Bat in the Dining Room

by Crescent Dragonwagon

When a bat flies into a hotel restaurant, Melissa comes to the rescue.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Storytime

32 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 1996

About the author

Crescent Dragonwagon is the daughter of the writers Charlotte Zolotow and the late Hollywood biographer Maurice Zolotow. She is the author of 40 published books, including cookbooks, children's books, and novels. With her late husband, Ned Shank, Crescent owned the award-winning Dairy Hollow House, a country inn and restaurant in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, for eighteen years. She teaches writing coast to coast and is the co-founder (with Ned) of the non-profit Writers' Colony at Dairy Hollow.

Reviews

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally taken by the lilt of this book. I like the narrative, too. But what's the story behind Crescent Dragonwagon?

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bat in the Dining Room subtlely teaches the lesson about wildlife protection. When a bat mistakenly flies into a crowded hotel restaurant, everyone panics...except for one young girl, Melissa. Melissa realizes the bat is just as frightened as the guests and she calmly persuades the bat to fly out the emergency exit door. She is acutely aware of her surroundings, as she manages to calm the patron's fears and protect the bat.

Used for "Dream Big:READ! Storytime": July, 2012

[Sparrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was surprisingly cute. The illustrations were unique - every person looked so incredibly real, but also somewhat cartoonish. I loved the way the bat was drawn. I loved how the poetry flowed. And I loved the message.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly don't know why this book hasn't received higher reviews and more attention. I am just now discovering it at the ripe old age of "Grandma," and it literally brought me to tears. If you're an animal lover, if you once were that "weird" misunderstood kid who felt "too" much, was "too" sensitive, misunderstood, needed time in nature to recharge..if you're *still* that person as an adult, and/or you are raising such children, this book is for you. Crescent Dragonwagon was ahead of her time and I applaud her for this beautiful, thoughtful and humorous story which provides a gentle lesson on kindness and empathy. I'm buying a copy for each of my adult children, and one for myself.

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

When a bat flies in through an open window, a lakeside hotel dinning room erupts in chaos.

This book reflects the general public's irrational fear of bats.

The illustrations were done in colored pencil and watercolor on pastel paper.