Hurricane
picture_book · First published 2021
Author guide
John Rocco Books in Order
John Rocco is an American author and illustrator of children's books. His authored and illustrated works include Wolf! Wolf!, Moonpowder, Fu Finds the Way, Blackout, Super Hair-O and the Barber of Doom, Blizzard, How We Got to the Moon, and Hurricane. He co-authored the young adult novel Swim That Rock with Jay Primiano. He also illustrated books and created cover art, including work for Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson-related series.
children's literaturepicture booksyoung adult fictionnonfiction
Catalog record updated .
John Rocco's Newest Book
Not sure where to begin?
Start with one of these
Blackout
A Caldecott Honor picture book and a representative example of Rocco's author-illustrator work.
How We Got to the Moon: The People, Technology, and Daring Feats of Science Behind Humanity's Greatest Adventure
His major nonfiction work and a National Book Award longlist title.
Outside the series
Bibliography by category
Novels (2)
- Swim That Rock
novel · 2014
When his dad goes missing in a fishing-boat accident, fourteen-year-old Jake refuses to think he may have lost his father forever. But suddenly, nothing seems certain in Jake's future, and now his family's diner may be repossessed by loan…
Children's books (7)
- Wolf! Wolf!
picture_book · 2007
- Moonpowder
picture_book · 2008
- Fu Finds the Way
picture_book · 2009
- Blackout
picture_book · 2011
When a busy family's activities come to a halt because of a blackout, they find they enjoy spending time together and not being too busy for once.
- Super Hair-O and the Barber of Doom
picture_book · 2013
A boy fears that he has lost his super powers after a villain captures him and cuts the hair that he believes is the source of his strength.
- Blizzard
picture_book · 2014
"After a massive blizzard, a boy becomes a hero when he manages to walk to the local store and bring supplies back to his neighborhood which has been snowed in for days. Based on the author's childhood experience"--
- Hurricane
picture_book · 2021
Frequently asked questions about John Rocco
Who is John Rocco?
John Rocco is a children’s author and illustrator whose career includes picture books, illustrated nonfiction, and cover art for major children’s titles. He is a #1 New York Times bestselling creator known in part for his work on Rick Riordan’s mythological series.
Sources: penguinrandomhouse.com (opens in a new tab)nationalbook.org (opens in a new tab)
How did John Rocco become an illustrator?
Rocco initially studied engineering, then decided to pursue art after living with a professional illustrator who showed him that drawing could be a career. He built a portfolio, entered the Rhode Island School of Design, and later worked as an entertainment art director for companies including DreamWorks and Walt Disney.
Sources: pinereadsreview.com (opens in a new tab)ala.org (opens in a new tab)
Which artists influenced John Rocco?
Rocco has identified the Brandywine illustrators and artists such as N.C. Wyeth, Howard Pyle, Maxfield Parrish, and Arthur Rackham as major influences on his work.
What awards has John Rocco received?
His major honors include a 2012 Caldecott Honor for Blackout and a 2021 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal Honor for How We Got to the Moon. How We Got to the Moon was also longlisted for the 2020 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature.
Sources: ala.org (opens in a new tab)ala.org (opens in a new tab)nationalbook.org (opens in a new tab)
Why is John Rocco especially well known to Percy Jackson readers?
Rocco created cover art for Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians and related mythology series. His cover work helped give his art wide circulation among young readers, alongside his own award-recognized books.
Sources: hachettebookgroup.com (opens in a new tab)yalsa.ala.org (opens in a new tab)