Little Bat Up All Day
(Little Bat)

K-Gr 2--In the latest entry to this burgeoning canon of exuberant bat books, Little Bat sets out to learn the answers to all the questions buzzing in his head about daytime. What animals are up and about? What happens to the stars? He is rescued from a circling hawk by Rusty the squirrel, with whom he proceeds to have a lively morning in a fountain, on a swing, a slide, and turning an abandoned birdhouse into a clubhouse. But Little Bat simply can't stay awake past noon. Is the friendship doomed? When Little Bat leaves a message on a leaf at the clubhouse and Rusty replies, they discover a way to keep the nocturnal/diurnal friendship alive. As with the previous books, the appeal here is in the bright acrylic, watercolor and colored pencil illustrations that are almost tactile. The joy of the cavorting animals springs off the page. Details like Little Bat's floaties, a hammer made from a twig and an acorn, and the shadow figures the friends create in the sunshine will bring a smile. VERDICT Sweet and visually appealing but short on dramatic tension, this is best for collections where Lies's other books are in high demand.--Jan Aldrich Solow