Blizzard

Caldecott Honoree Rocco (Blackout) recalls a journey he took as a boy during the blizzard of 1978, when he lived in a small Rhode Island town. His deft compositions use expanses of white page to convey snowdrifts and winter sky. The snow is so deep that the front door won’t open, and John and his sister have to leave through the window. In another couple of days, when food supplies dwindle, “I realized it was up to me to take action.... I was the only one who knew what equipment was required.” Making snowshoes out of tennis rackets, young John sets off for the grocery store. An epic gatefold spread shows his path through the neighborhood, with distractions duly noted (“Made an angel”; “Joined a snowball fight”). The store owners greet him kindly, and he drags his grocery-laden sled home in triumph, distributing food to his neighbors and providing for his family. A nostalgic air of Americana permeates the story, and John’s eagerness to be a hero and his display of Yankee ingenuity offer plenty of satisfaction. Ages 3–5. Agent: Rob Weisbach, Rob Weisbach Creative Management. (Oct.)