On a hot summer night in the city, the power goes out. No TV, no phones, no computers—what’s a family to do? Stargaze, eat ice cream before it melts, and enjoy being together.
Blackout
Discuss the Book
Before the Blackout
Pages 1–11
- Important Moment: A child feels sad when their family members are all too busy to play a game with them.
- Ask and Share: How does the child feel about their family being too busy to play? Have you ever felt this way? How did you deal with those feelings?
Lights Out! Now What?
Pages 12–22
- Important Moment: When all the lights go out, the child calls, “MOM!”
- Ask and Share: Why does the child call “MOM!”? What is the first thing you do when something big or surprising happens? Why do you do this?
To the Roof
Pages 23–34
- Important Moment: The family goes up to the roof. As they look at the stars, they start to enjoy the blackout.
- Ask and Share: Why are people so excited to be on their roofs? Is there a place in your house or apartment building where you don’t usually get to go? What is it like when you go there?
Lights On!
Pages 35–40
- Important Moment: After the power comes back on, the child turns off the lights in the kitchen to recreate the blackout, and the family plays a game together.
- Ask and Share: What was the child’s favorite thing about the blackout? What do you think your favorite thing about a blackout would be, and why?