Bats at the Beach

Bats at the Beach (Bat Books)

4.15 of 5 stars 4.15  ·  rating details  ·  582 ratings  ·  122 reviews
Quick, call out! Tell all you can reach: the night is just perfect for bats at the beach!

So pack your buckets, banjos, and blankets—don’t forget the moon-tan lotion—and wing with this bunch of fuzzy bats to where foamy sea and soft sand meet.

Brian Lies’s enchanting art and cheery beachside verse will inspire bedtime imaginations again and again. Come visit a bedazzling w...more
Hardcover, 32 pages
Published May 8th 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (first published April 12th 2006)
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Kathryn
Not sure why I didn't like this one more but I just can't bring myself to give it more than three stars. The pictures are nice and fun and the rhymes are okay if a bit awkward at times. I guess maybe I just don't understand why the "Bats" books get so much hype whereas other (better, IMO) picture books go out-of-print, so perhaps it's just a pet peeve of mine interfering with what would otherwise be an amusing little story.
Lara's
Oct 11, 2008 Lara's rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Parents and children grades 1st-3rd grade
Shelves: picture-books
Synopsis : On a night when the moon can grow no fatter, bats pack their "moon tan" lotion and baskets of bug treats to fly off for some fun on the beach.
Review : A very sweet book about vacationing bats who come out at night to spend the "day" at the seashore. It provides a very unique viewpoint for a bedtime story. Going to sleep while the sun is just beginning to rise, celebrating cultural exchange by "making friends from other places with different foods and different faces".
Also really good...more
Samantha Weatherford
Mar 20, 2013 Samantha Weatherford rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: small children, kids learning about the ocean or who like the ocean
Recommended to Samantha by: child development class group
this book was fun to read, because it showed a different perspective of the beach by talking about it at night versus in the day when most kids think about "going to the beach". The pictures were adorable, and i think they would catch the attention of young readers. one that i liked alot had them making smores but crickets were in the marshmellows. you could teach kids about compare and contrast in this book (night versus day at a beach). it would be a great opener to a study of the ocean, or fo...more
Candice
Nov 16, 2011 Candice rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Sophie
Shelves: picture-books
I didn't enjoy this one as much as I did Bats at the Library, but - full disclosure here - I'm a retired librarian, so that may have something to do with it. Like the other two "Bats" books, this one had a good rhythm and rhyme, and excellent illustrations. The full moon entices the bats to go for a night at the beach. Usual beach activities abound, but of course with a batty twist. They slather on moon-tan lotion, and instead of flying kites, they fly each other. Instead of toasting marshmallow...more
Sandy
The story "Bats at the Beach" is a rhyming one about the fun times that a group of bats have when they take a trip to the beach. Since bats are only awake in the nighttime, they use "moon-tan lotion" and go moon-bathing. When they visit the snack bar on the beach, they enjoy the insects that are attracted to the outside lights. They even take turns at BEING kites, and roast bug-mallows. I loved the creativity in this tale and very much enjoyed the illustrations. If you like clever ideas and exce...more
Allison
This is another poetry book where the story is about bats visiting the beach in the moonlight. They spend their time like any family would, cooking out, making s'mores, singing by the campfire and playing beach games, they are just done with a little twist. The poems are rhythmic which make it a fun and easy read for kids.

This book is appropriate for ages 6+


I really enjoyed this book and I think it would be great to use as an introduction to poetry. You could use it to get kids thinking about...more
Beth
The family beach excursion is a universal experience for coastal New Englanders – kids packed in the car; the food, fun, surf and sun to excess followed by a sleepy trip home. Bats at the Beach is an imaginative take on the trip; how do nocturnal creatures enjoy the beach? By moonbathing under the full moon, of course!

The unique character choice allows Lies to play with perspective – angles from the air, and one upside down at the snack bar picture with phenomenal reproduction of a bare lightbul...more
Luann
The rhyming text is okay, but what makes this book special are the illustrations. Make sure you spend time just looking at the pictures and noticing all the funny details of the bats' trip to the beach. I can't even choose a favorite, every page has something that makes me laugh.

