When the Lights Went Out by Lian Tanner and Jonathon Bentley

Title: When the Lights Went Out

Author: Lian Tanner and Jonathon Bentley

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: Allen and Unwin

Published: 2^nd July 2024

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 32

Price: $24.99

Synopsis: A cosy picture book about finding warmth and connection in community from the award-winning creative team behind Ella and the Ocean.

The night was frosty dark but we were snug and cosy in the kitchen. Then SNAP! The lights went out.

In the dark of night, a neighbourhood becomes a new country to explore, and an ordinary winter evening turns into a family adventure.

A reassuring story about finding comfort in community from the award-winning creators of Ella and the Ocean.

~*~

On a cold night, when a young family is getting ready to have dinner when a blackout takes over the street. And so begins the story of a grand adventure, turning the blackout into a new country to explore, a hunt for candles, and finding out about the people who live in their neighbourhood in this gentle story about comfort and community.

Lian Tanner’s new picture book is a lovely exploration about turning a scary experience into something full of joy and comfort where the community comes together in a moment of connection. It sees the neighbours connecting with each other through music and conversation during the blackout. It’s a celebration of the magic that can be found in these moments, and how people respond to them and come together.

Books like this, even though the text isn’t rhyming are perfect for all ages, to help children with their literacy and to work through fears, anxiety and uncertainty. They can do this by reassuring children that everything is okay, and sometimes, things like blackouts happen. And also allows them to see that not only does everyone respond differently, but that anyone can be scared, no matter how old they are. Lian’s gentle book is different to her novels which are quirky, funny and fantastical, but her voice is ever present here as a voice that can adapt and transform across genres and styles and for a wide range of age groups. She manages to encapsulate universal themes in all her writing, and her latest picture book is no exception.

Lian’s work on this book is beautiful and evocative, and Jonathon Bentley’s illustrations complete the story delightfully, with an effective insight into a dark street during a blackout, whilst still being reassuring for younger readers. It evokes the feelings of uncertainty that everyone can have when unexpected things happening, shining a light on community and the different ways we all cope with things and interact with people in this beautiful story from Lian Tanner, whose talent knows no bounds. In this wintry tale, there is comfort within the story and its message, and it gives off a warmth that reminds us of finding the beauty in the small things and quiet moments in life. Another great book from Lian Tanner.