Blizzard

Contributors

By John Rocco

Illustrated by John Rocco

Cover design or artwork by John Rocco

Formats and Prices

Price

$18.99

Price

$23.99 CAD

Format

Hardcover

Format:

Hardcover $18.99 $23.99 CAD

Based on John Rocco's childhood experience during the Blizzard of 1978, this companion to BLACKOUT is the story of how one intrepid boy embarks on an expedition and becomes the hero of his neighborhood.

Blizzard is based on John Rocco's childhood experience during the now infamous Blizzard of 1978, which brought fifty-three inches of snow to his town in Rhode Island. Told with a brief text and dynamic illustrations, the bookopens with a boy’s excitement upon seeing the first snowflake fall outside his classroom window. It ends with the neighborhood’s immense relief upon seeing the first snowplow break through on their street. In between the boy watches his familiar landscape transform into something alien, and readers watch him transform into a hero who puts the needs of others first. John uses an increasing amount of white space in his playful images, which include a gatefold spread of the boy's expedition to the store. This book about the wonder of a winter storm is as delicious as a mug of hot cocoa by the fire on a snowy day.
 
Praise for Super Hair-o and the Barber of Doom

"With a light, humorous touch, Rocco reveals that sometimes the Kryptonite is all in your head."
-Publishers Weekly

"Bold, colorful pen-and-ink illustrations burst with power from each spread in comic-book style. This story will make a feel-good impression on budding comic book/superhero fans."
-School Library Journal

Praise for Blackout

"The plot line, conveyed with just a few sentences, is simple enough, but the dramatic illustrations illuminate the story…Not all young readers will have experienced a blackout, but this engaging snapshot could easily have them wishing for one."
-Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"The colorful pictures work beautifully with the book’s design. Rocco uses comic-strip panels and a brief text to convey the atmosphere of a lively and almost magical urban landscape. Great bedtime reading for a soft summer night."
-School Library Journal (starred review)
 
2012 Caldecott Honor Book
New York Times Notable Book
Wall Street Journal Best Book of the Year
Publisher's Weekly Best Book of the Year
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year

—-
Praise for Fu Finds the Way

"Rocco's story flows smoothly and his illustrations are rich and appealing…"
-Kirkus Reviews

 

  • PRAISE FOR BLACKOUT

    "The colorful pictures work beautifully with the book’s design. Rocco uses comic-strip panels and a brief text to convey the atmosphere of a lively and almost magical urban landscape. Great bedtime reading for a soft summer night."
    (starred review)
  • PRAISE FOR BLACKOUT

    "The plot line, conveyed with just a few sentences, is simple enough, but the dramatic illustrations illuminate the story...Not all young readers will have experienced a blackout, but this engaging snapshot could easily have them wishing for one."
    (starred review)
  • PRAISE FOR BLACKOUT

    2012 Caldecott Honor BookNew York Times Notable BookWall Street Journal Best Book of the YearPublisher's Weekly Best Book of the YearSchool Library Journal Best Book of the YearKirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
  • PRAISE FOR SUPER HAIR-O AND THE BARBER OF DOOM

    "With a light, humorous touch, Rocco reveals that sometimes the Kryptonite is all in your head."
  • PRAISE FOR SUPER HAIR-O AND THE BARBER OF DOOM

    "Bold, colorful pen-and-ink illustrations burst with power from each spread in comic-book style. This story will make a feel-good impression on budding comic book/superhero fans."
  • PRAISE FOR FU FINDS THE WAY

    "Rocco's story flows smoothly and his illustrations are rich and appealing..."

On Sale
Oct 30, 2014
Page Count
40 pages
ISBN-13
9781423178651

John Rocco

About the Illustrator

John Rocco is a New York Times Bestselling author and illustrator of many acclaimed books for children, including Wolf! Wolf!, winner of the Borders Original Voices Award for best picture book; Moonpowder; Blizzard; and Blackout, a winner of the Caldecott Honor. Rocco also illustrated Whoopi Goldberg’s Aliceand the covers for Rick Riordan’s internationally bestselling series Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Kane Chronicles, The Heroes of Olympus and Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard. He also was the illustrator for both #1 New York Times Bestsellers Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods and Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes. Most recently, Rocco’s first book of nonfiction, How We Got To The Moon, was longlisted for the National Book Award. 

Learn more about this illustrator