Stelaluna

by Janell Cannon

Overview

Knocked from her mother’s safe embrace by an attacking owl, Stellaluna lands headfirst in a bird’s nest. This adorable baby fruit bat’s world is literally turned upside down when she is adopted by the occupants of the nest and adapts to their peculiar bird habits. Two pages of notes at the end of the story provide factual information about bats. “Delightful and informative but never didactic; a splendid debut.”--Kirkus Reviews

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9788426128492
Publisher:	Lectorum Publications, Inc.
Publication date:	07/28/1998
Edition description:	Spanish-language edition
Pages:	342
Product dimensions:	10.26(w) x 10.22(h) x 0.37(d)
Language:	Spanish
Lexile:	600L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 8 Years

About the Author

Janell Cannon's picture books have won many awards and are beloved around the world. Before she became a full-time creator of books for children, she designed and produced summer reading programs at her local public library. Born and raised in Minnesota, Ms. Cannon now lives in Southern California.

Editorial Reviews

Stellaluna, a little brown bat, is accidentally dropped by her mother. The helpless baby falls smack into a nest of bird fledglings, and is immediately accepted as one of the family. Stellaluna tries to fit in, but keeps acting unbirdlike; hanging upside down and wanting to fly at night. By chance Stellaluna is reunited with her mother and finally learns to be proper bat. Cannon's breathtaking illustrations make this a gift-giving favorite.

Barnes & Noble Staff

With Janell Cannon's popular picture book as its main feature, this recording includes other stories on bats as wellHattie, the Backstage Bat by Don Freeman and narrator David Holt's version of Why the Bats Fly at Night. There's also a short, factual account of bats, followed by "Stellaluna's Theme," a brief piece of music that sounds like a folk lullaby. To hear Stellaluna read aloud is to realize just how much the illustrations contribute to its appeal in book form; it simply doesn't do well orally, despite David Holt's enthusiastic efforts. The other selections, accompanied by dim, disjointed strains of music, don't fare much betterespecially the part about "amazing bat facts" in which children are urged to set up their own bat houses in order to reduce the numbers of annoying insects in the air. "Wouldn't it be nice to have Stellaluna in your backyard?," Holt asks earnestly. Alas, his facts are wrong. Stellaluna doesn't eat insects; as a fruit bat she eats fruit. Those wishing to educate children about bats are advised to skip this effort in favor of the growing numbers of fine books on the subject.-Carol Katz, Harrison Public Library, NY

School Library Journal