When Charlie McButton Lost Power (2005)

by Suzanne Collins

When Charlie McButton Lost Power (2005) (Korea Edition)

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family, Humor, Fiction, Poetry, Technology

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Since 1991, Suzanne Collins has been busy writing for children’s television. She has worked on the staffs of several Nickelodeon shows, including the Emmy-nominated hit Clarissa Explains it All and The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo. For preschool viewers, she penned multiple stories for the Emmy-nominated Little Bear and Oswald. She also co-wrote the critically acclaimed Rankin/Bass Christmas special, Santa, Baby! Most recently she was the Head Writer for Scholastic Entertainment’s Clifford’s Puppy Days.

While working on a Kids WB show called Generation O! she met children’s author James Proimos, who talked her into giving children’s books a try.

Thinking one day about Alice in Wonderland, she was struck by how pastoral the setting must seem to kids who, like her own, lived in urban surroundings. In New York City, you’re much more likely to fall down a manhole than a rabbit hole and, if you do, you’re not going to find a tea party. What you might find...? Well, that’s the story of Gregor the Overlander, the first book in her five-part series, The Underland Chronicles. Suzanne also has a rhyming picture book illustrated by Mike Lester entitled When Charlie McButton Lost Power.

She currently lives in Connecticut with her family and a pair of feral kittens they adopted from their backyard.

The books she is most successful for in teenage eyes are The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay. These books have won several awards, including the GA Peach Award.

Reviews

[April Thompson Freeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending brought this up to a solid three star read.

I'm not keen on brats spoiled to all things electronic. I was raised to play outside and entertaining myself and I've passed down those traits to my son. Now given, he does own electronics, but they don't control his life. He's happier than a pig in mud riding his skateboard or throwing a few rounds of frisbee golf.

I'm glad that Charlie McButton remembers what family time is all about.

[Krissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Rated by my son***

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bonus points for mentioning dragons, wizards, and trolls from me ⚡️

[Nara · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Só que um dia, na cidade, desabou o maior toró. E seu reino cibernético bugou de uma vez só. Um relâmpago caiu de uma nuvem bem sombria. E o nosso amigo Caco? Ficou sem energia."

[Crystal Marcos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun charming picture book by the author of the hit Hunger Games triology. I love to see when an author branches out into other areas of creativity. This is a cute rhyming story and my toddler enjoyed it too. A story of a little boy who is dependent on being "plugged in" to enjoy his day. Well a storm comes and he can no longer use electricity to find his entertainment. A clever story about his adventure in the blackout and how he learned fun doesn't always require being "plugged in". The illustrations are also appealing, colorful, and eye catching.

[Giuliana Gramani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mais uma leitura fofucha graças aos livros gratuitos disponibilizados pelas editoras durante a quarentena. Adorei o texto em versos e com rimas, deixou a leitura muito gostosa. E fiquei bem surpresa quando cheguei ao final e vi quem era a autora, hehe.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The rhymes seemed forced, but I got a kick out of the illustrations. It's a nice story, as well.

But, my favorite is the nugget of trivia I got along with this book. When I saw the author's name, I was reminded that I'd seen a Suzanne Collins also credited on the screenplays for some episodes of Little Bear (tv show based upon the books illustrated by Maurice Sendak). I always meant to look up whether it was the same Suzanne Collins who wrote The Hunger Games, and seeing the name associated with this picture book reminded me to do it. Turns out it is the same Suzanne Collins on all three!

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, I just loved this book. The story about a tech addict boy and what happens when the electricity goes out is charming and funny.

The rhyming story is catchy.

The illustrations are terrific. I especially enjoyed the facial expressions of Charlie and the family dog.

It’s fun when Charlie discovers that while his little sister is low tech, playing with her can be very entertaining, just as entertaining as his computer and its games.

Yes, this book is written by THE Suzanne Collins and Mike Lester is a wonderful illustrator.

[Tamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one son's favorite right now. The rhyming is clever, the pictures are darling and the message is great. When Isabelle Jane gets sad, my son actually looks sad then he grins and covers his mouth with glee when she runs down the hall to play hide-n-seek with her brother. Besides teaching that there are a lot of other fun things to do than play video games it also helps my son realize the consequences of speaking unkindly to others.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

My older brother bought me this book which forever ties something more symbolic to it. The story, as many before me have written, is about an overly technologified kid becoming unplugged. We can pretty much all relate right, I'm writing this on my iPad. However, to me the importance was the classic struggles of entitled older sibling vs annoying younger sibling and youthful selfishness vs. starting-to-mature love. Great illustrations and a wonderful story make this a must for my collection.

