Vacation: Three-and-a-Half Stories

Bat, Cat & Rat #2

by Ame Dyckman, Mark Teague (Illustrator)

In the second book in the Bat, Cat & Rat picture book series from New York Times bestsellers Ame Dyckman and Mark Teague, the roommates try to compromise on vacation plans in three-and-a-half sweet and silly stories.

Bat, Cat, and Rat decide they need a vacation, but planning a trip is no picnic. Conflicts, compromise, and some well-meaning pranks ensue as prep work brings out the trio’s mischievous side.

In “Working,” Bat, Cat, and Rat discover their Vacation Jar is empty, and set off working odd jobs to save up funds. But Rat believes that all work and no play is no fun at all—and he knows just the way to fix that.

In “Choosing,” the trio can’t decide where to go on their vacation. Bat wants an adventure, Cat wants some R&R, and Rat just wants everyone to stop bickering about it.

In “Vacationing,” Rat takes the vacation planning into his own hands. Will he be able to come up with a compromise that makes everyone happy?

Bat, Cat, and Rat’s dynamic friendship and amusing antics are sure to have readers laughing.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Friendship, Fiction, Childrens, Humor, Juvenile

48 pages, Hardcover

First published May 21, 2024

Reviews

[Kelly]

This was better than the first one, which is a hard thing to do often! I loved the repetition to make it an early reader, and I loved the problem solving-ish we got. So nice to see the problem character make a great solution.

[DaNae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done Dyckman, Teague and Geisel. Hilarious both in text and illustration. The repeated sound groups will make this a favorite to return to again and again for emerging readers. That silly and wiley rat put an exclamation point on stay-cation.

[Susannah Goldstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super fun

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the second book in the Bat, Cat & Rat picture book series from New York Times bestsellers Ame Dyckman and Mark Teague, the roommates try to compromise on vacation plans in three-and-a-half sweet and silly stories.

Bat, Cat, and Rat decide they need a vacation, but planning a trip is no picnic. Conflicts, compromise, and some well-meaning pranks ensue as prep work brings out the trio’s mischievous side.

In “Working,” Bat, Cat, and Rat discover their Vacation Jar is empty, and set off working odd jobs to save up funds. But Rat believes that all work and no play is no fun at all—and he knows just the way to fix that.

In “Choosing,” the trio can’t decide where to go on their vacation. Bat wants an adventure, Cat wants some R&R, and Rat just wants everyone to stop bickering about it.

In “Vacationing,” Rat takes the vacation planning into his own hands. Will he be able to come up with a compromise that makes everyone happy?

Bat, Cat, and Rat’s dynamic friendship and amusing antics are sure to have readers laughing.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can a bat, cat, and rat agree on where to go for vacation? You'll see it is nearly impossible!

As a reader, I loved the humor and also the way the illustrations perfectly complemented the written words.The illustrations are big and bold, and our youngest readers will love them (as did this not-so-young reader). Don't you just love a book that, when you finish it, you realize you've been smiling and chortling through the whole book?

As an educator, I reread the story and wondered about the possibilities for reading and writing lessons. There are too many to list, but I will mention a few possibilities:

-Using great vocabulary (destination, bickering) effectively and not making every word decodable. (Great opportunities for discussion about also nuance for older writers: bickering vs. arguing or fighting.)

-Opportunities for discussions about tags and how to use 'said' and 'asked' often and other tags sparingly.

I am definitely going to read the other books in this series and recommend them to the young readers and writers I work with each week!

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bat, Cat, & Rat the 3 animal friends who share a home, are ready for a vacation. As usual they don't agree on where to go. In this Three-and-a Half Stories sequel, the friends realize they don't have any money for their vacation. The author Ame Dyckman comes up with a wise solution, they need to work to save money for their vacation. Mark Teague's wondrous illustrations of the trio babysitting, painting, and washing cars or maybe that's a cat, keep the story fun. I especially enjoyed their babysitting job with the little crocodiles. The pictures bring the story alive! Listeners will enjoy their unexpected vacation compromise. This is a clever sequel that will keep young listeners alert through visual surprising results. Vacation is so entertaining, they will want to predict the surprising ending.

[Ms. B · Rating 4 out of 5]

2025 Geisel Award winner; the Honor books were Fox versus Fox and Towed by Toad. This is a delightful early chapter book about three good friends; bat, cat and rat and their staycation. To add to the fun, view the YouTube video of the author reading it.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

In three-and-a-half short chapters, Bat, Cat, and Rat earn the money required to go on vacation. Rat continues to pull pranks before getting his comeuppance. Unfortunately, the three can't agree on where to go on vacation. Can they find a compromise or is their vacation doomed before it even begins. Combining simple, yet expressive text and Teague's appealing illustrations, Vacation presents readers with a collection of fun stories about the ups and downs of friendship. Surprisingly profound lessons can be found in this amusing set of related stories. Themes related to work and compromise shine through nicely. The rhyming names makes for a catchy and fun read-a-loud. Fun for independent reading and story times.

