Batty

by Sarah Dyer (Illustrator)

Batty's efforts to impress visitors at the zoo fail, but he is determined to be popular like the other animals. First he goes to the penguin pool but the water is cold and he doesn't like fish. Then he tries the gorilla enclosure but he doesn't have any fleas for the gorillas to pick off him. He tries to laze in the sun with the lions but its far too bright for his sensitive eyes. When eventually he returns to his bat cave he finds that everyone else is trying to be like him, hanging upside down. This clever and witty story is brought to life with Batty's upside down view of his surroundings, involving the reader in turning the book upside down with him. With its warm-hearted theme it is sure to delight readers young and old.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Storytime, Fiction, Friendship

32 pages, Hardcover

First published February 28, 2011

Reviews

[Kaethe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Cute concept: the bat at the zoo wants more attention and goes around checking out the other critters, and some of the pages you have to turn upside down to see from the bat's point of view. We're fond of bats, so this should have been a five-stara hit.

But the bat goes to see the gorillas, and the great, big gorilla adults are covered in chimpanzee-looking young monkeys with long tails. As if baby gorillas had long tails that dropped off when they reached maturity. And then the bat goes to see the lions, and it's three big males only. I'm no expert on primates of big cats, but I'm pretty sure that three mature males is just not an appropriate grouping.

I'm not normally a stickler for accuracy in a picture book. Both Batty and Where's Walrus? depict zoos of a kind I've never seen in real life, with tiny enclosures and no hint of an attempt at habitat. And I'm okay with an outdated stereotype of a zoo. But I'm not okay with casually mixing up different families of primates, and the tail thing about made my head explode.

No doubt most people would read this book and not think twice. And most people reading my review will think I'm over-reacting. But out there in the world I know there must be someone else who is just as upset as I am that someone would call a tailed monkey a gorilla; someone else who can never forgive the Reys for calling a chimpanzee a monkey. Kids absorb and retain so much knowledge, I think we owe it to them not to be this sloppy.

Library copy.

[Kendra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this one on one wouldn't be as fun as with a group-the book has to be turned upside-down (or is it right side up?) in order to be read in some spots. It wold be a riot to do that will preschoolers.

[Tracy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is o.k.,,, but I found the illustrations a little off putting. I hate to be critical, but this one isn't one I would use in story time for now. It might grow on me though.

[Edward Sojuwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one might have been yet another fable about "kind should be with kind" and this alone would have raised bad signals. However as it turns out, it ain't like that at all. Batty is a winged bat who needs friends in his zoo area. He tries to hang with the lions, tigers and bears, but oh my, the trouble this causes his bat senses! Sun gets into his eyes too much, and the ruckus in the flea circus hurts his ears. (Bat hearing, BTW, is very sharp, even when tiny fleas pop out of tiny cannons into tiny safety nets!) But only when Batty is more himself by simply hangin' as, well, bats usually do on trees, can the other animals show him how they appreciate his efforts at friendship. Sometimes courage comes from, not playing the "Batman", but by being yourself as a way of "batting down" walls that separate us and befriending those you never thought would be friends. It's a concept big enough to send a Batman like ADAM.....West? Lol!
Four stars
Batty up!!!

[Emily McKnight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary: This is a story of a boisterous bat who wants the attention he sees the other animals receiving. He finds himself in the places of other animals , never quite fitting in with their habitats and lifestyles. In an upside down view , the bat finds his place.

Personal Response : This book tells perfectly the story of how important it is to 'be yourself'. Trying so hard to be like everyone else , and failing, is what it took for him to realize people admired him in the exact spot he always belonged.

