Synopses & Reviews
Hurry up!and#160; Come oneand#8212;come all!and#160;and#160;
Weand#8217;re off to watch the bats play ball!
Youand#8217;ll never forget your first game: the green so green, the presence of heroes past, and togetherness with family and friends, rooting for the home team.
But you think humans are the only ones who enjoy Americaand#8217;s national pastime? Grab your batand#8212;the other kindand#8212;and your mitt, and join these captivating bats as they flutter off to watch their all-stars compete. How about a mothdog?and#160; Or some Cricket Jack?
In sweeping compositions that transport fans to the rightside-up and upside-down world of bats at play, Brian Lies treats us to a whole new ballgame.
Review
"Where the book truly soars is in the dark yet luminescent art where bat wings glow in the light of the full moon and the sky is a steely blue. The faces on the bats are furry and friendly." --SLJ School Library Journal
Review
and#8220;Mabel blows a bubble that envelops her baby brother, gently wafting him all over the village, causing shock and excitement among the population. Chrysta and Greville Gribble, Tybal and his mother Sybil, the crabby Copples, feeble Mrs. Treeble and Canon Dapple come up with an improbable plan to catch the bubbled baby. Meanwhile, mischievous rebel Abel bursts the bubble with his slingshot and the villagers gallantly come to the rescue by catching him in a quilt. The action moves with breathless frenzy. Mahy is a master at creating verse that is as light and airy as the babyand#8217;s bubble. Filled with lovely Briticisms, alliterative nonsense words, double, triple and internal rhymes, itand#8217;s meant to be read aloudand#8212;and#8216;Again!and#8217;and#8212;and will lead both breathless readers and listeners to delighted giggles. The text floats across the pages in waves and arcs, and Dunbarand#8217;s joyous watercolor-andand#8211;cut-paper illustrations are wonderfully expressive, a visual treat moving apace with the text. A frothy, effervescent gift.and#8221;and#8212;Kirkus Reviews, STARRED review and#8220;Bubble, bubble, tongue-twisting trouble! When Mabel blows a bubble, it causes a bit of troubleand#8212;in the inimitable Mahy way. The rhythm and rhyme of her newest exuberant offering has echoes of the and#8216;bibble-bubble-babbleand#8217; of her older 17 Kings and 42 Elephants (rev. 9/87) with added tongue-stumbling internal rhymes to keep even the most accomplished storyteller on her toes. Little Mabeland#8217;s bubble surrounds Baby and takes him on an adventure of amazing heights. The whole town is alarmed as the bobbling bubble floats farther astray, but happy Baby is comfortably enthralled with his birdand#8217;s-eye view of the commotion. Dunbarand#8217;s cut-paper and watercolor full-page illustrations are entirely faithful to the lively tale. Every little detail of this raucous story is depicted in the dramatic spreadsand#8212;a good thing, as the words are a pleasant stretch for lap listeners. Who wouldnand#8217;t love the sound of nefarious, cavorting, grapple, and the like tripping off the readerand#8217;s tongue? The suspense builds in both words and pictures, and little onesand#8217; eyes will be as round as the bubble. Read this aloud and expect a lot of giggles and calls for a repeat performance. It will take a few readings to get through without stumbling, but that only adds to the fun.and#8221;and#8212;Horn Book, STARRED review and#160; and#8220;A truckload of trouble and mountains of mayhem ensue when young Mabel blows a bubble that enfolds her baby brother and carries him aloft. He is pursued by his frantic mother and sister, and#8216;crumpled Mr. Copple and his wife,and#8217; and#8216;feeble Mrs. Threeble,and#8217; and#8216;Greville Gribble,and#8217; the chapel choir, and other townsfolk. The text floats in waves along with the bouncing baby across the energetic watercolor and cut-paper spreads. Dressed in stripes and plaids, nightshirts and jogging suits, the crowd sprints along through backyards and gardens, gesticulating wildly as the smiling infant floats by. Eventually, the rescuers form a human ladder to reach him. But Abel, and#8216;a rascal and a rebel,and#8217; performs a dastardly deed with his slingshot and the people watch in horror as the baby plummets through the air. It takes three page turns for readers to reach the delightful resolution of this perilous predicament. There is no mistaking the babyand#8217;s happy landing as his smiling face and waving arms and feet fill the spread. This tale, with its over-the-top silliness, is a storyhour gem. And with some practice, the rhyme, alliterative phrases, and names will fall trippingly off the tongue. Fabulous fun!and#8221;and#8212;School Library Journal, STARRED review and#160; and#8220;Mahy is clearly in love with language here, as she offers a text that flounces and bounces like the baby in the bubble. . . . Children will find their ears perking up at the tongue-twisting text, and they may become word lovers, too, after listening to this.and#8221;and#8212;Booklist and#160; and#8220;An ebullient cocktail of sweetness and absurdity. . . . Readers-aloud will have as much fun as listeners with this frothy confection, so get ready to let that baby bounce.and#8221;and#8212;The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Review
Kids will love the slapstick plot and energetic, expressive characters, and surprising conclusion, and teachers will appreciate the seamless integration of math skills from counting to addition and subraction.
