Megabat Megastar

Megabat #5

by Anna Humphrey, Kris Easler (Illustrator)

Megabat wants to help his Daniel earn some money. But how? Easy! Become a STAR. The next laugh-out-loud book in this sweet and funny chapter book series featuring a talking bat.

Daniel's allowance is not going to cover the cost to fix his dad's phone screen, which he and Megabat broke. And he is out of ideas.

Megabat has a GREAT become famous! Famous people have lots of money.

Daniel is also grounded, and being stuck inside is pretty boring.

Megabat has no time to spend with bored Daniel, he's too busy learning the skill that will make him famous and rich.

Daniel really doesn't like Megabat's new catchphrase, or his fancy new hairdo.

Megabat will show him!

When Megabat takes things too far and ruins Daniel's mom's dinner party with his "magic show," chaos ensues . . . and Daniel is not too happy. And Megabat learns there are some things that are more important than fame and riches. Kris Easler's adorable illustrations paired with Anna Humphrey's hilarious text make for another unforgettable Megabat adventure, one that will appeal to Megabat fans and newcomers!

Genres: Middle Grade

192 pages, Hardcover

Published July 25, 2023

About the author

Anna Humphrey is the author of Rhymes with Cupid (HarperTeen, 2010), Mission (Un)Popular (Disney/Hyperion Books for Children, 2011), Ruby Goldberg's Bright Idea (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2014) and Clara Humble & the Not-So-Super Powers (OwlKids Books, 2016)—all books for young readers. She lives in Kitchener, Ontario with her husband and kids.

Reviews

[Erin Cataldi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Before you lambast me for the low rating, I want to preface a few things - I am not the target audience for this book, I do not read elementary novels like this AND I have never read any other books in this series. Those factors contributed to this lower than normal rating! The illustrations were a highlight for me and I think the little cast of characters is fun. I don't love that Megabat talks like a backwards heathen and nothing is ever spelled right. I get the intent behind that, but it grated on my nerves after a while. I think the premise kids will love. There is some naughtiness, some accidents, and lots of fun. And again the illustrations are fantastic. It kind of reminded me of Howliday Inn and Bunnicula. I wish I would have enjoyed this more, I'm just an old bitter millennial, lmao.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

There sure is no character like Mega Bat, and the fun friendship he has with Daniel. In Mega Star, there's an accident, a mission, and hijinks ensue, with gross out moments which will be silly for kids. I have not read the others in this series, so I don't know the meaning behind Mega Bat's horrible grammar. I figured Humphrey wants to show his unique comedic way of speaking. Yes, an English teacher's nightmare (which I am). This can be an opportunity for children to correct his mistakes (your not yourses, think not thinkses). Or, they can just enjoy his style, and forget the lesson.😊🙃 Clever of Humphrey to create his own language, with made up words based on what he hears like dust-gusting, mini-kwirls, and celery chef. Children will get a laugh over the different pronunciations. The illustrations are fantastic, especially of Mega Bat. His special character really comes through.
I won this in a LibraryThing giveaway for my LFL (Verobeach Little Free Library).

[Allison O'Hern · Rating 4 out of 5]

Number five in the Mega Bat series, Mega Bat Mega Star is about Mega Bat trying to raise money for Daniel after they break his dad's phone screen. Mega Bat attempts to do different things to become famous, however things don't go as planned and he realizes it's more about making people happy than becoming rich.

Overall I thought this was a cute book, more geared towards second grade or so. My 8 year old and 12 year old both read it and the reading level was at a good level for my 8 year old. However my greatest downside was the made up words and "cutesy" way of speaking. I found it confused my 8 year old more than anything since she wasn't familiar with what the words meant. The illustrations were cute and it has a good message overall. If your child has read this series and is familiar with the way of speaking they will enjoy this book.

Thanks to Tundra Penguin Random House for the free copy.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank y0u to NetGalley for allowing me to read the book before publication!

Megabat and his good friend, Daniel, are at it again! This time Megabat wants to become a star like their favorite musician who also has a breakfast cereal. Megabat becomes hyperfocused on this task and sends the family in a tailspin in the process. Megabat and his dear Pigeon try to smooth things over, but cause more trouble. Daniel explains to Megabat how friendship works and how his choices hurt Daniel's feelings.

I could not love these characters more and I am so happy there is another installment coming soon!
My students will love this title as much as the previous titles. This tiny bat hits all the points for humor and heart!

[Alexandria Zeigler Schramm · Rating 4 out of 5]

"MegaBat Megastar" is a delightful children's book that my family enjoyed. The illustrations are charming and really bring the characters to life, making the story visually engaging for my young readers. The positive messages about friendship and the consequences of seeking fame add depth to the narrative, making it more than just an entertaining read. MegaBat and Daniel's relationship is heartwarming, and the book strikes a good balance between humor and valuable life lessons. While some may find MegaBat's unique language quirky, I found it added a playful touch to the story, making it even more enjoyable. Overall, "MegaBat Megastar" is a well-crafted and imaginative book that I would happily recommend to young readers and their families.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, I have a thing about bats and thought this book sounded cute. It looked and sounded like it was geared towards younger children but the story itself is quite involved and would not hold the attention of young children for very long. The illustrations are fun and cute. The language is what tripped me up. I'm in words acute made-up words are fun for young children. It grabs and holds their attention, can spark imagination, and can even help them learn. But this book does not seem to geared toward children that young and quite honestly, the bad grammar is simply that, bad grammar. The book does have good lessons, some good morals, but overall I struggled with this story.

