Knocked from her mother’s safe embrace by an attacking owl, Stellaluna lands headfirst in a bird’s nest. This adorable baby fruit bat’s world is literally turned upside down when she is adopted by the occupants of the nest and adapts to their peculiar bird habits. Two pages of notes at the end of the story provide factual information about bats. “Delightful and informative but never didactic; a splendid debut.”--Kirkus Reviews
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Amazon.com Review
The charming baby fruit bat in Janell Cannon's heartwarming, award- winning Stellaluna is now a finger puppet--excellent for shadow play, but also for highly effective flapping action! Fold her cloth wings around her brown felt body and hang her upside down for a brief bat snooze, if you like, or use her to reenact crucial scenes in the book. Perched on the finger of reader or listener, this endearing 4-inch-tall puppet with a 9-inch wingspan will inspire flights of fancy as Stellaluna's award-winning story unfolds. Each bat puppet comes in a gift package with the hardcover edition of Stellaluna. A wonderful introduction to Stellaluna, and a must for bat lovers. (Ages 4 and older)
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Kirkus Reviews
Attacked by an owl, Stellaluna (a fruit bat) is separated from her mother and taken in by a bird and her nestlings. Dutifully, she tries to accommodate--she eats insects, hangs head up, and sleeps at night, as Mama Bird says she must--but once Stellaluna learns to fly, it's a huge relief when her own mother finds her and explains that the behavior that comes naturally is appropriate to her species. With a warm, nicely honed narration, Cannon strikes just the right balance between accurate portrayal of the bats and the fantasy that dramatizes their characteristics. Her illustrations, in luminous acrylics and color pencils, are exquisite. The appealingly furry, wide-eyed, fawn-colored bats have both scientific precision and real character; they're displayed against intense skies or the soft browns and greens of the woodland in spare, beautifully constructed (occasionally even humorous) compositions. Delightful and informative but never didactic: a splendid debut. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
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More About the Author
Janell Cannon's picture books have won many awards and are beloved around the world. Before she became a full-time creator of books for children, she designed and produced summer reading programs at her local public library. Born and raised in Minnesota, Ms. Cannon now lives in Southern California.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
If I HAD to answer the question: What is your favorite children's book?, I would have to pick "Stellaluna." There, this children's librarian committed, but I think my students would know that. It's one of their favorites, too!!
What makes this book so special? E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G!! The story line, the embedded lessons, and the sweet, sweet illustrations. I don't know how well you can see the young bat's face on the cover. If you can, notice that darling tongue sticking out, like a puppy's. Notice her struggle, expressed with joy, to hold on to the limb. And we have not even opened the book yet!
This is the story of a young bat who is separated from her mother after an owl attacks them in flight. She falls into a tree, then into a bird's nest filled with three hungry babies who are already fully feathered. The mother bird adopts her but insists she eat bugs like her babies. Stellaluna is a fruit bat, but adopts the ways of birds, except for hanging by her feet to sleep. Her new siblings try it one day. Mother returns and expresses her dismay. The babies are hilariously portrayed with their bird feathers hanging down from their heads.
When they learn to fly, poor Stellaluna is so clumsy trying to land upright on a limb with feet equipped for hanging, not perching. At night her bat radar comes into play and she goes weird on them flying by radar. Eventually, her bat mother finds her and Stella's world is restored. She discovers she eats mangoes, not bugs. She is delighted!
And the second best part is that she remains friends with her bird friends.
Embedded lessons:
1. Bats are what they are; birds are what they are.
2. We can accept each other's differences and be enriched by the experience.
3. It's good to walk in another's shoes just a short time.
4. There are some artists with stories sweet and heartwarming without being saccharine.
5. The author furnishes "Bat Notes" on the last two pages for further educational value.
This book belongs in every child's personal library and on the shelf in every children's library. Highly recommended.
Other favorite books by Janell Cannon:
Pinduli
Verdi
What makes this book so special? E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G!! The story line, the embedded lessons, and the sweet, sweet illustrations. I don't know how well you can see the young bat's face on the cover. If you can, notice that darling tongue sticking out, like a puppy's. Notice her struggle, expressed with joy, to hold on to the limb. And we have not even opened the book yet!
