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Jan 30, 2009

J-Lynn rated it:

Bryan Lies does not disappoint with his sequel to Bats at the Beach. From the picture on the cover where a bat cradles a book like it is his prized possession, Lies shows the power of books to entrance the reader. The bats are jubilant at the chance to spend the night in the library and to find books that feed the "universe inside each head." The rhyme and heavy rhythm throughout the book adds to the mood of celebrating learning.

The acrylic illustrations capture the rich More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Sep 01, 2008

Krista the Krazy Kataloguer rated it:

Very cute! I loved the pictures of those bats! They're all excited because someone left the window open in the library and they can get in. They read the books, which they place upside down while they hang upside down, play with the computer, photocopier, water fountain, and overhead projector, and listen to stories. Brian Lies' illustrations are beautiful and filled with humor. On the first page of text, if you look carefully, the bats on the page are actually hanging upside down. My favo More...

2 comments like (3 people liked it)

Dec 19, 2008

Chandra rated it:

Adorable tribute to bats and books! The paintings are lovely and detailed. The little poetic story makes for a fun read aloud.

6 comments like (1 person liked it)

Oct 12, 2011

Candice rated it:

A fun book about a visit to the library - by bats!

"Then word spreads quickly from afar:
a window has been left ajar.
Can it be true? Oh, can it be?
Yes! - Bat Night at the library!"

The bats swoop through the open library window and have an evening to remember. They read, they play with the photocopier and the water fountain, they enjoy a story time.

"And if we listen, we will hear
some distant voices drawing near -
louder, louder, More...

4 comments like (1 person liked it)

Sep 29, 2011

Lindsay rated it:

I am thrilled to have stumbled upon Bats at the Library. Brian Lies did a tremendous job illustrating this book, and the story itself reminds readers how story time and books have an incredible capability to suck you in and give you opportunities to experience endless possibilities. The cover of the book initially hooked me when I saw the unusual and fantasy like scene of bats in a library holding books. The creativity in the end pages also caught my eye. On the end page there is an image of More...

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Feb 19, 2010

Meg rated it:

Purchasing Information
Author: Brian Lies
Title: Bats at the Library
Series (if applicable): Second in the Bats series
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Imprint (if applicable): none
Edition: library
13 digit ISBN: 13-079-618-99923-1
price: $16.00
number of pages: 32
Includes: illustrations
Rating: 5 stars: excellent; nearly flawless a must-have for all libraries serving youth.

Brian Lies sequel to Bats at the Beach is a More...

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Oct 17, 2009

(NS) Lisa rated it:

The story opens with three bats clinging to a tree branch collectively sighing in boredom. The evening is still young, and they've already eaten, swooped, and soared to their hearts' content. They want to do something different, so they find an open window, excited to find that the window belongs to the local library. Though they don't get to see inside the library very often, many of the older bats look forward to this rare treat. They rush off to explore the shelves of books, while the little More...

1 comment like

Aug 09, 2009

Jennifer rated it:

Reviewed by Allison Fraclose for Kids @ TeensReadToo.com

A colony of bats sighs collectively in boredom. The evening is still young, and they've already eaten, swooped, and soared to their hearts' content. They want to do something different, so they follows the rumors of an empty window, excited to find that the window belongs to the local library.

Though they don't get to see inside the library very often, many members of the colony look forward to this rare treat. The ol More...

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Apr 23, 2009

Kathryn rated it:

Cute!!! Much to enjoy for fans of both libraries and bats. The poetic story is a nice change-of-pace from most picture books, good for read-aloud. My favorite part was when the bats go "into" the stories--bat-themed tributes to "Goodnight Moon," "Red Riding Hood," "King Arthur," "Peter Rabbit" and "Alice in Wonderland"--the bat Whinnie the Pooh is priceless!!!! ;->

5 comments like (3 people liked it)

Feb 23, 2010

Sarai rated it:

At night, the bats go to the library and peruse the books and read the stories, just like patrons do during the day. The little bats are always sad to go!

