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May 11, 2011

Adam rated it:

This was probably my first favorite book ever. The connection I had with this book is unmatched. My mother bought me this book as a kid and with it, came a Stellaluna plush doll. Manly, I know. My mother would read me this story whenever I asked until I stopped asking after a terrible, terrible event - I lost Stellaluna in the first grade.

My mother, being the most awesome of mothers, put up Missing Poster signs for this damn bat. No one ever called with information, no ransom notes More...

2 comments like (7 people liked it)

Dec 19, 2008

Chandra rated it:

I think bats are very cute and misunderstood creatures, but I didn't like this quite as much as I was hoping/expecting. Stellaluna is a cute story that serves a dual purpose - educating children about fruit bats and providing a moral about embracing differences. The illustrations are very nice. My gripe is that the writing isn't all that absorbing and the moral is a little too obvious. I prefer more subtlety - even in children's stories.

5 comments like (3 people liked it)

Apr 08, 2008

Linda rated it:

Sweet story about a young bat who loses her mother after they are attacked by an owl and is subsequently adopted by a family of birds. It delightfully demonstrates how diverse creatures can coexist. The illustrations are lovely and luminescent.

From Kirkus:
"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 p More...

2 comments like (2 people liked it)

Feb 23, 2010

L-Angelica rated it:

I viewed a video produced by Scholastic, in 2004, based on the award winning picture book Stellaluna. This is a story about an orphaned fruit bat who desperately wants to fit in with a group of baby birds. She learns to appreciate her differences and that make her special. The video has additional segments related to the world of bats, a sing-along feature and arts/crafts activities. This video cannot replace the book. This might be more appropriate for pre-schoolers and kindergarteners.

4 comments like (1 person liked it)

Sep 20, 2011

Jennifer rated it:

“Stellaluna” by Janell Cannon was one of my favorite books growing up as a child. When I was little I remember being so sad that she lost her mother due to the owl attack but was extremely happy that the mother had returned. I love this book because it gives so many messages that can be learned from the story. One of them being, that someone can have the same commonalities as you but look completely different and someone can look just like you but act different. We shouldn’t judged people based More...

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Jul 06, 2011

Brianna rated it:

I love this book!! It's no wonder it's won several awards; American Bookseller Book of the Year Award, Publisher's Weekly Children's Bestseller, Reading Rainbow's Feature and Review Book, California Young Reader Medal, Keystone to Reading Book Award, Southern California Council on Literature for Young People Award.

Plot Summary:

The adorably illustrated Stellaluna follows a baby bat through it's separation from it's family, to it's prodigal return. During it's separat More...

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Oct 20, 2010

Ronyell rated it:

I first saw this book on an episode of “Reading Rainbow” (my favorite TV series when I was little!) and I instantly fell in love with this book! “Stellaluna” is a gorgeous picture book by Janell Cannon and it is about how a baby bat named Stellaluna learns how to live with the birds after she is separated by her mother during an owl attack. “Stellaluna” is truly one of the best books for bat lovers everywhere!

Once there lived a mother fruit bat that gave birth to a baby bat named S More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Oct 12, 2010

Nissa rated it:

I had a warm fuzzy feeling about stumbling onto this book at the library. The illustrations are precious, including tiny thumbnails place like gems atop each of the pages with text. You will fall in love with the expressions on Stellaluna's tiny, batty face. The story is easy for children to understand. The words Cannon used will expand vocabulary and stimulate the imagination--a lot of them are words my 2 1/2 year old hasn't yet encountered but I like that they challenge her. They are perf More...

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Jun 03, 2010

Joey rated it:

Stellaluna is a sweet story about a young fruit bat who is raised by a family of birds after becoming separated from her mother. As Stellaluna struggles to fit in with the baby birds who eat bugs instead of fruit and who sleep in a nest instead of hanging upside down, she learns an important lesson in friendship and embracing differences.

