  | Current gone! : stars shine brighter in a blackout Author: Bally, Neesa | |
| Price: $23.28 | ||
Summary:
When a blackout overtakes a Trinidadian neighborhood, a family and their neighbors play boardgames by candlelight, make shadow puppets, and share a meal as they find joy in the darkness.
| Illustrator: | Ladi, Geeta |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (05/15/26)
Booklist (06/01/26)
Full Text Reviews:
Publishers Weekly - 04/06/2026 Boredom, mosquitoes, and an opportunity for togetherness arrive with a power outage in Bally and Ladi’s busy communal snapshot. Thrust into darkness when the electricity goes out, the intergenerational, light-brown-skinned residents of a house in a tropical setting attempt to adapt: "Knees bump./ Toes stub./ Hands grasp blindly,/ searching, seeking." The arrival of friends, game and guitar in hand, adds a sense of merrymaking as the companions make shadow animals in candlelight and cool off by eating "frozen treasures scooped out from the freezer." Outside, "moonbeams bathe/ sticky skin," and the group appreciate an undiluted view of the stars until the electricity returns. Staccato prose pinpoints the resultant ambivalence: "Emotions mixed./ Feelings tangled./ Darkness is gone." Appropriately playing with light and shadow, chalky?digital drawings center on cozy domestic scenes, and a horizontal spread of the night sky offers a dazzling climax that’s pitch-perfect for this bright-eyed and appreciative tale about embracing the dark. An author’s note concludes. Ages 4-8. (June) - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly used with permission.
Booklist - 06/01/2026 This warm and relatable picture book uses vibrant digital illustrations to explore what happens when an ordinary evening is unexpectedly interrupted. A Trinidadian family settles in for a typical night at home when the power suddenly goes out, plunging them into darkness. At first, frustration takes over: screens go black, the TV shuts off, and even the phone battery dies. The discomfort of disconnection is clear. However, as the night unfolds, the family begins to adapt, and what starts as dismay transforms into connection. They gather with neighbors to play games, share stories, and even enjoy a race against time to eat melting ice cream. The shift from isolation to togetherness highlights how easily routines can separate us, and how quickly we can reconnect without them. The illustrations effectively mirror this emotional journey. An authorā€™s note adds meaningful depth, sharing how the story is inspired by her childhood experiences in Trinidad. Overall, this is a heartfelt reminder of the joy that can be found in unplugging and being present with one another. - Copyright 2026 Booklist.