I first came across this book when Sandy bought it as a volunteer hour award for a volunteer who had donated over 1000 hours of service to the library. Volunteers get to choose from three categories of books and one of the categories is Children's Books. Sandy then gets to go to the book store and pick books which will be entered in More...

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Oct 21, 2009

NS-Lisa rated it:

Bats at the Library is the enchanting tale of bats who love nothing more than a trip to the library and a good story. Readers are invited along on the bats’ journey to the library, as the librarian has mistakenly left the window open over night. Lies does a phenomenal job of showing children how magical and exciting going to a library can be through the eyes of these nighttime creatures. Readers will see bats playing in the water fountain, making copies of themselves, and creating shadow pupp More...

1 comment like

Dec 06, 2008

Jean rated it:

Those batty bats are back! And this time they are able to entertain themselves where "a window has been left ajar. Can it be true? Oh, can it be? Yes! - Bat Night at the library!"
The bats explore all the fun things a library has to offer, but finally settle down for storytime. And I wish that we could have a poster of this 2-page spread!
"It's hard to settle down and read
when life flits by at dizzy speed.
But storytime is just the thing
to rest a More...

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Jan 23, 2010

Sarah rated it:

This book is adorable. The idea of bats enjoying the library is a great way to show kids what the library offers without lecturing them. The pictures are beautiful and intricate. I discovered new things in the illustrations the second time throught that I had not noticed before. My mom focused on different elements than I did, which means that the book and illustrations have appeal for different kinds of people. The rhymes flowed well and kept the story moving. There was an actual story in which More...

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Jul 26, 2008

Jen H. rated it:

Cute rhyming book about the bats night in the library. Kids will enjoy.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jul 17, 2010

Colleen rated it:

A follow-up to Bats at the Beach, we find the bats enjoying a fun frolicking night at the town public library. The bats have a blast doing shadow puppets, copying themselves on the copy machine, and exploring a pop-up book, but also read, have a book discussion group, and have story-time. The bats call the library their favorite place, not only for the fun to be had playing, but because of the stories that draw them in and take them to faraway places. This book shows the library as a fun and More...

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Oct 11, 2008

Opskar01 rated it:

kids book, again very cool

1 comment like

Jul 13, 2010

Abigail rated it:

"Another inky evening's here - / the air is cool and calm and clear. / We've feasted, fluttered, swooped and, soared, / and yet... we're still a little bored" begins this engaging picture-book about a colony of bats that visit the local library one night. Whether reading selections that seem tailored to their interests - an insect guide is described as a guide to "fancy food" - playing with the photocopier, or settling in for story-hour, these bats know how to get the most ou More...

11 comments like (3 people liked it)

Jul 12, 2008

Anna rated it:

A few summers ago, I was up at my grandparents’ cabin near Shawano, Wisconsin, sitting on the dock at dusk and dipping my toes in the warm water. All across the channel, hovering just a few inches above the surface, were thousands upon thousands of tiny winged insects—a shimmering, golden cloud of hazy flight. While I watched, transfixed, I suddenly felt something strike the back of my head, and as I turned to look I saw a bat—also drawn by the bugs—flutter away.
That was my most magical ba More...

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Sep 05, 2010

Kristi rated it:

Brian Lies has created some wonderful illustrations and activities for his friends the bats. In Bats At The Library, bored little bats look for something new to do. They discover an open window at the town library. The bats enjoy a free-for-all of library pleasures.

This is a really fun story and the illustrations are my favorite part of the book. I have always been a big fan of Brian Lies. If you would like to learn more about Brian visit his website at http://www.brianlies.com/

0 comments like

Feb 27, 2009

Lisa rated it:

I never thought I would like a book about bats, but this won me over.

Late at night some bats discover an open window into the library. They discover the joys and magic of the library. The bats are obviously in the children’s section. My favorite part is the homage to some of the best loved literary characters and illustrations for children, including Make Way for Ducklings, Peter Rabbit, Little Red Riding Hood and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Great tribute to libraries.

