Module 1: Bats at the Library

Citation:
Lies, Brian. Bats at the Library. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2008.

Summary:
This children's book, written and illustrated by Brian Lies, tells the story of a group of bats who spend their night in a library.  Throughout the night, bats of all ages find several activities to take part in, as well as many books and stories in which they become engrossed.  Activities include games, storytime, and book club discussions.  At the end of the book, the bats have to leave before day breaks, and all are disappointed to leave in the middle of all of their fun.

My Impressions:
This book appears to be a well written and illustrated book.  The book is written and illustrated in such a way that, even though the main characters are bats, children will be able to easily put themselves in the place of the younger bats.  The children will be able to recognize some of the classic children's stories represented in the book such as The Wizard of Oz and Little Red Riding Hood.  In addition, the rhyming scheme involved in the book makes the story flow easily and quickly.  Like the bats at the end of the story who are disappointed to see their night end, children will most likely be disappointed to see this story come to an end.

Suggestions for the use of this book:
This book can be used by parents in order to get their children excited about going to the library, and can be used by librarians in instructing children on using the library.

Reviews:
Lukehart, Wendy. "Bats at the Library." School Library Journal, November 1, 2008.
In this companion to Bats at the Beach (Houghton, 2006), Lies pays homage to the pleasures to be found within libraries and books. The story opens on three winged creatures clinging to an autumnal branch against the backdrop of evening. Observant readers will recognize the young bat with yellow "water wings" from the earlier title and notice that the chimney and trees at the top of the page point downward—a cue to attend to perspective. The bats are bored, but an antidote is announced: someone left a window open in the library. The golden glow from spotlights on the side of the building and an Arts and Crafts-style reading lamp illuminate the nocturnal adventures in this handsome, traditional space. The bats cluster according to interests. Some peruse "guides to fancy foods" (insect books) and form literary discussion groups. The younger mammals make images of themselves at the copier, frolic in the fountain, play at the computer, and explore the gingerbread castle in a pop-up book. An impromptu storytime brings everyone together, however, and after the pint-size protagonist is literally drawn into the featured book, two spreads reveal a montage of scenes from classic stories, with bats in the starring roles. Lies's acrylics are a successful fusion of fantasy and reality. The rhyming narrative is generally smooth, with enough humor and sophistication to propel readers along. And who can argue with the message?

Publisher's Weekly, August 2008.
Lies's (Bats at the Beach) much-lauded bats are back and the library's got themthanks to a window left open by an unsuspecting (or perhaps sympathetic) librarian. Although the young ones initially misbehave (they make photocopies of their bodies and turn the water fountain into a splash pool), Lies cuts them a little slack: It's hard to settle down and read/ when life flits by at dizzy speed. Story time settles everyone (upside-)down, and soon the furry creatures are completely swallowed up in books, giving Lies comic license to bat-tify the signature visuals from classics like Make Way For Ducklings; Pippi Longstocking; Goodnight, Moon and Peter Rabbit. As with its predecessor, this book's richly detailed chiaroscuro paintings find considerable humor at the intersection where bat and human behavior meet. But the author/artist outdoes himself: the library-after-dark setting works a magic all its own, taking Lies and his audience to a an intensely personal place.

Perkins, Linda. Booklist, October 15, 2008.
An open library window is an invitation for a colony of bats in this sequel to Bats at the Beach (2006). Once inside, older bats look for favorite books, while younger ones explore and play. Storytime settles everyone down and transports them into the tales, filled with bat characters playing new roles. The bat homage to classic children's books includes titles like Goodnight Sun, while images such as Little Red Riding Bat will amuse children who are familiar with the originals. The rhymed narrative serves primarily as the vehicle for the appealing acrylic illustrations that teem with bats so charming they will even win over chiroptophobes.