Lights Out
Author: Marsha Diane Arnold
Illustrator: Susan Reagan
18 August 2020
Creative Editions
32 pages

I’ve been out in the middle of Iowa at night, so I’ve seen a lightless sky. It’s amazing!

Book description from Goodreads: “In a world marred by light pollution, this quest for true darkness is a clarion call to turn out the lights—so that all may see.”

Need some reviews of Lights Out?

• Celebrate Picture Books
• Kirkus

Here’s a short bonus interview with author Marsha Diane Arnold at Night Sky Tourist.

Here’s another author interview at Picture Book Builders.

And here’s one more author interview, too–this time from from Jena Benton.

Educational Activities inspired by Marsha Diane Arnold’s Lights Out:

• Before Reading–From looking at the front and back cover: 
  • Where and when do you think this story takes place?
  • What does the phrase “lights out” make you think of?
  • What kind of creatures are on the front cover? 
    • Is it relevant that they are creatures of air, land, and water?
  • What’s special about the letter i in the title on the front cover?
  • Is there anything else that you note about the title? (Perhaps in terms of color?)
• After Reading–Now that you’ve read the story: 
  • What other story/​book/​film/​tv show does Lights Out remind you of?
  • What is the author’s main message with this book?
  • Why do you think there are sea turtles on the end papers?
  • Where do Fox, Frog, Bear, Firefly, and Songbird want to go? 
    • Why?
  • Early in the book, there’s a sizable list of things that create light. What other light sources can you add?
  • When the story ends with “Lights on,” is that a good thing, a bad thing, or something else entirely?
• Science–Many of the animals in this book are nocturnal, meaning that they’re only active during the dark. In fact, nearly half of the animals in the world are nocturnal! Learn more about nocturnal creatures in the following two videos.

• Writing–Try your hand at writing the story of a creature who is affected by a specific type of pollution (water? air? noise? light? something else?). Consider using crayons or colored pencils to create illustrations. Share your results with an adult!
• Art–Imagine what the sky might look like if no human-​made light sources are present. What colors would you notice? Would you see the same constellations and shapes you do now? How clear would the sky be? Create that image with painting, crayons, or colored pencils. Consider sharing it with a friend or adult, and explain your creative choices.
• Further Reading–Which of these other picture books about pollution have you read? (Click on the book cover for more information on any of these titles!)