Adorable illustrations and laugh out loud moments as Stellaluna learns to fly like a bird and clumsily tries to land on a branch. I love the part More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 20, 2010

Teeny rated it:

Summary: This particular book tells the story of a bat named Stellaluna, who is separated from her mother before she is old enough to fly. She is raised as a bird until she is reunited with her mother. Both Stellaluna and her many loved ones learn how different and alike animals are from one another, while still learning the essence of friendship. This book is an excellent read for any child with its humor, extensive detail, and educational content.

Written and Illustrated by Janell More...

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Oct 04, 2011

Elizabeth rated it:

When I was little I remember my mom reading this to me all the time. It became my favorite book. Looking back on it now that I'm older I see why my mom actually read it to me. Also, I see the story that is behind it.

I really liked this book because it teaches children that they should keep their individuality. Just because someones family does something different, like how the birds sleep right side up and the bats sleep upside down, does not mean that you have to do it either. I als More...

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Sep 27, 2011

Lindsay rated it:

This is one of my favorite childrens' books. It is a unique text that sends the message that we should embrace our individual qualities while simultaneously providing interesting information on a non-fiction topic (bats). My students always seem drawn in by Stellaluna's sad, innocent, and confused eyes. Stellaluna can see that she is similar to the birds who've taken her in, but she can't seem to figure out why she doesn't quite fit. Lots of children and people in general can relate to feeling a More...

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Dec 24, 2011

Robert rated it:

I purchased this early in my teaching career. It was all the rage at the time. It came with a stuffed Stellaluna. I am not certain we still have that.

This book is beautifully constructed. The text is neatly and elegantly presented. The images are similarly done.

Stellaluna is separated from his/her mother when young. He ends up in a bird nest. Mother bird cares for him, but only after making him promise not to upset things with teaching the young ones to hang upside d More...

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May 18, 2010

Melissa rated it:

This story is about two fruit bats, a mother and her baby. The baby bat, stellaluna, is separated from her mother and is forced to adapt to her surroundings with a bird family, until she is reunited with her mother. This book contains meticulous illustrations that encourage the reader to use their imagination in correlating the bats with people in their adventure. This book is joyful and invites the children to comprehend the book in a positive manner. The author refrains from using a condescend More...

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Feb 23, 2009

Cecily rated it:

I had only ever read the first few pages prior to today, and I thought this book would be sad. It isn't, it is freaking hilarious!!! The pictures (and the premise) add a lot to the humor -- the idea of a baby fruit bat being adopted by birds is about as hilarious as the idea of Simba being adopted by Timon and Pumba in The Lion King. My favorite moment would be Stellaluna hanging by her thumbs...just the very idea. Anyway, there is a lot to work with in this book for different character voic More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Aug 28, 2010

Lana rated it:

This is a cute story about Stellaluna, a fruit bat who is gets lost after an owl attacks her mother. She is adopted by a mama bird and her three young- Pip, Flitter, and Flap. To survive, Stellaluna must overcome her natural instincts and adapt to the habits of her new bird-family. She eats bugs, flies in the day, and rests in a nest. When she is reunited with her mother, Stellaluna learns the joy of being a bat-- being able to see in the dark, eat fruit, and sleep hanging by her feet. This More...

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Sep 26, 2011

Maria rated it:

I like and enjoy reading this story because it teaches acceptance, shows motherhood, and real friendship. It has a marvelous sense of humor and at the same time teaches about bats facts.

Stellaluna is the baby bat that survives the tragic fall when her mother was attack by an owl. She learned to live as a bird until she is reunited again with her mother bat. Nevertheless, she did not forget the little birds she grow up with. One of the best stories that teach acceptance to children. More...

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Nov 14, 2008

Needleroozer rated it:

This book is a sweet story about a baby bat, but it's full of nice lessons for humans like "be yourself" and "we're different, but we can still be friends."

I picked it up for free at the end of the fall '08 Friends of the library book sale.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Apr 11, 2011

Alexa rated it:

Stellaluna is a wonderful book that shares of befriending those that are different from you. As Stellaluna felt different, there are students in the classroom that feel different. Growing up, students are trying to find their place, a place where they belong. Stellaluna was not a bird, but when she found the other bats that did not stop her from staying friends with her bird family. It is important for students to know they can be different from their friends. Knowing this will help build a bett More...

