Blizzard
This entertaining and beautifully illustrated winter adventure will captivate both adult and child readers. John Rocco tells a story inspired by his childhood memories of a blizzard that buried parts of New England in 40 inches of snow. Snowbound for a week, a young boy and his family find ways to enjoy their time together, but after several days with unplowed roads, the situation becomes stressful. The boy, determined to help, sets out into the wintry world in tennis-racquet snow shoes to get food for his family and neighbors. A fold-out map invites readers to trace his expedition. Look at Rocco's Blackout for a similar story of a family coping with an exciting life event.
Pennsylvania Center for the Book Awards
Book Activities & Discussion Ideas
Look at the cover of the book, point out the word blizzard and ask children what they think the word blizzard means. During the conversation point out that blizzards typically involve high winds and low visibility. It is a more severe snowstorm. After the story, ask children what they would do in this situation. Invite children to tell any blizzard experiences they've had.
Suggest to parents that they sit side by side with children when reading this story so that they can talk about the detailed illustrations. As you read the story, help the children trace the path the boy took to the store. Encourage parents to share a memorable event from their childhood. Provide pencils, markers, and paper for parents to draw and illustrate a picture of the event. Remind parents to take the pictures home to share with their children. It's good for them to model drawing and writing for their children.