And don't forget to check out the next book: Bats at the Library. I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but hope to soon.
Lisa Vegan
Jun 15, 2011 Lisa Vegan rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of beaches, bats, rhyming stories, excellent & unusual picture book illustrations
I’ve read Bats at the Library and really enjoyed it, and this is one of the nominated books for July’s sea side/ocean them at the Picture Books Club over at the Children's Books group. I don’t know yet if this book will be selected, but as soon as I was aware of it I reserved it at the library and read it when it arrived, even though no libraries are involved, and I love libraries.

On the inside back cover I love how readers find out that a portion of the proceeds of this book are being donated t...more
Jocelin
Bats can sometimes be a scary creature; but not when they are having fun at the beach. I love the poetry of this book, it makes the story flow. This author has a real talent for cultivating a story around bats that is fun and not frightening. When you think bat, you don't think of them roasting bug-marshmallows @ the beach. He captures a creative character in the bat. Good story time book. I would be careful about reading this book to younger kids ( under 3) at night.
Saby
Jul 13, 2011 Saby rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Bat lovers and children
Originality: 5
Illustrations: 5
Story: 5
Educational: 4
BooBoo: 3

I admit I am biased when it comes to this book: it's loaded with bats. I <3 <3 <3 bats. The illustrations are done by someone who feels the same way about bats. The illustrations are art.

Bats at the Beach is a fun story with lots of little interesting details. The characters are adorable.

Thank you Brian Lies! I will also purchase Bats at the Library and Bats at the Ballgame. :)
Val
Feb 20, 2009 Val rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: EVERYONE
Recommended to Val by: NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday
This is a very cute, very imaginative book with AMAZING illustrations. The premise is that bats go to the beach too, but at night. What do bats do when they go to the beach? Well, follow the little bat with the swim floaties and his family to find out (and a bat with swim floaties? how cute is that???) The NPR story that inspired me to find this book here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/st...
Malissa
I read this today for storytime (because the librarian who is in charge of them was out), and it was definitely the favorite of the bat stories. Love the way the author turns things around to work for night like moonscreen rather than sunscreen. The illustrations are adorable, and the rhyme really kept the kids' attention. I don't think I'll be trying pickled skeeters anytime soon, but I might have to find myself a copy of this book!
Jessy
I like that the book uses an animal that is usually depicted as scary. They find ways to make them more enjoyable and something to actually appreciate. I think the rhymes help the cause of the book and the illustrations have a kid friendly feel to them.

I think this book would be best in a 2-4 grade level. Students could be read this book before beginning a science chapter about mammals like the bat.
Becky Everhart
This is a really cute story about a group of bats that go to the beach for a night. The drawings are precious, and the story is really unique--I've never read a story about the beach at night that wasn't either romance or horror-based. Since I love bats and the beach, this story really has a lot to offer. This story can be a good way to get kids to think about everyday scenarios from new and exciting angles.
Lorriezm
I LOVED this book by Brian Lies. What a great story idea! It made me want to plan an outing to the beach and watch the nighttime bat antics. Although creepy in real life, these bat illustrations were adorable and you'll even want a pet bat or two by the time you are done reading Bats at the Beach. I know I will be giving this book as a gift at the next first birthday party I attend. Great book!
Jackie
The playful bats are at it again...this time at the beach. They don't forget the moon-tan lotion or playing with the stuff others leave behind or burying their friends in the sand. There's no room for picky eaters...salted skeeters, pickled slugs, and bug-mallows are on the menu. Hurry, hurry home before the sun rises!

