Little Bat in Night School

by Brian Lies

Overview

Little Bat is excited about his first night in school! Readers will love to see him spread his wings in this sweet, inspiring picture book from New York Times bestselling and Caldecott Honor–winning Brian Lies. Perfect for fans of We Don't Eat Our Classmates and The King of Kindergarten.

Little Bat can't wait for his first night of school. He is excited about everything: his new school supplies, learning amazing things, and making new friends. But when he finally arrives, his world turns upside down.

Any little bat who's tried something new or gone somewhere they've never been before knows that first times can be scary. With the help of Little Bat and his adorable classmates, readers will see that spreading your wings is easy when you listen, act with kindness, and take a chance on new friends.

With his signature gorgeous artwork, New York Times bestseller and Caldecott Honor winner Brian Lies brings his expressive bats back for the youngest readers. Don't miss this funny and reassuring back to school picture book!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780358269847
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	06/29/2021
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	1,036,488
Product dimensions:	9.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Brian Lies is the Caldecott Honor–winning author-illustrator of the New York Times bestsellers Bats at the Beach, Bats at the Library, Bats at the Ballgame, and Bats in the Band. He has written and illustrated more than twenty books for children. Born in Princeton, New Jersey, Brian lives on the South Shore of Massachusetts with his family.

brianlies.com

Editorial Reviews

06/28/2021

Little Bat, a nocturnal youth who wears swimming floaties, can’t wait for his first night of school: “When is sunset?” he pesters his mother. Upon finally arriving, though, he’s spurned by the first bats he meets (“We’re already playing... with each other”). But when he retreats to a cubby, he discovers Ophelia, an opossum, who’s as comfortable hanging upside down as he is. The pages find a grin in every new school experience, from battling feelings of inferiority (“Practice makes better!” says a ferret who’s been sculpting “a lot longer than you”) to politely navigating an offer of shared snacks: “This is delicious,” says Ophelia. “My mama found it on the road. Want some?” As in earlier series entries, Lies creates artwork with remarkable detail, polish, humor, and inventiveness, and it should bring young readers flying. Ages 4–7. (June)

Publishers Weekly

"Brian Lies’ illustrations are infused with personality, and his straightforward text and witty asides convey an important message with lightness and humor."—BookPage "The ups and downs of the classroom are captured with delicacy and sensitivity, a useful model of the changing social dynamics that can turn strangers to playmates and new adults into trusted teachers."—Kirkus Reviews "The pages find a grin in every new school experience.... Lies creates artwork with remarkable detail, polish, humor, and inventiveness, and it should bring young readers flying."—Publishers Weekly "Lies' signature illustrations are beautifully executed and filled with details.... [An] engaging tale about attending school for the first time and learning to fit in."—Booklist "Warm and engaging illustrations and a charming main character make this a winning and comforting title for a new school year audience."—School Library Journal "Little Bat in Night School is fueled by disarming humor rooted in the universal queasiness about facing the unknown.... Amusing and reassuring."—Shelf Awareness —

From the Publisher

08/01/2021

PreS-Gr 2—Lies has an endearing story perfect for the start of the school year. Bats have previously been the featured characters in a number of other titles by Lies (at the beach and the library), but the focus of this title is on Little Bat and his excitement to meet other bats and start Night School. When he arrives in class, he is welcomed by his raccoon teacher but he is excluded from play by the other bats, and retreats to cubbies to hide. In the cubbies he meets shy Ophelia, a young possum, and together they bravely join the class of other nocturnal animals and quickly settle into familiar routines and activities of the school "day." Young children will enjoy the similarities between their school experiences and Little Bat's and will laugh as Little Bat and his friends engage in imaginative play and form a classroom community. The illustrations are full of emotion and detail without being overwhelming. This will make a wonderful start of the year story to share to discuss inclusion, having a growth mindset, and making new friends. VERDICT Warm and engaging illustrations and a charming main character make this a winning and comforting title for a new school year audience.—John Scott, formerly at Friends Sch. of Baltimore

School Library Journal

2021-05-19
After a rough start, Little Bat’s first night at school is all he hoped it would be.

Little Bat is all ready for school. His supplies are laid out, including his new “batpack” with a rather leggy snack inside. He is so excited he can hardly sleep. But soon night falls, and it is time for Mama Bat to bring him to school. The school is bigger than Little Bat expected, but the teacher, a raccoon named Mrs. C., welcomes him right in. His classmates are all other night creatures: raccoons, owlets, a ferret, and some other bats who aren’t very friendly. When Little Bat flies into a cubby to hide, he finds another student hanging upside down too, an opossum named Ophelia. They become friends, and the rest of the night improves. The little creatures learn together, play together, and listen to a story until the sun starts to rise and it is time to go home. Lies’ distinct artistic style brings the characters to life, showcasing personalities, relationships, and action against a largely white background. The ups and downs of the classroom are captured with delicacy and sensitivity, a useful model of the changing social dynamics that can turn strangers to playmates and new adults into trusted teachers. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Quiet and hopeful, this animal-themed school story rings true. (Picture book. 4-6)

Kirkus Reviews