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LATEST ISSUE OF
Kirkus Reviews
Kirkus talks to Chris Pavone about The Accident, his latest thriller in which ordinary lives are thrust into spectacular jeopardy.
Kirkus Star
THE KIRKUS STAR
Awarded to Books of Exceptional Merit


Books by John Rocco

SWIM THAT ROCK by John Rocco
Released: April 8, 2014
by John Rocco, Jay Primiano
"Nevertheless, fills the bill for teens looking for an atypical action adventure. (map) (Fiction. 12-15)"
A teen goes to desperate lengths to save his family's diner in this unevenly executed fishing drama set on Narragansett Bay. Read full book review >
HOW TO TRAIN A TRAIN by Jason Carter Eaton
Released: Sept. 24, 2013
Kirkus Star
by Jason Carter Eaton, illustrated by John Rocco
"With believable expressiveness in the characterizations of the trains and a scale perfect for groups, this affectionate sendup communicates all the exasperation, responsibility and rewards of having a pet. (Picture book. 4-8)"
Train and pet enthusiasts alike will delight in this rollicking story about selecting, naming, soothing and caring for a full-sized locomotive. Read full book review >
SUPER HAIR-O AND THE BARBER OF DOOM by John Rocco
Released: May 21, 2013
by John Rocco, illustrated by John Rocco
"This won't answer those many preschool requests for superhero stories, but it does offer a go-with-the-flow bit of imaginative silliness. (Picture book. 3-6)"
A young superhero falls prey to a Samson complex. Read full book review >
THE FLINT HEART by Katherine Paterson
FAIRY TALES, FOLKTALES AND MYTHS
Released: Sept. 27, 2011
Kirkus Star
by Katherine Paterson, John Paterson, illustrated by John Rocco
"A grand tale skillfully updated and tightened up, this should win the hearts of a new generation. (Fantasy. 8-12)"
A heart-shaped talisman created in the Stone Age brings terribly corrupting power to those who possess it, until 12-year-old Charles Jago manages to destroy it permanently. Read full book review >
RETURN TO EXILE by E. J. Patten
FANTASY
Released: Sept. 6, 2011
by E. J. Patten, illustrated by John Rocco
"Young readers won't be able to tell who's on which side, and they won't much care. (Fantasy. 11-13)"
A preteen with a shadowy past and two odd scars on his palm is cast into a small town's ongoing struggle among multiple kinds of monsters and warring factions of monster hunters in this hefty setup volume. Read full book review >
BLACKOUT by John Rocco
FAMILY AND GROWING UP
Released: May 24, 2011
Kirkus Star
by John Rocco, illustrated by John Rocco
"Not all young readers will have experienced a blackout, but this engaging snapshot could easily have them wishing for one. (Picture book. 5-8)"
"It started out as a normal summer night"—until the lights go out, citywide. Read full book review >
FU FINDS THE WAY by John Rocco
FICTION
Released: Sept. 15, 2009
by John Rocco, illustrated by John Rocco
"Best shared by an enlightened adult with a thoughtful child. (Picture book. 4-7)"
Westerners have long been fascinated with Eastern culture. Read full book review >
BOY, WERE WE WRONG ABOUT THE SOLAR SYSTEM! by Kathleen D. Kudlinski
NATURE
Released: Nov. 1, 2008
Kirkus Star
by Kathleen D. Kudlinski, illustrated by John Rocco
"A super introduction not only to the solar system, but to the scientific method in action. (further reading, bibliography) (Informational picture book. 6-9)"
The author of Boy, Were We Wrong About Dinosaurs! (2005) returns with the story of humankind's changing understanding of outer space. Read full book review >
MOONPOWDER by John Rocco
BEDTIME BOOK
Released: May 27, 2008
by John Rocco, illustrated by John Rocco
"In keeping with its closing images of Eli's returning dad, it is topically enough dedicated "to the children of soldiers everywhere." (Picture book. 5-8)"
Rocco crafts a set of copper-colored retro dreamscapes for this tale of a lad who shakes off his own recurrent nightmare by repairing the celestial machinery that creates sweet dreams—or rather, the titular powder that produces them. Read full book review >
WOLF! WOLF! by John Rocco
ANIMALS
Released: March 1, 2007
by John Rocco, illustrated by John Rocco
"Good-humored fun all around. (Picture book. 4-8)"
The familiar tale of the boy who cried wolf is relocated to Japan and given a twist at the end. Read full book review >