This is the story of a young bat who is separated from her mother after an owl attacks them in flight. She falls into a tree, then into a bird's nest filled with three hungry babies who are already fully feathered. The mother bird adopts her but insists she eat bugs like her babies. Stellaluna is a fruit bat, but adopts the ways of birds, except for hanging by her feet to sleep. Her new siblings try it one day. Mother returns and expresses her dismay. The babies are hilariously portrayed with their bird feathers hanging down from their heads.
When they learn to fly, poor Stellaluna is so clumsy trying to land upright on a limb with feet equipped for hanging, not perching. At night her bat radar comes into play and she goes weird on them flying by radar. Eventually, her bat mother finds her and Stella's world is restored. She discovers she eats mangoes, not bugs. She is delighted!
And the second best part is that she remains friends with her bird friends.
Embedded lessons:
1. Bats are what they are; birds are what they are.
2. We can accept each other's differences and be enriched by the experience.
3. It's good to walk in another's shoes just a short time.
4. There are some artists with stories sweet and heartwarming without being saccharine.
5. The author furnishes "Bat Notes" on the last two pages for further educational value.
This book belongs in every child's personal library and on the shelf in every children's library. Highly recommended.
Other favorite books by Janell Cannon:
Pinduli
Verdi
48 of 52 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
My boys love this book! They loved it so much I bought the CD-ROM book as well. And the plush bat! They enjoy hanging Stellaluna upside down while reading the story.
The story itself is a little scary when the owl appears and Stellaluna is separated from her mother in the dark forest. But the mother bird and her babies are quick to accept and help Stellaluna. The story emphasizes that differences should be celebrated and accepted, and it's always best to just be yourself. It also shines a positive spotlight on an animal that gets a bad rap--the bat. I'd rate this book better than Cannon's other book, which is about snakes, "Verdi."
The artwork is beautiful; I love simply looking at the pages. And the "Bat Notes" section at the end is informative; I know because my pre-reading child wanted me to read it out loud several times!
Lovers of nature, superb artwork, and literature will not be disappointed reading this story to their little ones.
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book is about Stellaluna, a baby bat who finds itselflost, hungry, alone, and accidentally in a nest full of baby birds. The little bat is accepted by the birds, but somehow never feels at home, especially after a good scolding from the mother bird about hanging upside down -- hillarious.
The artwork is outstanding, the story is entertaining, and children and adults love this book. I have even picked it up and read it a time or two after the children went to bed.
This is an award winning book, and for good reason. There are strong underlying messages in it about place, acceptance, home and family.
Definitely 5+ stars...
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
What's not to like about bats?
I have bought this book several times; once to donate to my community public library and thereafter as gifts for young relatives. Read more
Published 3 hours ago by Nancy L. Angell
1.0 out of 5 stars
Stella Luna- not a new book!!!
I bought this "new" book...it arrived with marker on the side and marks all over the front. Wasn't able to give it as a gift obviously! Very disappointed.
Published 8 days ago by Marv213
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stellaluna
This book is wonderful! We used it as a read aloud and in a series of compare and contrast lessons. We compared and contrasted Stellaluna to the birds. Great book, thank you!
Published 22 days ago by Barbara B.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nice story
What a nice story about a little fruit bat that gets separated from her mom. All turns out well, thankfully. It follows the movie pretty closely. The movie is fantastic too.
Published 1 month ago by WendyLou
5.0 out of 5 stars
i finally found a child i could buy this for
I was standing in the line at a book store about ten years ago, and picked this book up to pass the time. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Paula Fisicaro
5.0 out of 5 stars
As sweet as ever
I remember when this book first came out and had the little stuffed animal with it. The story was so sweet and charming then and remains so today. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Deborah L. Mace
5.0 out of 5 stars
stellaluna
bought for new granddaughter for christmas...son & wife love it...since they named her Stella and always on look out for items that relate to her name..
Published 3 months ago by teresa riffle
5.0 out of 5 stars
excellent
Bought this for a Christmas gift and it was very well received. Ended up being a favorite book. It is an award winner
Published 3 months ago by Patti
5.0 out of 5 stars
A delightful story for all audiences
Stellaluna has always been one of my favorite childhood storybooks. It has a warm softness in its writing tone that used to make me feel sleepy and happy at the same time. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Protect_our_Rainforests
5.0 out of 5 stars
My Nephew Loved It
The book arrived promptly and was in great condition. This was bought for my nephew and he loved it. After opening it, he immediately began reading the book.
Published 4 months ago by memewii
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