Bat Jamboree [Paperback]

Kathi Appelt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1997

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. At an abandoned outdoor movie theater, 55 bats perform in a toe-tapping, wing-flapping revue--and await the grand finale.

--This text refers to the School & Library Binding edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Woodland and barnyard animals flock to a midsummer Bat Jamboree at an abandoned drive-in theater in this grinningly batty counting book. At the words "the houselights went down," the sun sets and moonlight floods the movie screen. "Then.../ 1 bat sang./ 2 bats flapped./ 3 bats cha-cha-ed./ 4 bats tapped," until 10 teams of talented chiropterans appear. Afterward, the performers count backward to make a pyramid with 10 bats at the bottom, nine on their shoulders and so on. Appelt (Bayou Lullaby) describes the show in bouncy but sometimes forced rhymes: "The time came, at last, for the grand finale: / The Acro-Bats!/ Yes, there were 10 bats in all-e." Her most humorous moment comes when "the bat lady sings." Sweet (A House by the Sea; the Pinky and Rex books) serves up airy watercolors. Her mousy-gray bats have snaggly overbites, wide eyes and colorful vests; their facial expressions vary from apprehensive to thrilled, and the attending bears, moose, sheep and ducks watch appreciatively. There's a nervous energy in these pictures that will almost surely disarm the reader, right off the bat. Ages 3-up.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2?A witty combination of counting book and theatrical experience. Each year the Bat Jamboree, starring 55 adorable bats, draws a standing-room only audience of animals of all types, and each year the show is better than ever. Against the silver backdrop of a drive-in movie screen, one bat sings, two bats flap, three bats cha-cha-cha, etc., until the grand finale, the great bat pyramid. Readers will find themselves counting backward with no effort at all as 10 bats line up, 9 flutter, 8 fly, and on up the pyramid. Of course, the show isn't over until the bat lady sings! Children who have experienced or participated in any type of performance will especially appreciate the anticipation building up to the excitement of the finale. The playful, rhyming text and Sweet's characteristically charming watercolors will have kids cooking up their own backyard jamborees.?Lisa S. Murphy, formerly at Dauphin County Library System, Harrisburg, PA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Scholastic Inc (1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590767674
• ISBN-13: 978-0590767675
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 9.8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,984,755 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bat Jamboree is a fixture at our house..., May 28, 2000

By 

Janet M. Sugino "goodygoddess" (Brinnon WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bat Jamboree (Hardcover)

...and we're a childless family. We recommend you get this in hardcover, as it's a definate re-read (like, lots of times). We love the mix of vaudeville, bats, and the whimsical rhymes. If something "Wasn't quite as fun as 'The Corgiville Fair'" (see the book by Tasha Tudor), then it often was "As fun as 'The Bat Jamboree'"...only because the Bat Jamboree is only for several hours (vs. all day). We've bought several copies of BJ for diverse audiences. One copy we gave to an old vaudeville fan, and another to our governor's baby daughter (there were bats infesting the governors' mansion about the time the book came out). A third went to an employee of an old drive-in theatre. A joy for young and old. You'll be "batty" over it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Night Fun, November 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Bat Jamboree (Paperback)

As a third grade teacher, I found this book useful on the 55th day of school. After reading the book, the children made a pyramid using manipulatives for the bats. We used 1" tiles. This demonstrates a growing pattern using +1 pattern to grow with. This is a nice lead-in to multiplication.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for introducing children to counting and adding, July 10, 2000

By 

MaryCatherine (Batesville, MS) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bat Jamboree (Hardcover)

This book has a fun and exciting story line. Children will have fun reading about the 55 bats at the jamboree. The illustrations are colorful and eye-catching. Children can have fun counting, adding and subtracting the 55 bats at the Bat Jamboree. Watch out for the Bat Lady!