and#8212;School Library Journal
Review
"Baseball stadiums have an innate magic, never more so than in the hands of Lies, whose latest has the winged creatures gathering for an epic game, complete with 'beenuts and Cricket Jack,' and an upside down audience" and#8212;
Publishers Weekly, starred review "The visual effect is quite stunning, with some fantastically disorienting upside-down spreads to reflect the fans' hanging position, and much of the language is utterly delicious."and#8212;Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Careful readers will find plenty of inventive details to make this latest outing to the batsand#8217; nocturnal world worthwhile." and#8212;School Library Journal
Praise for Brian Liesand#8217; New York Times best-selling books:
Bats at the Beach
"Brilliant, brilliant paintings . . . just a whiz-bang summer book, anytime book. Everybody should look at this." and#8212;Daniel Pinkwater, NPRand#8217;s Weekend Edition Saturday
"Perfect for sharing with younglings of the wingless sort." and#8212;Kirkus Reviews
"The book truly soars in the dark yet luminescent art. . . . A grand adventure." and#8212;School Library Journal
"Fetching . . . [A] wonderful read-aloud." and#8212;Newsday
Bats at the Library
"The library-after-dark setting works a magic all its own, taking Lies and his audience to an intensely personal place." and#8212;Publishers Weekly, starred review
"[Lies] brings a sure, expressive and transporting hand to this story of a colony of bats paying a nighttime visit to a small-town library." and#8212;Kirkus Reviews
"Illustrations teem with bats so charming they will even win over chiroptophobes." and#8212;Booklist
"Another tale of bat mischief . . . the charm is all in the story itself." and#8212;New York Times Book Review
Review
and#147;and#133;the library-after-dark setting works a magic all its own, taking Lies and his audience to an intensely personal place.and#8221; Publishers Weekly, Starred
"Dark, inky acrylic paintings accompany a sprightly rhyming text, a wonderful sequel to 2006's completely charming Bats at the Beach." Cleveland Plain Dealer
"These book-loving bats might encourage young readers to explore more stories on their own.and#8221; 08/03/08 San Antonio Express-News
"and#133; appealing acrylic illustrations that teem with bats so charming they will even win over chiroptophobes."
Booklist, ALA
"In this latest from Lies, it's all-deservingly-about the artwork. He brings a sure, expressive and transporting hand to this story."
Kirkus Reviews
"...the charm is all in the story itself." September 14, 2008 The New York Times Book Review
Review
"A few reads of this ought to tire out kids before their not-canceled-after-all bedtimes."
and#8212;Booklist
"Meng playfully expands and exaggerates children's efforts to put off the inevitable lights-out and turns a universal tug of war into a hilarious tour de force."
and#8212;Kirkus
"Meng's writing is clear, direct, and funny, and Neyret's digitally created illustrations have an appropriately comic and cartoonish tone."
and#8212;Bulletin
Review
"A terrific read-aloud that will have listeners quacking, mooing, and neighing with Sheepand#8217;s friends each time they wake him upand#8230;This is sure to be a storytime favorite alongside Audrey Woodsand#8217;s The Napping House."and#8212;School Library Journal, starred review "Beaumont's playful, repetitive text, with its loud animal sounds, will have children chanting along to the beat."and#8212;Kirkus Reviews "Together, Urbanovics comical watercolor illustrations and Beaumonts repetitive rhyming text manage to be both lively and soothingthe perfect combination to help energetic little ones blow off steam and settle down at bedtime."and#8212;The Horn Book
Review
"Drawn with a colorful, contemporary edge."--Des Moines Register
"The illustrations, which borrow paneled layouts and speech balloons from the comics, are filled with tiny visual jokes. Kids will eat Bone Soup up."--Washington Post
Synopsis
Swoop and soar your way to this batty bookfest!
Synopsis
Frolic through the library with Caldecott-honor winner and New York Times bestselling creator Brian Lies' adorable bats. This nighttime escapade is part of the award winning the Bat Book series and perfect for bedtime reading and budding book lovers on Halloween and all year round. Can it be true? Oh, can it be?
Yes --Bat Night at the library
The enchantment of story time is near--come bats, come one and all, and gather around for the tale of the night.
Roam the book-filled halls on this inky evening as the bats wander around the library and cause all sorts of mischief.
Brian Lies' joyful critters and their nocturnal celebration cast library visits in a new light. Even the youngest of readers will want to join the batty book-fest.
Synopsis
Join the free-for-all fun at the public library with these book-loving bats! Shape shadows on walls, frolic in the water fountain, and roam the book-filled halls until itand#8217;s time for everyone, young and old, to settle down into the enchantment of story time. Brian Liesand#8217;s joyful critters and their nocturnal celebration cast library visits in a new light. Even the youngest of readers will want to join the batty book-fest!
