to set the tone in the book. I like the plot of the story. I grew up in a big city and in a time that depends on technology. Sometimes it's important to shut all that off and remember what life's really about.

This is a neat story that shows how a family finds the beauty of the darkness and night sky during a blackout in the city. It describes how the family problem solves and finds a fun situation out of something bad. I enjoyed the book, and would have it accessible to my students.

Character: (names not specified) a multicultural family of girl, boy, mom, and dad

Setting: City at night

Theme: Break from technology and electricity

Summary: A girl wants to spend time with her family, but everyone is too busy. Once a blackout hits the whole city, she spends fun time with her

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family, playing games and making shadows. They go to the rooftop and down on the streets where everyone is out, enjoying the starry night and companies of one another. When the lights come back, everyone is back to being occupied--except for the girl's family who still enjoys playing games with flashlights and candles on.

Review: The book raises awareness of how much technology is impacting our daily lives. It makes me ponder upon how much lives and people have changed and developed with the arrival of technology and electricity. Communication among neighbors, family members, and companies is often made through technology, which brings convenience, speed, and connection. However, while reading the book, I could not help but reminisce the old days when smartphone and internet were not the boss of our lives. As far as illustrations go, they do not have many bright colors, yet deliver warm, cozy, inviting feelings.

Curriculum ties: Science, technology

Award: Caldecott

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This was about a town who was very busy with very busy families. No one had time for anyone else until all the lights went out in the town. They huddled together around a candle and then went on the roof to find a roof party with their neighbors. Then they went down to the street and found more

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people playing and having fun. The lights came back on and everybody went back to their normal, busy lives. But this family made sure to make time to hang out together, just like when the lights went out. This is a great book to teach about time. Taking the time to chill and forget about all of the madness and technology around us, and remembering to take time with our family and friends is really important.

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What one family does when the lights go out. Striking illustrations.

The illustrations are what make this amazing and a cute story to boot! (I have to admit though...I do prefer the funny, clever stories over the ones that just have a MESSAGE.)

This is a fantastic picture book on the business of life. Contains a wonderful lesson for adults and kids alike, but is not heavy handed. I love the comic book style panels and the over all style of the illustrations. Beautiful.