[Mother Goose Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

2025 Geisel Winner

Vacation: Three-and-a-half Stories written by Ame Dyckman and illustrated by Mark Teague is the second book in the Bat, Cat & Rat picture book serieS. Bat, Cat, and Rat decide that they need a vacation but the vacation jar is empty. So, they get to work but when they can’t decide where to vacation, Rat takes matters into his own hands. Told in 3 1/2 stories with repetition and humor, Dyckman captures early readers’ attention and helps them on their journey into reading. Teague’s illustrations are imaginative and helpful and supportive of the text. They were rendered in acrylics. Although this is the second book in the series, readers do not necessarily need to read the first book. Vacation will be a fun read for beginning readers or an entertaining read aloud.

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bat, Cat, and Rat are still roomies in this second book. They worked hard and want to go on vacation, but cannot agree on where to go. Bat wants Outer Space. Cat wants the Spa. Rat wants the Buffet. While Cat and Rat bicker about their preferences, Rat goes to the store and uses their vacation fund to purchase what they need for a staycation that will make each one happy. Little details like Rat changing the Car Wash sign to Cat Wash and eating cat's spa cucumber slices will give readers a reason to go back and reread.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good rhyme and phonics reader, but it has alot of harder to read words in it for someone who is just at early reader level. I think kids cold skip or learn these harder words (bickering for example) but it does make me stake a star off because it's not all the same -AT sound and includes too complex words for a true reader level. The story is what you expect in a reader. Animals and not much plot.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Today this title won the Theodore Geisel award given by the American Library Association for the best beginning reader in 2024. Finding an ebook in my library consortium I just read it. Hysterical wanting to go on vacation with an empty fund jar, bat, cat, and rat bicker about where they are going. This adult thought it was great, three unlikely characters, and Mark Teague’s illustrations gave me some laughs. Hopefully some overworked parents will laugh at this one.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bat Cat and Rat love their cozy home. They are ready to plan a vacation, but have no money, so they will need to go to work. Their jobs don't go as expected. Then, they can't choose where to go as each has a different idea. When they start to bicker, Rat has a plan.

Three and a half stories make Vacation a fun book. An early reader will enjoy the chapter book format, especially the simple text combined with the daring illustrations. I loved it.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cat, Rat, and Bat want to go on vacation. They don’t have any money for it. So they work hard and soon have enough. But where to go? Bat wants to go to Outer Space and Cat wants to go to the spa, and neither is willing to budge. Can Rat come up with a happy compromise?

A simple easy chapter book with touches of humor in the situations and the illustrations. I like how Rat is a peacemaker/problem solver.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bat, Cat, and Rat, want to take a vacation but they need the money to do it. Working hard to fill their jar with coins, once achieved, the three just cannot agree on where to go nor what to do. Their bickering doesn't cease, so rat takes matters into his own hands. How will they come to a compromise?

This was a cute read and and not at all surprising how they bicker to try to come to an agreement. The resolution was a good example of problem solving to meet everyone's needs.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

2025 Geisel Award Winner

Solid early reader that will engage reluctant readers with its humorous artwork and story by well-known author and illustrator. It's not simple to write an early reader story that uses natural language patterns for fluent reading aloud and a good plot to enhance comprehension and motivate that page turn. Kudos!

[Amy Oberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Publication Date: 2024
Format: Early reader chapter book (fiction)
Elements: 4 short stories told in limited text; rhyming character names; simple plot that "builds" with a clever ending
Connection/Topics: Work vs. vacation, saving, problems/solutions, conflict/compromise

*Winner of the 2025 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award
(Author Ame Dyckman and illustrator Mark Teague)

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award (2025)
When the three characters agree that they need a vacation, they work together to raise money. Cat & Bat bicker over where to go. Rat solves the problem by buying what they need so they can each have their ideal vacation.
Cute.

[Ellon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars (I liked it)

This one is definitely a book for early readers. Lots of repetition to help them out. I found some of the tricks they played on one another to be a little mean. I did like the way Rat solved their problem using a unique compromise.

[Maria Rowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

• 2025 Geisel Winner •

Exceptionally beautiful illustrations. The story was good. But I wish all three had come together to find a solution - not just Rat taking it upon himself.

Materials used: acrylics

Typeface used: Guzzo

[Sydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read because it won the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for 2025.

A bat, cat, and rat get up to goofy shenanigans while earning money for a vacation. They learn that a staycation is the best vacation, spending time together at home and doing things they all love and enjoy together.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
Bat, Cat and Rat are housemates. They are planning a vacation but no one wants to do the same thing. They get jobs and earn money. They fight over the money until Rat comes up with a vacation solution that pleases everyone.

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the line: there was bickering. Isn’t that always the case in vacation planning? Also always the case in vacation planning - an empty vacation jar - gotta work to fill it up! Cute surprise at the end. Fun easy reader series.

[Michele Knott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this early chapter book series! Decodable text and a funny plot. Perfect for readers who are stretching their stamina!

[kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

meh

[Beau Manglass · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple and fun story about friendship, big dreams, hard work, and compromise.

Winner of the Geisel Award 2025.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3

2025 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun beginnning reader. 2025 Geisel winnerl