Thursday, January 24, 2008

Nannys Bookshelf

Halloween, Hill Country and bat books for fall

by Cathy Lovelady, Nanny's Bookshelf

Austin may be the “City of Bats” but we have our share out here in the Hill Country, too. Why not take some time to read about these fascinating animals with your children? You can kill two birds with one stone (pardon this expression, please, I don't mean it literally - I mean I've never killed a bird, really! And besides, bats are mammals!) and get some reading in with some interesting facts about this local favorite.

“Bat Loves the Night” is a fact book that reads like a story and children like to hear it again and again. Written by Nicole Davies and illustrated by Sarah Fox-Davies, this is a great nighttime read aloud book with poetic language and beautiful pictures.

You can love the night and take a nighttime walk around your neighborhood. Notice the insects that a bat might snack on. You can look for good places for a bat to live too, like holes in trees, under eaves and bridges. What would make it a better place for bats to live?

Still hungry for more facts? Try “Zipping, Zapping, and Zooming Bats” by Anne Earle and illustrated by Henry Cole. This book is full of information about one of the most misunderstood animals. This has a fun quality and goes beyond the dry paragraph or two in an encyclopedia. In the back there are plans for a bat house you can build at home.

If you like the idea of hosting a colony of bats, there are other options. Bat Conservation International, founded by Merlin D. Tuttle right here in Austin, has plans available on its website, batcon.org. The website is full of interesting info and pictures of bats.

The most famous bat in children's literature is probably Stellaluna, from Janell Cannon's “Stellaluna.” It is about a bat who loses her mother to an owl and falls into a nest of birds. She struggles with her identity but comes to love and accept herself as she is, with all her differences.

You and your child can make plenty of bats to fly on the trees in front of your house. Take some black or brown paper and fold it in half. Cut out the shape of half a bat body and one wing with the fold in the middle. Unfold your bat, poke holes in each wing and tie with a piece of string. Hang them from trees for a spooky decoration.

For a fun take on the life of a bat, there is “Bill the Bat Loves Halloween,” by Daryl K. Cobb with pictures by Manuela Pentangelo. This rhyming story about a bat who gets into mischief on Halloween night is not realistic, but more like reading a cartoon. If you have a reluctant reader around, this might be a hit.

Try making up your own story about a bat. Let your child come up with a name and something silly the bat might do to get in trouble at your house on Halloween. Then they can draw pictures of the story to decorate the front windows of your house.

Bill the Bat Finds His Way Home is a hardcover rhyming children's picture book about a lost bat and his search for home. The animals in Bill the Bat view the world from a human perspective and try to problem solve. This book is beautifully illustrated by Italian artist Manuela Pentangelo and told in a rhythmic cadence that makes this story as much fun for mom and dad as it does for the children. Manuela Pentangelo creates a bat like no other. Bill is a Disney style character dressed with aerial goggles and radar. The story is cleverly written by Daryl K. Cobb and is the first in a series of Bill the bat stories. An amusing tale for children ages 0 to 8.

--Joanne Salimbeno

Bill the Bat Loves Halloween is a hardcover rhyming children's picture book that features a goofy bat named Bill and his friend Al the owl. The animals in Bill the Bat view the world from a human perspective. This book is beautifully illustrated by Italian artist Manuela Pentangelo and told in a rhythmic cadence that makes this story as much fun for mom and dad as it does for the children. Manuela Pentangelo creates a bat like no other. Bill is a Disney style character dressed with aerial goggles and radar. The story is well written by Daryl K. Cobb and is the second in a series of Bill the bat stories. An amusing tale for children ages 0 to 8.

--Joanne Salimbeno

Daddy Did I Ever Say? I Love You, Love You, Every Day is a rhyming picture book written by Daryl K. Cobb. This is a very special story that captures the essence of what makes the father- child relationship different from that of mother and child. Beautifully illustrated by Traci Van Wagoner, the colors jump off the pages. This story will leave you with a smile on your face. It is perfect for children 0 to 8.

--Joanne Salimbeno

Daniel Dinosaur is a hardcover rhyming children's picture book about Daniel Dinasaur and his search for his missing sister. The animals in Daniel Dinosaur view the world from a human perspective and try to problem solve. This book is beautifully illustrated by Italian artist Carla F. Castagno and told in a rhythmic cadence that makes this story as much fun for mom and dad as it does for the children. The story is cleverly written by Daryl K. Cobb and is the first in a series of Daniel stories. An amusing tale for children ages 0 to 8. Counting with Daniel Dinasaur Coming in 2008

--Joanne Salimbeno