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Description:
Based on John Rocco’s childhood experience during the Blizzard of 1978, when forty inches of snow fell on his Rhode Island town, BLIZZARD (Disney-Hyperion; On-sale: October 30, 2014) tells the story of how one intrepid explorer helps his family and neighbors. It is a worthy companion to his Caldecott Honor-winning picture book, Blackout, about a neighborhood power outage during the summer.
BLIZZARD opens 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 finally break through on their street many days later. 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 cleverly uses increasing amounts of white space in his playful and nostalgic images, which include full-bleeds, comic panels, and a glorious gatefold spread of the boy’s circuitous expedition to the store.
Whether readers are all-too-familiar with blizzards or have never experienced the wonder of a winter storm, John Rocco’s BLIZZARD is as delicious as a mug of hot cocoa by the fire on a snowy day.
You can also learn more on RoccoArt.com and find John on Facebook and Twitter.
Follow along the Blog Tour!
Thursday, November 6 Mundie Kids
Friday, November 7 Kid Lit Frenzy
Monday, November 10 The Children’s Book Review
Tuesday, November 11 The Kids Did It
Wednesday, November 12 OC Mom Media
Thursday, November 13 As They Grow Up
Friday, November 14 Curling Up With a Good Book
Monday, November 17 Ben Spark
Tuesday, November 18 Mr. Schu Reads
Thursday, November 20 Elizabeth Dulemba
One reader will be randomly chosen to win a copy of the children’s book BLIZZARD! (ARV $15) Open to Continental US residents only who are 18 or older. Begins on 11/11/2014 at 12:01 AM EST and ends on 11/25/2014 at 11:59 pm EST. Void where prohibited. The Kids Did It is NOT responsible for prize fulfillment if a sponsor fails to ship prize. Allow 6-8 weeks for prize delivery. Post and or Rafflecopter may contain affiliate links.
I learned that John Rocco studied illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design and School of Visual Arts in New York City
He also wrote Train a Train, which looks like a cute book!
VERY ENJOYABLE AND LIVE IN A WARM WEATHER STATE
I learned that Rocco illustrated Whoopi Goldberg‘s Alice and the covers for Rick Riordan‘s multi-million copy internationally bestselling series Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Kane Chronicles, and The Heroes of Olympus.
This book is based on the blizzard of 78
Rocco was the pre-production art director on the top-grossing animated film Shrek
I learned that the book is based on the authors experience as a young boy in the Blizzard of 1978.
Percy Jackson gets new covers
John has his first young adult novel coming out that he wrote with a childhood friend
Rocco studied illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design and School of Visual Arts in New York City.
This book was chosen as the Amazon Best Book of 2014. That means something in my eyes! 😀
I learned that John was the Art Director for Disney Quest
I learned that this author is also an illustrator for the book Greek Gods. I also learned that Blizzard was voted the Amazon best book of 2014. 🙂
I learned that Blizzard is the Amazon Best Book of 2014.
I learned about a young boys excitemet at seeing the first snow flake to him helping his family and neighbors during a power outage that occured during the storm.
I learned that it is based on his experience as a young boy
I learned that the website has a LOT of great books. I love the sound of the Blizzard it says that it was the Amazon Best Book of 2014!
I learned he didn’t start drawing seriously until I was 19 years old! WOW! I Love love the illustrations. This book looks fabulous and I am going to check out more books he’s illustrated. 🙂