[Hannah Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cute story that has a strong message about the importance of being yourself. Batty feels like no one likes his exibit as much as all the other animals at the zoo, so he runs around all day trying to fit in with different animals. When none of them work out he goes home and see all the animals there trying the be like him. This story also has some animal facts like, bats hang upside down, penguins like to be in the cold, and lions like to be warm.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't decide if this would be a good addition to my "bat" themed preschool story time or not. The illustrations are cute, but there are several that may be distracting (e.g. a long-tailed monkey on a gorilla's back, which just looks odd). Really, the biggest distraction is that half the illustrations are upside down (as if from Batty's perspective while he hangs). While the concept is okay, it may make it hard to read out loud to a big group.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bat who doesn't get much attention at the zoo tries to join in on what the other animals are doing, but can't manage it. Eventually, the other animals come to him and try hanging upside down from tree branches like he does. My four-year-old was perplexed about why some of the text was upside down, and I got to explain that that was so we would be better able to imagine what it is like to see things from a bat's perspective.

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Batty tries joining other more popular animals at the zoo.

This picture book includes illustrations from a bat’s upside down perspective that requiring the reader to turn the book upside down, which is a clever touch.

The morals are 1) it’s best to be oneself and 2) it’s possible to make friends with those who are very different from oneself.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not an especially exciting storytime book, but my preschool crew enjoyed that I "had to" flip the book upside down every few spreads so that things looked right side up to them, and I think it's worth using for that.

[Sparrow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting illustration and set up, but not the greatest story.

[Christina Reid · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this artist's Five Little Fiends so picked this up in the library today. Batty is a cute main character and the concept was fun, but it ended rather abruptly.
2.5 stars.

[Kareena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fine for a bat storytime, but not amazing. Would be great as a story on the wall because seeing the pictures would make it more entertaining.

[Shabooyah · Rating 2 out of 5]

did not choose for storytime because book was not entertaining

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite book. Batty is a bat at the zoo that wants to be more popular and tries to blend in at other animal exhibits. When that doesn't work, he returns to his tree and discovers the other animals are hanging upside down in it. The concept has been done before and better with Edward the Emu. This book is hard to read as the text is right side up for the majority of the book but the pictures are from Batty's point of view--upside down. Instead of helping the story, this detracted from it for me.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simpler, more child-like drawings that children may relate to. Funny to see things from Batty's perspective. Cute (slightly cheesy) ending--but a fabulous twist to the reading! Could be fun in storytime, though I don't think I'd do it justice. I would prefer to use it in a lap-read or give it as a read-alone.

P.S. I liked knowing that the book was set in England when the first page had the "Way Out" sign. I love that. :-)

[Melissa]

One little bat came out to fly
in a moonlit nighttime sky
yummy bugs were everywhere!
"Won't you join me? We can share!"

Five little bats came out to fly
in a moonlit nighttime sky
yummy bugs, they ate a ton!
then flew home when night was done.

[s e n t i m e n t a l i t i e s olittlebear · Rating 1 out of 5]

Library book I won't be buying. Never mind inaccurate and unrealistic depictions of the creatures and habitats, the overall storyline was ridiculous, and boring to boot. Nothing redeeming in this children's picture book.

[Zatika · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore the illustration! A story about accepting yourself and making friends. Everyone is special in their own ways, including you, Batty!

On a separate note, I think animals shouldn't be kept in captivity but it would be pretty hard to put penguins and lions in one story, don't you think?

[Michele Cirrincione · Rating 1 out of 5]

The concept was there but did not follow through. This story ended abruptly. I felt it difficult to read (up or down?). If you want a book that the main character is looking for their talent, I suggest "Penguin's Hidden Talents."

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Batty several silly attempts to makes new friends at the zoo seems pointless. Maybe he is just to different from the other animals to hang out with them.

[Connie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Summer reading theme book.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely a case of the art being more interesting the story.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute. Themes: Loneliness - Individuality - Self-Acceptance - Friendship. Recommended for ages 6 & up.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Familiar story of an individual who tries to be everyone else until he learns that just being himself is best. This one is set in a zoo and stars a bat.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Clever layout, sweet ending and funny animals. Batty (the character) is very cute (and the book is too).

[Ardis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't really like the style of illustration.

[Erin (work) · Rating 5 out of 5]

love love love this book's illustrations

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bat makes friends at the zoo after visiting other animal enclosures.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story. I like the artist's use of the bat's upside down perspective.