Introducing the beloved classic of bats and birds featured in this week’s MaiStoryBook Library Collection:

“Stellaluna” by Janell Cannon

Book Synopsis and Review

Stellaluna is a baby…bat..?..bird? She eats bugs from Mama Bird and lives in a nest~she flies during the day and sleeps at night…but she also hangs upside down and bugs give her the shivers~she hangs by her thumbs on branches and can’t land gracefully on her feet~* This is Stellaluna. Separated from her mama fruit bat as a baby, Stellaluna found family and a home in a bird’s nest. However, as she struggles to fit in and adopt the “nest ways,” something doesn’t quite feel right. Even though she is similar to her bird brothers and sisters, Stellaluna feels different in some ways too. One day, having lost her bird siblings while out flying, Stellaluna meets a new family that shows her, her upside down world is actually the right side up~ for a bat that is! Join Stellaluna on her journey amongst birds and bats to find where she truly belongs*

A charming, heart-warming tale of friendship, belonging, and acceptance of differences, Stellaluna is a tale sure to enchant little ones as they find themselves immersed in the deep blue illustrations and surrounded by a world of birds and bats. Deemed “Teachers’ Top 100 Books for Children” by the National Education Association, this book is applaudable not just for its theme of acceptance, but for its delve into the realm of science. The perfect book for learning about bats, the story is sure to spark conversation comparing and contrasting birds and bats and other flying creatures. So huddle up with your little ones, wrap yourselves up in the *wings* of your blankets, and prepare to enter a realm of wonder!

Vocabulary List

• Sultry (p. 2) hot and humid
• Clutched (p. 5) held onto very tightly
• Clambered (p. 13) climbed
• Peculiar (p. 27) strange, odd
• Mused (p. 41) wondered, to think about

Themes/Main Ideas

• Celebrating Differences: Our differences make us unique, but our similarities help us connect. Even though we are different, we can find things in common with others to help us become friends.
• Compare/Contrast Bats and Birds: Using details from the story, discuss how bats and birds are similar and how they are different.

YouTube Video: Guided Shared-Reading Read Aloud Example

Example of a shared-reading Read Aloud of “Stellaluna” – how to subtly introduce the vocabulary list words within the text, ask guided questions, and spark conversation!

*~Check it Out~*

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“Boo”-tiful Black Bat Crafts

*It’s a bird!~No, it’s a bat!~ No wait, it’s a….?* ~ One thing I most look forward to is sharing my favorite childhood storybooks with my own children one day~ Joining them on the journey to discovering my own worlds of fantasy and imagination growing up is a dream! Stellaluna was a beloved favorite in my house growing up. This tiny little bat made a Large impression! Days were spent on the play structure and jungle gyms, climbing the bars to hang upside down, wrapping my sweater around my arms and torso to mimic a baby bat. Scarves became my wings as I would glide around the backyard, transforming between a bat and a bird on a whim. Want to welcome your little one to this flying world of fun? Start off with this “Boo”-tiful Black Bat Craft to put you in the perfect *batty* mood~*

Materials

• Toilet paper roll
• 2 pieces of black construction paper
• 2 googly eyes
• White puffy paint/glitter glue
• A small branch
• Black pie cleaner (I used a white one and painted it black)
• Tape
• Glue
• Scissors

Directions

• Cut out a rectangle of black construction paper that is the same height as the toilet paper roll for the body of the bat. Roll the paper around the toilet paper roll and tape or glue into place.
• Fold the second black paper in half and cut out a pair of bat shaped wings. Glue or tape the wings to the back of the toilet paper roll body.

• Cut out two small triangles for the ears of the bat. Glue them to the top-inside-front of the toilet paper roll body.
• Next, using bottled glue or your glue puffy paint, glue on the two google eyes.
• Use the white puffy paint/glitter glue to draw on a mouth
  • Painting on two additional little fangs is optional.

• Then, for the legs, cut the black pipe cleaner in half and tape the two pieces separately to the bottom- front- inside of the body of the bat.
• Wait for your bat to dry before attaching it to your mini stick from your *nature walk.”
  • To attach to the stick, use the pipe cleaner legs to twist firmly around the branch.

Enjoy your “Boo”-tiful Black Bat Craft!

• Re-read the story with your black bat reading buddy!
• Take your bat on a Halloween neighborhood walk to show it the spooky Halloween decor. Maybe your bat will see or meet another bat friend in the neighborhood!
• Prop up your black bat craft around the house as the perfect festive Halloween decor!
• Use the craft time opportunity to talk more about bats, and discuss any further wonderings your child may have~

*~Overall, have some *batty* fun comparing bats and birds, and creating your very own upside-down hanging black bat craft. Please comment below  – tag me on Instagram @MaiStoryBookLibrary  – or post on FaceBook to share your photos of your own *Boo*-tiful Black Bat crafts and your own read aloud adventures! I’d love to hear from you!~*

*Check Back on Next Friday for our New Reading Adventure*

*~Until next time, Happy Reading~*