0 comments like

Mar 17, 2009

Cecily rated it:

I couldn't believe it when I read this book (I was looking for Bats at the Beach to show my mother. If possible, Brian Lies has topped Bats at the Beach with this book!!! I especially love the story time best, but the illustrations of bats imagining themselves in some of the most beloved children's books are priceless. This is a MUST READ for all who love books and children's literature.

(Read again March 16, 2009!!!) More...

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Mar 02, 2011

L11-Mary rated it:

Look there is a window left open at the library and guess who is coming for a visit? Bats! They are coming to see all of the wonders and creative things they can do in the library. While inside they play with the copy machine, make wall puppets and go on a journey through books. The illustrations are out of this world. They humanize the bats while giving them a cute and charming expressions.
This is a wonderful book to read to kindergarten or first graders on their first trip to the school More...

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Sep 03, 2009

Crystal rated it:

Very beautiful book about bats invading a library to read, play, and have a great time. The illustrations are rich and vivid. The text is bouncy verse.

The best part is the hints of other literature all through the illustrations including a Velveteen bat, a Winnie the Pooh bat, a hobbit hole, and many more. The titles of some of the books are fun too like Goodnight Sun.

Great fun for little ones and the adults that will read to them.

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Sep 18, 2009

Stephanie rated it:

The library window is left ajar, and the bored bats are overjoyed. The story follows their night of fun among the books. Ryan got into the rhyme, and I particularly liked the illustration of classic stories re-imagined with bat protagonists (Winnie-the-Pooh, Peter Rabbit). Also, several of the images are seen from the upside-down bat perspective, which led to some fun discussion and experimentation with Ryan.

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Apr 23, 2010

Ronda rated it:

Reading this book out loud resulted in a run on bat books--fiction and nonfiction. The illustrations are great (though the dark coloring can make it difficult for students who aren't close up to see them). The full page spreads of the bats imagining themselves in some familiar favorite stories offers a great opportunity for a treasure hunt--to see who recognizes which other stories are represented.

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Aug 20, 2011

Lynn rated it:

What an enjoyable book! The story is a wonderful tale about how the bats are able to enjoy the library at night. The illustrations are rich with their deep colors. And, it is fun to see how many classic books you can see while reading this story. We enjoyed this book so much that we will be purchasing a copy to have it for our own collection. I highly recommend it to book loving children.

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Mar 25, 2009

Megan rated it:

My mom brought this book to Arizona. Since I've been home, we've read it every day. My kids love perusing the pages of bat characters impersonating characters from their favorite books. They can't get over the "Make Way for Ducklings" with bats in the place of the ducks. They love it. We keep coming back to it, because we still haven't figured out who the bat on the horse represents.
The rhyming is wonderful. The pictures are fabulous and tinged with fun. A definite keeper a More...

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Jul 13, 2011

Tara rated it:

Oh wow this book is adorable. I love the concept of fun at the library. I love the concept of getting lost in the story. I liked the illustrated reference to "Goodnight Moon." Wonderful rhyming in this book. Clever and not forced. After finishing it I immediately wanted to start all over again. My daughter loved looking at the bats on the pages. Illustrations were wonderful.

1 comment like

Oct 28, 2009

Sam rated it:

Despite being quite afraid of bats, I really liked this book about a group of bats that get in to a library at night through a crack in the window. The best bit is when the bats get lost in the different stories they're reading; the scenes that show them imagining themselves as, among other things, Drummer Hoff, Winnie the Pooh, and Mr. Toad, is pretty great.

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Dec 09, 2008

Loren rated it:

If anything, I like this more than Bats at the Beach, which I loved. The images of the bats imagining themselves in the books they read at the library are wonderful, even if I don't recognize every story they reference. I've bought this book for my daughter's kindergarten classroom and her school library. And I'm buying more for Xmas presents.

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