Bat in the Dining Room (Paperback)

~ (Author), S. D. Schindler (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3. It would be difficult to imagine a less poetic theme than that of a bat accidentally trapped in the posh dining room of a summer resort. However, Dragonwagon has woven an evocative, lyrical prose poem in this tale of one frantic flying mammal and one quiet young girl who really cares what happens to it. While the excited, well-heeled patrons escape to the lobby, and the tuxedo-garbed staff run for brooms and other weapons, Melissa remains alone in the dining room. Unhurriedly, and with calm resolve, she lures the bat to an emergency door, where it flies into the starry night to freedom. The spare text combines internal rhyme and interesting word juxtapositions to create the appropriate mood. The contrast of uproar and quiet, agitation and calm combine to build a story from one brief incident. Schindler's beautiful illustrations, a combination of colored pencil and watercolor on pastel paper, become a harmonious complement to the text. The artist has juxtaposed the luminous views of a summer night on a lake and the almost-deserted dining room with cartoonlike portraits of the hysterical summer guests, overly dressed and coifed. His careful rendering of the terrified bat in full flight captures the essence of the animal's beauty and predicament. Not since Janell Cannon's Stellaluna (Harcourt, 1993) has there been a more attractive bat epic. "Batman and Robin" can wait; young readers will have a much better time at this summer place.?Martha Rosen, Edgewood School, Scarsdale, NY
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

``A bat flew into the dining room,/at the hotel restaurant by the lake./Mistake.'' Dragonwagon (Alligators and Others All Year Long, 1993, etc.) pens a lilting, loosely rhymed text about a bat who finds itself in an alien indoor environment, the human pandemonium that ensues, and the observant little girl who imagines how the bat must feel. She sensibly opens the emergency exit door to let it fly free, ``a moving breeze of joy against the sky.'' Schindler's detailed colored pencil and watercolor illustrations contrast the peace of a summer night--moonlight shining on the lake and on the brown-shingled walls of a grand old lake resort--with the brightly lit frenzy inside, where hysterical diners scramble to escape the bat. Only Melissa holds still and keeps her wits about her. Her identifying with the frightened bat will draw readers in, and her pleasure at its escape provides a satisfying conclusion. A surprising, lovely book. (Picture book. 5-8) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Children's Books (April 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761451463
• ISBN-13: 978-0761451464
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 7.4 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,608,940 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best read-aloud books ever!, May 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Bat: In the Dining Room (Library Binding)

My daughter received this book as a gift when she was just 4. As a child who loves language and animals, she was thrilled with the lilting lyric poetry and the tale of a bat caught in the tourist-filled dining room. The main character "strange Melissa" is appealing in its originality, sensitivity and all too rare celebration of a female heroine. Any observant and intuitive child would find her an especially sympathetic character. That being said, in my opinion, the poetry is the reason we return to the book again and again. Crescent Dragonwagon has distinguished herself with her flowing verse that is not only sophisticated but delightful to the ear. We consider it on par with David Kirk (of Miss Spider fame) and Dr. Seuss. Enjoy!