I Am Bat

by Morag Hood

I am bat.
I love cherries. They are juicy and red and delicious and...
My cherries! Some of them are missing.
Who took my cherries? Was it YOU?

Join the grumpily adorable Bat as he searches for his missing cherries in this vibrant and hilarious picture book.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Storytime, Food, Childrens, Humor, Fiction

26 pages, Hardcover

First published September 5, 2017

About the author

"I'm an award-winning children's book author and illustrator from Edinburgh. I love making up stories, print-making and cutting and sticking. My favourite things to draw are eyebrows.

I have an MA in Children's Book Illustration from Cambridge School of Art and a BA in Costume Design from Wimbledon College of Art. I used to work in theatre, but now spend my days in my Edinburgh studio with views of the hills.

One day I will manage to write a book about my very favourite animal - the duck.

I am represented by Paul Moreton at Bell Lomax Moreton."

Reviews

[Julie Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun children's book. Bat is a little protective and a little grumpy. I think kids will definitely enjoy this read. Especially if the reader has fun with bat's character and voice in the story. He has a bunch of cherries he is protecting and warns the reader not to touch his cherries. When he sets them down, they start to disappear. Who is taking the cherries? Will bat behind to find out who the culprits are? I enjoyed the illustrations, bat was expressive in his different moods and the bright colors will appeal to young reader's for sure. At the end, he doesn't quite find what he is looking for but I could see this turning into a series with bat searching for his lost 'items'.

I received a copy from the publisher, SOURCEBOOKS Jabberwocky, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

[Chance Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bright, colorful images complement a fun story about a grouchy bat and his cherries. He's so busy telling people not to take his cherries, that a bunch of animals steal his cherries. Whoops. He finds a new favorite in the end, and all is right in Bat's world.

Storytime 11/28. The kids LOVED this book -- the bright colors, the cutesy animals, the bat's long fangs. Everything.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bat is a grumpy character, who states that he does not like mornings, but likes cherries. Bat guards his cherries, but when he puts them down they begin to disappear. His expressions are wonderful. We see other animals eating the cherries at the top of the page. When they leave him other fruit in exchange, he realizes that he likes fruit in general. A nice way to show children that if you taste food, you may find you like other things.

The illustrations were colourful and show expressions well. The story is adorable, especially for JK/SK classrooms. It is a picture book appropriate for ages 4 and up. I would recommend this book to schools, kindergarten classrooms and family libraries. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

A territorial bat informs the reader that his cherries, which he likes very much, are off limits. Unfortunately for him, while he threatens the reader with retribution should she steal his fruit, a series of animals make off with his sweet, red treasures behind his back. Fortunately for him, they offer him a pear in exchange...

I Am a Bat is the first picture-book I have read from British author/illustrator Morag Hood, but I certainly hope it will not be the last. The story is entertaining, and the illustrations, done in lino print and collage, are bright and colorful - sure to keep young children engaged. The combination of humorous text with eye-popping artwork make this a good read-aloud selection for story-time.

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

My toddler enjoyed the story and illustrations but I wasn't impressed with the message. Although Bat was selfish about his cherries, it doesn't sit right that it was OK for 4 animals to steal Bat's cherries and then replace it with a pear! I won't be teaching my daughter that it is acceptable to steal someone's chocolate bar as long as she replaces it with something else!

[Helen White · Rating 5 out of 5]

My new favourite picture book. This is bat. Bat likes cherries. Do not take the cherries or bat will be ferocious like a lion. A lion takes bat's cherries his devastation is real. The best drawn bat I've ever seen.

[Kirsty Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story the moral of which is if you steal cherries from a bat give them a pear instead.

[Christa · Rating 4 out of 5]

MINE!

Thanks Maisie for great book suggestions. Simply hilarious

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would be grumpy too if someone took my favorite food.

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I’ve ever read

[Dna · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many funny ways to read this book. Bat of I Am Bat is the cutest little bat ever. Just don't take his cherries.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I so want to do this for storytime! So funny!

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bat is not a morning person, but he does have a couple of things he likes, particularly juicy, red cherries. I'm not sure why he loves them so much, but the fact remains that he does, and he is very protective of those cherries, having no intention of sharing them with anyone else. When the cherries disappear, eaten by other animals who are visible at the top of the page, he proclaims just how miserable he is. But his unseen friends offer a delicious green pear to replace the stolen cherries, and Bat realizes that cherries aren't the only delicious fruit out there. I had to smile at how quickly Bat changed his allegiance from one fruit to another one, though.

[Emmeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this on a bit of a whim for my almost three year old, because it seemed to deal with themes of possessiveness. Now it is my favourite of all things. In fact, it is currently the favourite picture book of myself, my partner, my sister, my parents and the almost three year old herself. We bought it a week ago and have read it approximately 300 times. Bat is an adorable, grouchy fanged hero and I feel that both a fun story (complete with a lion subplot) and a fully developed character are contained within what – 16 pages. A joy.

[debbicat *made of stardust* · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I am bat. I do not like mornings." (I don't either!)
" I like cherries. They are my favorite of all things." (Same here! WOW!!)

There is an especially cute illustration of bat guarding some cherries. I resemble this illustration when I have cherries.

I think this was adorable! As a teacher of preschool and elementary aged children, I highly recommend it. It is a picture book appropriate for ages 4 and up. I am certain all the kids I work with would eat it up. Just like I would cherries. And other fruit. Bat likes fruit. So do I!

Thank you Sourcebooks for a digital copy to read for a review. I greatly enjoyed it. Hope to purchase a classroom copy as I am sure it will be read often.

[Srujan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story of a grumpy bat who is so busy warning potential theives about stealing from him, that he doesn't realise his bunch of cherries are stolen by his animal friends. The charm of this story lies in how animated the story teller can get while story telling. We got lots and lots of giggles from the short "Cherries for 1" recipe at the end. It's a light fun read, especially on the days when we want reading to be light and breezy, not pedantic. The big bright & quirky illustrations are a hit with toddlers, especially when they are still learning to sit patiently for a reading session but can't stay still much.

[jess ~has abandoned GR~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wished I loved this story more, but it fell a bit flat for me. Bat is crazy about cherries, and very protective of them, but when some cherries disappear and are replaced by a pear, he can be just as crazy and protective of the pear, instead.

I wish the bat had been either cuter or more realistic, and that the story had some sort of message or lesson or something other than a brief chuckle at how quickly Bat decides that the pear is an acceptable alternative to his beloved cherries.

received via Netgalley

[Rebecca Storey · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the surface, this is a simple, short story about a bat who just loves cherries. However, when Bat's beloved cherries are taken from him, it becomes a story about sharing with friends and being open-minded and accepting of alternative options and change. For Bat, this surprising alternative comes in the shape of a pear, which he ends up loving just as much as his cherries! The large pictures, simple sentences and direct audience address ("Was it you?" who stole Bat's cherries...) make it enjoyable and engaging for a younger audience (Nursery/EYFS).

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple, fun, with bold, colorful images.
This book was a hit with my pre-school, kindergarten, and first grade story times.

It also ended up being a great way to talk to the first-grade kids about their favorite kinds of fruits. The kids also talked about how it was not very nice of Bat to refuse to share his cherries.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love, I Am Bat, perfect for the pre-school age group. Love the art work, simple block prints and primary colours, reminiscent of Miffy books. Love the simple humour and whimsy, sometimes children's books just make me smile, and disturbingly I think I can identify with Bat. Perhaps I should read more children's books.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this arc from Netgalley for an honest review.
The Little bat does not like to get up early, but he loves cherries. His cherries keep disappearing. Where are they going, it must be the reader.

[Melissa McAlvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know I am partial to the newish trend of a picture character talking to the reader, but they are just so fun to read aloud. Add in a main character who is an animal not featured in many picture books, and simple fun text and illustrations and you have a winner to me.

[Kelly Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would die for Bat, honestly.

And if ANYONE takes his pear, I will fight.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beware. Do not take Bat's fruit.
🍒🍐

[Sarabeth Arima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Currently my favorite book to read to my 6 month old❤️

[Catriona Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I actually am bat 😍🍒🦇🍐

[Donna Maguire · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book, but the story wasn't very strong for me and I wasn't a huge fan of the images - the story is easy enough to follow for young children who are just learning a few words, but don't see it being a book that is read over and over again. Two stars from me sadly.

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Jillyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an okay book, but I was left a bit disappointed.

I adore bats, so I was really excited to see one as the main character of this picture book.

I'll start with the good things first. The art work is really cute. It's full of bright colors and cute fonts. I also really like Bat himself. He has good facial expressions that match well with the text that is alongside it.

But there's... Not really a story arc. It ends really suddenly, and you're not given a lot to go off of. I understand that this is a kid's picture book, but that still doesn't mean there shouldn't be some sort of plot.

So, this was cute, but not really a great story. If you or your kid loves bats like I do, it might be worth it for the cute pictures. But even for a picture book, this is a super quick one that won't take long.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Emily Duchon · Rating 5 out of 5]

super cute. perfect for toddler time!

this is about a little bat that loves, loves cherries. you better not take them, you hear?

it made me want both a bowl full of cherries and a delightful pet bat to go home to.

i guess i'll settle for the bowl full of cherries though.