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poor Charlie. The day the power went off he was at a loss as to how to spend his time. His mom suggested cleaning his room or playing with clay. He gasped and went in search for some triple A batteries to power one of his old toys. His toddler age sister seems to have no problem entertaining herself with her toys, making Charlie think she had "more triple-A's than he'd ever seen".

Of course her power was in her imagination and eventually Charlie gets in the spirit, joining her in a game of hide and seek, blanket and furniture fort construction, and full-on dress-up drama.

Told in verse form similar to "T'was the Night Before Christmas", fleshed out with hilarious illustrations, this story is sure to engage K - 3rd grades and the family at home.

[Steve Holden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never read The Hunger Games, but am obviously familiar with them and the author. I'm impressed that Suzanne Collins is able to create a very relatable, fun picture book that associates with digital citizenship. It worries me to hear so many of my students always being connected and tied to something electronic instead of talking about being outside playing or with friends. This tells the tale of electricity going out and Charlie McButton needing a battery, or else . . . I think students will enjoy this, and the pictures are lively and entertaining. Good read!

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhhhhhhhh. Every parent with a tech powered kid needs this book. Charlie McButton is not happy to lose power when a storm rolls in to town. It leads him to be a bit of a monster. BUt luckily his little sister teaches him quite a lesson. I love this book. The rhymes are perfect and the illustrations are quite colorful, even though looking at the cover you might not believe that. It was just such a special and fun book.

[Tahlor Kimble · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book because I thought it had a couple good lessons in it. First, this book showed that you don't need technology and power to have fun. I think a lot of children rely on their IPads or Tv's to have fun anymore. This book shows that there is so much more than being glued to a screen all day. Another thing I really liked about this book is that it showed to treat your siblings well. Overall, this was a really cute book with great lessons for young children in it.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

The electricity goes out and Charlie McButton finds it a challenge to be human without games or batteries. After hurting his sister's feelings he feels like a heel and finally plays with her. They end up having a lot of fun using their imaginations.

Many parents are having trouble with this in present day in the form of tablets and phones, not just electricity.Pretty sad report of our current situation with tech/gadget/video games.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was recommended to me as a great book to have in our collection to use for digital citizenship and now that I have read it, I can see why. Kids (and adults!) need to be reminded of the importance of unplugging and not being so tied to our devices. This book did that in a kid friendly and easy to connect to way.

[Deidre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was much more generally kid appropriate than Year of the Jungle. I sympathize with that book’s content, but it’s not a present I wanted to give to my niece. This story though is much more fitting especially coming from her techno archaeologist aunt.
The illustrations are the cutest part, and the rhyming makes most things more catchy. The topic is wholly appropriate for iPad addicted kids.

[bernice · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love the art style and the pivot from a book about technology during blackouts to a book where the focal point is a brother-sister relationship! i think there is wayyy too much media of brothers and sisters at odds or being annoyed with each other- especially from the male child's perspective- so this was so nice to see!

[Nadine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice premise - gadgets lose power and a young boy has no alternative but to play with his younger sister. The forced rhyming verse was a bit annoying - really? Authors you really don't need to write in verse, there are so many other techniques to explore.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie has a meltdown when the power goes out and he cannot use his electronics. After spending time in the time out chair, Charlie ends up having fun with his sister. Being without electricity wasn’t so bad afterall.

[Stephen Kline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun to read out loud!

Dr Suess didn’t have to compete with technology as parents and kids now must do. This has been my favorite for a decade. A joy to read out loud. And a fine message to unplug!

[Sunayana Singh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a beautiful poem that starts with a kid obsessed with his electronics and ends with a kid happily content with just his lil sis...No, I was not trying to make that rhyme.
Charlie was an annoying kid but at least he redeemed himself. Let's hope he stays that way.

[Marissa Elera · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm usually not super fond of rhyming text that isn't Dr. Seuss, but I enjoyed this.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

i want to read this book !

[Sarah Stumphf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny and a good conversation starter

[Jaime · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the idea behind this book. Love the illustrations. The story is great but a bit difficult to read. Seems like it should be rhyming.

[jennyreadit · Rating 3 out of 5]

What happens when you are attached to a device and the power goes out? You have to play with your little sister. An ok read, but Tek teaches this lesson much better.

[Jnase1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the message in this book, but I think grown ups will "get it" better than kids.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations make this book. It is one of those great books about playing over electronics.

[Katie Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book could open up a lot of fun discussions for any grades.