Bat's Big Game

Plot Summary

The Animals and Birds are getting ready for the big game. Bat wants to WIN WIN WIN— which team will he play on?

The Animals look strong and fast, so Bat picks that side. A bat has fur and teeth, after all. But when the Animals fall behind, Bat switches to the Bird team—doesn’t a bat have wings? Maybe the Birds will win!

Silly Bat learns a lesson about team spirit in this lively tale retold by renowned storyteller Margaret Read MacDonald. Artist Eugenia Nobati’s animals add plenty of style and fun.

Reviews

"Stylized but easily identifiable, the rubber-limbed animals in Nobati’s digitally generated illustrations sport team jerseys and dash energetically about a rustic pitch, showing a visual energy that reflects the author’s characteristically quick-cadenced telling." Kirkus Reviews

"The text incorporates font and punctuation cues to inspire lively read-alouds, and the colorful, stylized digital illustrations feature animated soccer action and comical characters. Kids will find Bat’s escapades entertaining, and they may also appreciate the lessons in loyalty and sportsmanship."
Booklist

"A note provides a brief history of this tale-type, noting it originated with Aesop with versions found in many cultures including Native American and Japanese. This is an engaging variation on its own, with opportunity for discussion on philosophical and biological levels."
Library Media Connection

"The text is compact and has an innate rhythm characteristic of a veteran storyteller."
School Library Journal

Associated Keywords
folk, tale, folktale, animals, animal, bird, birds, bat, bats, soccer, game, match, team, spirit, teamwork, competition, character, character education