[Rachel Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the whole Megabat series, and this new book was another great read! In this book, Megabat wants to help Daniel get money to repair Daniel's father's phone screen. He has a great idea to earn money - becoming famous! Because he figures that famous people have lots of money! But, he soon learns that fame is fickle, which means that you can't count on it to happen. Plus, there are more important things than becoming famous anyway, like being there for your friends. I thought this story had a great message. I also really liked the characters, the drawings, and the pace of the story. I can't wait for the next Megabat to come out!

[Haley Giovannetti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this children’s book! I know many reviews give it slack for the grammar but personally I think the way the grammar is specifically for megabat is perfect and adds so much to his character and children will absolutely eat that up! Megabat is a cute character and the way he loves his boy and does what he can to make him happy is so cute. The story is written so well and is fun for both kids and their adults! This author has a way to make you laugh, while also showing real life! I was given an ARC copy in return for an honest review, these are my honest thoughts!

[Scooby2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute book with great illustrations and a great cast of characters, no one is quite like Megabat. This is book five in the series and has a great message for everyone who reads it. Megabat learns the importance of friendship and how fame isn’t all that great. I found this book to be adorable and think it would make a great addition to anyone’s library. I look forward to sharing this with my niece and nephews.

I give this book 4 stars.

This review is based on a copy I won from LibraryThing for an honest review.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really, REALLY disappointed that the author chose a different illustrator for this book. The original artist who had done the other books was phenomenal and she made Megabat look so adorable. This new artist had a very generic style, which was often borderline annoying. She kept putting Megabat way in the back of the picture and his face was not nearly as cute as it had been in the other books. The story was OK, but it didn't grab me like the other books. I love Megabat though. He reminds me so much of Grogu from Star Wars.

[Engel Dreizehn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc Copy...the adorable little talking fruit bat is back! It was cute and adorable to see Megabat not only carry out his stardom plan but also to see heart warming interactions with other characters like the baby in the super market and the "humble" yet talented musician telling him about the up and downs of being a real musician.

[Mandy Kell · Rating 4 out of 5]

MegaBat Megastar is a delightful story that highlights owning your mistakes, taking charge of difficult situations, and the value of true friendships over the fleeting applause of the public. Megabat is adorable and curious and Daniel is a wonderful companion for the spunky talking bat. I think this book is a great choice for elementary readers.

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the premise and message of this (i.e. fame is not as important as making people happy) and Megabat is a rather endearing character but the “bat language” really grated at me, especially the use of ‘kwirls’ in the text like it was a real word.

Thank you to Tundra Books who kindly sent me a copy for review.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book to review. It was just an okay read. I get that it is about a bat that can talk and act human like. However, the misspelling and wrong word pronouncing from Megabat were annoying. Maybe if I was younger I would have given it a better rating.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My family loves and owns all the Megabats. We liked this one as well. Megabat is always adorable. Kids asked to start at the beginning of the series again once they learned there wasn’t another one after it ❤️

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never going to get enough! I really loved Megabat’s enjoyment of putting food on the conveyor belt at the grocery store in this one. I just think this is such a cute series for elementary school. I always recommend

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I recognize I am not the audience for this book, and perhaps that's why I didn't like it. I just found it hard to get into. The main character of the bat was annoying at best. The story line wasn't all that engaging.

[Sharon Tacon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This latest entry in the Megabat series is silly, funny and cute. Megabat is a little agent of chaos who will certainly appeal to young readers. With an engaging plot and vocabulary, it’s best for middle grades. I received a review copy through librarything.com #ReadTundra

[Mande Garrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was cute for a middle grade. Illustrations were great. The only thing that had gotten to about the story was how the bat talked. When you think of bats talking you would think of Batty in the movie Fern Gully. It would’ve made the character more enjoyable.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never would have thought the girls and I would literally be rolling with laughter at a puking pigeon but here we are. Hilarious book as always, thoroughly enjoyed every second of it.

[Marlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

My daughter and I both enjoyed this book. However, I didn’t find it as engaging and captivating as the previous books. Cute and fun.

[Elexndra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story about megabat and his friends! Library borrow

[Stephanie (Gorelenore) Cover2CoverBlog · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Megabat series is a really fun one for beginning/youth readers. It is pretty easy to read, and the stories are fun and adventurous. Like the others in the series, you don't need to have read the last ones to follow along. It would help but not really necessary.

Megabat is a fruit bat that lives with Daniel, they also have other pet and animal friends in the house and yard, and they get into all sorts of adventures/ problems with. In this installment Megabat is trying to help Daniel raise money to replace Dad's phone because they broke it. Communication problems and Megabats understanding of the human world made it hard for him to understand how to become famous... so that he can make money and he tries to become famous during Mom's dinner party. It does not go well.

I think that these books are really cute, but my ongoing issue is that Megabat's speech isn't great and as a new readers/learner I feel like this might cause some problems. I like that the little bat is the main character though, it is a fun way to tell a story.

Overall - super cute, love following the animals, some of the bat-talk might be confusing to learners.