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Dec 08, 2010

Brenna rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

1 comment like

Sep 12, 2011

Suzanne rated it:

Stellaluna is a baby bat who is separated from her mother. She falls into a nest of baby birds when her mother scrambles in the night to escape an owl who is after them. Since Stellaluna was so young, she didn't notice her differences right away. She tries to become a young bird, by following the examples of the mother bird who is giving guidance to her babies. She isn't allowed to hang upside down. This is too dangerous for little birds, and certainly not natural ... for birds that is. She More...

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Dec 04, 2010

Monalisa rated it:

This is about a bat named Stellaluna. She was a baby bat that was yust born and lost her mother right after. Her mother was trying to get some food when she lost Stellaluna due to a bird's hit. She fell on branches and ended up landing in a bird's nest. They made friends with the birds but she did not like their food. She slept upside down and the birds followed. That made their mother mad and she warned Stellaluna. She adopted very well until her mother found her. She was so happy to go back ho More...

1 comment like

Dec 11, 2009

Jamie rated it:

Stellaluna is a loving story about accepting who you are and respecting who others are. Bats are a creature that most know very little about. Bats are the only mammal that has the capability of flight and this alone makes them fascinating. The illustrations are beautiful and are scientifically educational. The pictures tell the story before the words do and in Stellaluna the imagery completes the book. I think this is a important book for children not only because it shows a different image of More...

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Nov 23, 2011

Scott rated it:

Book about a bat raised by birds until it finds its real mom. Teacher can stress how Stellaluna was different than her 'siblings' but they still accepted and loved her. She adapted to their ways even though it wasn't natural for her. Relate this to student from other country's. In the back of the book dedicate a couple of pages to information of bats, this would be great for a student who has an interest in bats. An activity the class could participate in would be to compare and contrast the bat More...

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Apr 11, 2011

Kristin rated it:

This is one of my favorite books of all time because I have a personal connection to it: my Dad used to read it to me all the time because he is an animal lover and loved the book as well. It is about a bat who loses touch with his mother and ends up in a bird's nest and is raised by a mother bird. One night, Stellaluna is reunited with her mother and is still loved despite the differences they have since Stellaluna was raised by a bird. It is a very touching story that is good for families to r More...

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Jun 11, 2009

Dawn rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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Feb 12, 2011

Hannah added it

Another book for children that makes me look at adult life differently. The way Stellaluna tries to fit in with the bird family is a reminder to let students explore and find their fit, and that every distinct creature has distinct practices that are equally important to all of us. The illustrations are beautifully crafted and align perfectly with the text. I would definitely use this book in a classroom, first or second grade. This book would be a great lead in to talking about the feelings of More...

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Feb 09, 2012

Lauren rated it:

This was another one of my favorite books growing up. It is a great read aloud and children seem to really enjoy it. You can even purchase a plush Stellaluna toy. This is a story about a bat that is separated from her mother by an attacking owl and falls into a bird's nest. The orphaned fruit bat who desperately wants to fit in with a group of baby birds. The birds come to accept her and embrace her differences. She is reunited with her mother in the end. The story is heart-warming and resinates More...

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Dec 25, 2008

Kazima rated it:

Very cute book about bats and birds. A little simple, but a good children's book. Halfway through the book I thought the author had been lazy and stupid trying to convince us that bats saw with beams of lights shooting out of their eyes... But at the end of the book there is a fact page about bats, and what do you know? I learned something today. Some bats use their ears and clicking sounds to navigate, and the bigger ones shoot lights out of their eyes! It's amazing how just because you're grow More...

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Apr 08, 2011

Deanna rated it:

This is a perfect book for students to do a compare and contrast unit on. Children, especially young children often have to accommodate new information that they learn as they think all things that fly are birds, so this is a perfect book to read to a child who is confused. I also think think this a good book to have students do imaging on as the words promote great imagery. This book could even be used to promote community in the classroom as students should appreciate what is different and wha More...

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