Synopsis
Quick, call out! Tell all you can reach: the night is just perfect for bats at the beach!
So pack your buckets, banjos, and blanketsand#8212;donand#8217;t forget the moon-tan lotionand#8212;and wing with this bunch of fuzzy bats to where foamy sea and soft sand meet.
Brian Liesand#8217;s enchanting art and cheery beachside verse will inspire bedtime imaginations again and again. Come visit a bedazzling world of moonlight, firelight, and . . . bats!
Synopsis
Withand#160;a poetic, rhyming and#160;text, a silly story, and cheerfuland#160;artwork, this Boston Globe-Horn Book Award winning picture book is a must-have for paperback collections.and#160;A perfect read-aloudand#160;for story time from internationally acclaimed author Margaret Mahy.
Synopsis
andlt;add starandgt; "Read this aloud and expect a lot of giggles and calls for a repeat performance."and#8212;Horn Book, starred review Little Mabel blew a bubble, and it caused a lot of trouble . . . When little Mabeland#8217;s bubble gets away from her, itand#8217;s her baby brother who gets into trouble. Soon heand#8217;s floating out of the house, above the fence, and all over town! Itand#8217;s up to Mabel, Mother, and the rest of the townspeople to get him safely back down. Who knew that so much trouble could come from one little bubble?
Synopsis
Eileen Christelow's Five Little Monkeys are back, getting into trouble while back-to-school shopping, in the latest installment in the enormously popular series.
Synopsis
Itand#8217;s the day before school starts, and Mama takes her five little monkeys shopping for
clothes. and#8220;Stay right here,and#8221; she says, and#8220;AND DONand#8217;T GO WANDERING OFF!and#8221; But it
doesnand#8217;t take long for her rambunctious brood to scatter every which way. Will Mama
ever have all five monkeys together again? Kids will love finding out in this adorable
addition to the Five Little Monkeys paperback collection filled with repetitive phrases
and counting fun.
Synopsis
Award-winning author Cece Meng delivers theand#160;delightful story ofand#160;Maggie and her brother, whoand#160;write a note to get out of their bedtime. But when the note ends up on the desk of a newspaper reporter, a media frenzy ensues and they get much more than theyand#160;wished.
Synopsis
The note read: Bedtime is canceled. Maggie thought of it. Her brother wrote it. A news reporter read it. This was big news. He reported it.and#160;Before they knew it,and#160;the whole city discovered that bedtime had officially been canceled,and#160;so no one wentand#160;to sleep!
Cece Meng, author of I WILL NOT READ THIS BOOK andand#160;TOUGH CHICKS, deliversand#160; a pitch perfect cautionary tale, a wry parody of our information-glutted age, and heart-warming brother and sister adventure. Illustrated with wit and whimsy byand#160;French artist, Aurandeacute;lie Neyret.
Synopsis
All sheep wants is a good nightand#39;s sleep but thereand#39;s a such a ruckus in the barn! Kids will QUACK, BAAA, OINK, MOO, NEIGH and giggle until they fall asleep. . . or until itand#39;s time to COCK-A-DOODLE-DO!and#160; Fun-filled and rhyme-filled bedtime story.
and#160;
Synopsis
One tired sheep wants nothing more than a good night's sleep. All is peaceful untiland#8212;QUACK! Is that a duck at the barn door? And now a goat? A pig? A cow? A horse? Each new unexpected guest is bigger and louder than the last! How will the sheep ever get this barnyard crowd to quiet down beforeand#8212;COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO!
Synopsis
Silly and spooky, Bone Soup is the perfect ingredient for celebrating Halloween. Now in paperback!
Synopsis
Known across the land for his infamous appetite, Finnigin is never seen without his eating stool, his eating spoon, and his gigantic eating mouth.
When Finnigin finds himself in a new town on Halloween, he hopes to join a great feast with the creatures who live there. But not a body or soul will share any of their food with the ever-famished Finnigin. So whatand#8217;s a hungry skeleton to do? Armed only with his wits and a special ingredient, will Finnigin be able to stir up a cauldronand#8217;s worth of Halloween magic?
About the Author
Margaret Mahy lived in New Zealand and was internationally acknowledged as one of the most outstanding childrenand#8217;s writers of her day. She was the author of more than two hundred books for children of all ages, two of which receivedandnbsp;England's Carnegie Medal and others of which have garnered numerous citations from the American Library Association. She was also the recipient of an Order of New Zealand, the highest honor a citizen can receive. In 2006 she receivd the Hans Christian Andersen award for her contributions to international children's literature. Polly Dunbar is the author and illustrator of Penguin, Dogandnbsp;Blue, and Flyaway Katie (all published by Candlewick). She is also the illustrator of Margaret Mahy's Down the Back of the Chair.andnbsp;She studied illustration at Brightandnbsp;Art School and now lives and works in Brighton, England.andnbsp;