Book Review: When the Lights Went Out by Lian Tanner

 When the Lights Went Out

by

Lian Tanner

Illustrated by Jonathan Bentley

 

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin Children

Publication date: 2nd July 2024

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 32

RRP: $24.99 (hardback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: When the Lights Went Out

Lian Tanner and Jonathon Bentley have teamed together to produce a gorgeous picture book that will entrance and delight as we join a young family when one dark, cold night the power goes out. 

Narrated by a young child we follow the family as they get that first startlement when everything goes dark. As they search for candles it is turned into an adventure in the dark.

Just when they are thinking of having an early night they hear someone playing music and singing outside, so the family rug up and go out to see who is singing. All the neighbours come outside and sing and dance late into the night.

 

When the Lights Went Out shows it only took one person to venture outside and play music and sing for the whole neighbourhood to join in, have a marvellous time and celebrate a moment of connectedness.

When the Lights Went Out is a delightful children's book that turns what some may conceive as an inconvenience into a family adventure.

The realistic, full colour sketched illustrations are a lovely depiction of a community coming together.

Jonathon Bentley has cleverly placed nocturnal animals, a fox and an owl, into his illustrations and it was fun to try to spot them in each double spread outdoor illustration.

When the Lights Went Out is a reassuring story for young children during times of fear and uncertainty.

My rating 5 / 5 🕯🕯🕯🕯🕯

recommended age: 3 - 6 years