Used for "At the Beach-Sand, Water, and Shells" Storytime-July, 2010.
Judi Paradis
Bats take over the beach at night, acting surprisingly human as the toast marshmellow bugs, use their wings to make "batty kites" and surf along the waves. Brian Lies illustrations are adorable, and the rhyming text is fun to read--and helpful for kids learning to read on their own. A great choice for independent reading for kids in grades 2 and up, and an excellent read aloud for younger kids.
Eileen
Jul 12, 2011 Eileen rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Ages: 3-10
I ADORED this book as soon as I saw it.

Although the rhymes don't perfectly flow, the illustrations are really what make this book a winner. My son, 5, always enjoys pointing out particular cute bat faces when we read this book; and I get a kick out of the "moontan lotion" and the buggy light bulb "snack bar."

This is a great escape from the "moral" children's books
Dolly
Mar 17, 2010 Dolly rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: parents reading with their children
A fun story about a group of bats having a party at the beach (don't forget your moon-tan lotion!) Although it's all about the night, the illustrations are quite dark, which can be troublesome if reading in a dimly lit room at bedtime. Otherwise, it's a terrific story with both nicely detailed and silly illustrations.
Tina
Who knew? Bats go to the beach just like people do! They use those little paper drink umbrellas like parasols, build sand castles, roast marshmallows (with cricket legs in them), and tell stories around the fire. And just before sunrise, after a fun and exhausting night at the beach, they all head home to sleep.
Laura
I love Brian Lies' bats! My only complaint is that since the illustrations are so dark, they don't work particularly well for read alouds. To fully enjoy and appreciate the artwork, you really need to take a careful look at each page.

In this story, the bats head to the beach for a night of fun.
Gibbs
A welcome break for readers of grownup books. Endearing pictures and whimsical rhyming text that had me going "awhhhhh", chuckling and lingering over the author's bat babies, bat parents and grandparents and their fun activities on a moonlit beach. Also check out BATS AT THE LIBRARY. A sure thing.
Cindy
This was a cute story about bats enjoying a night at the beach. It was written in verse and
cleverly included all that a bat community would need to take for an evening spent in the moon
at the beach (they didn't forget their "moon-tan" lotion). Children would greatly enjoy this one.
Emily Warner
It would be great to pair this book with Bats at the Library. Students would be able to compare and contrast the two stories and also make text-to-text connections. There are vocabulary words that may be unfamiliar to students that will need to be explained while reading the text.
Gigi
Jan 28, 2012 Gigi rated it 5 of 5 stars
Shelves: kids
This book was given to us by our former neighbors "Bill & Helena" when they moved away. This was previously their grandson's book which Brian Lies had signed for him in 2006.

Olivia brought it to school on 1/27/2010 and Brian Lies signed it for her.

We love this book!
Brittany
This book is a very fun, cute book about bats taking a vacation to the beach. I would recommend this book because the illustrations are awesome and the words are rhyming which help made this book more enjoyable and fun to read. I would definitely use this book as a read aloud.
Ky
I love the bat books, there are many different ones. They have wonderful ryhming words that paint a funny picuture of what theses bats are doing and this will bring giggles from anyone who is reading or being read to. Pitures are big and interesting but a little dark.
Janet
Super illustrations and super rhyming text make this one a five star book. The never forced rhyming text that carries the enite story of the night time activities of the bats enjoying the beachis masterful. I especially loved the humor of moon-tan lotion!
Lauren
I picked this up at a coastal bookstore while out camping and Josh loved it. The illustrations are great (it must be kind of hard to illustrate night time) and the rhymes are fantastic. A very cute read, especially while camping at the coast.
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77079
I was born in 1963 in Princeton, New Jersey, which back then was a quiet college town, surrounded by old farmland slowly giving way to housing developments. I spent a lot of time building dams and forts in the woods across the street with my best friend, inventing things, and writing and drawing with my older sister. At various times during my childhood, we had newts, gerbils and rabbits as pets....more
More about Brian Lies...
Bats at the Library Bats at the Ballgame Hamlet and the Enormous Chinese Dragon Kite Hamlet and the Magnificent Sandcastle More

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