Current Gone! - by Neesa Bally (Hardcover)

About the Book

When a blackout overtakes a Trinidadian neighborhood, a family and their neighbors play boardgames by candlelight, make shadow puppets, and share a meal as they find joy in the darkness.

Book Synopsis

A sudden blackout turns into a neighborhood-wide sleepover in this lovely, lyrical picture book about family, community, and how much fun it can be to unplug from technology

Filled with joy and community bonding, Neesa Bally's lyrical text and Geeta Ladi's warm and striking art style, this book paints a vivid picture of Trinidadian life while showing that when the lights go out, that's when the most fun can be had.

It happens suddenly--
Darkness descends,
without wish or want.
An uninvited guest,
overstaying its welcome.

"Current gone! Power's out!" A blackout overtakes a family's neighborhood one evening. As lights, fans, air conditioners, and electronic devices all lose power, there's only one thing left to do--go outside and play!

Joining their neighbors in the sticky tropical heat of Trinidad, the family enjoys playing board games by candlelight, making shadow puppets, and sharing grilled cheese sandwiches and ice cream with their friends and neighbors. As they begin to fall asleep under the star-filled sky, the lights come back on, leaving everyone with memories that will last.

Review Quotes

"A tempting invitation to turn off the lights, put down the screens, and live in the moment--at least for a night."

-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"Appropriately playing with light and shadow, chalky digital drawings center on cozy domestic scenes, and a horizontal spread of the night sky offers a dazzling climax that's pitch-perfect for this bright-eyed and appreciative tale about embracing the dark."

-- "Publishers Weekly"

About the Author

Neesa Bally hails from the beautiful twin island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. She writes stories that range from heartfelt and lyrical to humorous and whimsical. She draws inspiration from her childhood experiences, like this one, as well as from her own imagination. Apart from Current Gone, she's the author of The Pone Pact. She lives in Trinidad with her husband, two daughters, and four dogs. Geeta Ladi is a picture book illustrator based in Chennai, India. A keen traveler, she draws inspiration from diverse cultures and communities. With over a decade of experience designing educational toys and working with children, she now brings her love for storytelling to picture books. Ladi dreams of illustrating children from around the world and sharing their stories with warmth, bringing them closer to one another.