A final two-spread sequence finds all of the animals arrayed across the pages, dads on the verso and children on the recto. A duck, a bee, a dog, a rabbit, a cat, a mouse, a donkey, a pig, a frog, a rooster, and a horse all fail similarly, spread by spread. A sad-looking ram insists, “DADA!” his lamb baas back. The strongest illustrations follow the lead of the darkened cover art, but the book never achieves the visual brilliance of Rocco’s more distinguished work.Ī melancholy story of changing relationships rather than a celebration of the excitement of a blackout.Ī succession of animal dads do their best to teach their young to say “Dada” in this picture-book vehicle for Fallon.Ī grumpy bull says, “DADA!” his calf moos back. Even when the lights return and neighbors go inside, the brothers keep playing in the treehouse. Best of all, the big brother ascends the treehouse ladder to play cards and look at comics by flashlight again. Neighbors pour into the street, using candles and flashlights and sharing ice cream before it melts. Then a blackout occurs, and stars are suddenly visible. I can do whatever I want up here,” reads text accompanied by a picture showing him as anything but happy about this prospect. A year later, the little brother forlornly explains that this summer his elder sibling would rather hang out with friends than spend time with him. When they try to stargaze, though, city lights obscure the starlight. A happy summertime ensues, with the brothers ensconced in their treetop perch, playing cards and reading comics.

A tale reminiscent, but falling short, of John Rocco’s 2012 Caldecott honor book, Blackout, depicts a boy longing for time with his big brother.įirst-person, retrospective narration recounts how, when the family moves to a new house, the boys build a treehouse with their father.

In the tree house by andrew larsen