Judy Moody and Stink: The Big Bad Blackout

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Hold on to your umbrella and stock up on marshmallows -- Judy and Stink face wicked weather in their third full-color adventure.

Judy and Stink and the whole Moody family hunker down with beans and batteries, ready to wait out the storm. But along with massive rain and strong winds, Hurricane Elmer throws down ghosts, squirrels, and aliens. Spooky! Just when things couldn't possibly get any freakier -- flicker, flicker, gulp! -- the lights go O-U-T out . The Moodys are smack-dab in the middle of a big bad blackout! Grandma Lou proposes musical board games and some good old-fashioned storytelling. Will Hurricane Elmer go down in Moody family history as bad news, a happy memory, or simply an LBS (Long Boring Story)?

Reviews provided by Syndetics

School Library Journal Review

Gr 1-4-Judy and her brother, Stink, find themselves with a few days off from school because Hurricane Elmer is about to roll through Virginia. Unexpected time off from school, hooray! But with no power? Uh-oh. What could they possibly do with no electricity and no television? The whole town is hunkering down because of the oncoming storm, and it turns out that Grandma Lou needs a safe place to stay, so she's coming to spend a few days with Judy and Stink. The Big Bad Blackout is a light-hearted story with a simple plot: Judy, her brother, and the rest of the family share scary stories in the dark, tell old family stories, and enjoy lots of laughs. The story is capably performed by Barbara Rosenblat. Students who enjoy the "Judy Moody & Stink" series won't be disappointed.-Jessica Gilcreast, Bedford School District, NH (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

With a hurricane headed toward her coastal community, Grandma Lou drives inland to stay with Judy, Stink, and their parents. Soon the lights go out, and school is canceled because of the storm, but the Moody clan pulls together with games, storytelling, and cooking over a fire. The family stories and scary tales told by the characters offer an unusual change of pace within the broader narrative. With its amusing story and color illustrations, this chapter book will please many transitional readers, even those reading the Judy Moody & Stink series for the first time.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2014 Booklist

Horn Book Review

Siblings Judy and Stink find themselves stuck at home after a storm knocks out the power, and they come up with some creative ways to entertain themselves and their family. McDonald's simple structure and kid-friendly humor take the edge off a scary situation; Reynolds's full-color illustrations light up the pages. Includes suggestions for things to do if readers find themselves in the dark. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Book Review

It's hurricane season in Virginia, and Stink and Judy Moody are in for some dark nights. The Moodys are stuck in their house with no electricity when Hurricane Elmer strikes. What could be challenging turns into an enjoyable few days, especially when Grandma Lou joins the family with Gert, her kayak, and an assortment of animals she has taken in for friends who could not take them to the shelter. Losing power is nothing new to these hearty residents of the Virginia Beach area. Grandma is soon cooking food over a fire in the fireplace, and Stink is imagining himself a pioneer like his hero (and latest obsession), Abraham Lincoln. The nights are filled with board games played like musical chairs, switching games when the music from the old-time (presumably battery-operated) CD player changes, and listening to stories. Sometimes they read aloud, but the best part is telling stories. Whether it's a story about a special chicken, a disastrous hurricane wedding or Judy's Mr. Drybones story, everyone enjoys the time together. Readers of this fine series will enjoy the full-color illustrations and the little rain clouds above the page numbers. New fans can join in the funno need to have read the earlier books to enjoy this newest one. A cozy, comfortable book for a rainy night. (Fiction. 5-9)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.