Little Bat in Night School

Clarion (formerly Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, $14.99
ISBN-13 978-0-358-26984-7

Little Bat can't wait for his first night of school. He is excited about everything: his new school supplies, learning amazing things, and making friends with other bats.  But when he finally arrives, his world turns upside down. The only other little bats he sees at night school are already playing—with each other.

Join Little Bat and his new opossum pal Ophelia as he discovers that spreading your wings isn’t so hard—when you take the time to listen, act with kindness, and simply do your best.

• A Junior Library Guild Selection

Reviews:

Publishers Weekly July 2, 2021

Little Bat, a nocturnal youth who wears swimming floaties, can’t wait for his first night of school: “When is sunset?” he pesters his mother. Upon finally arriving, though, he’s spurned by the first bats he meets (“We’re already playing... with each other”). But when he retreats to a cubby, he discovers Ophelia, an opossum, who’s as comfortable hanging upside down as he is. The pages find a grin in every new school experience, from battling feelings of inferiority (“Practice makes better!” says a ferret who’s been sculpting “a lot longer than you”) to politely navigating an offer of shared snacks: “This is delicious,” says Ophelia. “My mama found it on the road. Want some?” As in earlier series entries, Lies creates artwork with remarkable detail, polish, humor, and inventiveness, and it should bring young readers flying. Ages 4–7.

Kirkus Reviews May 19, 2021
After a rough start, Little Bat’s first night at school is all he hoped it would be.

Little Bat is all ready for school. His supplies are laid out, including his new “batpack” with a rather leggy snack inside. He is so excited he can hardly sleep. But soon night falls, and it is time for Mama Bat to bring him to school. The school is bigger than Little Bat expected, but the teacher, a raccoon named Mrs. C., welcomes him right in. His classmates are all other night creatures: raccoons, owlets, a ferret, and some other bats who aren’t very friendly. When Little Bat flies into a cubby to hide, he finds another student hanging upside down too, an opossum named Ophelia. They become friends, and the rest of the night improves. The little creatures learn together, play together, and listen to a story until the sun starts to rise and it is time to go home. Lies’ distinct artistic style brings the characters to life, showcasing personalities, relationships, and action against a largely white background. The ups and downs of the classroom are captured with delicacy and sensitivity, a useful model of the changing social dynamics that can turn strangers to playmates and new adults into trusted teachers. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Quiet and hopeful, this animal-themed school story rings true. (Picture book. 4-6)

Booklist June 2021. 32p. HMH, $14.99 (9780358269847). PreS–Gr. 1

It’s finally time for Little Bat to go to school, and he is oh so excited! But even though he's anxious to attend, he’s distressed to discover his classmates aren’t only bats like him but also other nocturnal creatures: owls, raccoons, and a ferret. Nervous, he flies into a cubbyhole where he finds a dangling possum who is just “hanging out.” Their instant friendship enables them to feel more comfortable in this new environment and, ultimately, to get acquainted with the other students. Their teacher introduces a variety of topics, such as the phases of the moon, a math lesson, art class, and storytime. Lies' signature illustrations are beautifully executed and filled with details. The fur and feathers of the nocturnal pupils are clearly delineated and appear soft and touchable, while the animals’ eyes are bright and shiny. Little dialogue asides look handprinted and add humor to an already engaging tale about attending school for the first time and learning to fit in.

— Maryann Owen