Stellaluna

1990

owls
juvenile fiction
aves
bats
birds
ficción juvenil
fiction
juvenile software
murciélagos
software

The story

Stellaluna is a 1993 children's book by Janell Cannon about a young fruit bat, Stellaluna, who becomes separated from her mother and finds her way to a nest of birds. She is adopted by them and learns bird-like behavior. Eventually, Stellaluna finds other bats and reunites with her mother, and she learns how to behave like a bat. She introduces the birds to her bat family. Stellaluna and the birds decide that, despite their many differences, they are still friends. Stellaluna was a New York Times bestseller, appeared on the National Education Association's list of "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children", and won several awards, including the 1996 Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for Children.

What it’s like

Richly painted pictures in deep greens, warm browns and moonlit blues fill every spread, with close, detailed studies of fur, feathers and leaves that reward slow looking. The night scenes glow softly, while the daytime nest and treetop scenes feel warm and crowded with friendly small creatures. The prose is short, rhythmic and read-aloud friendly, with a gentle lilt and repeated phrases that make it easy to hear in a quiet voice. A young bat is separated from her mother and cared for by a family of birds, and the story is about learning to belong to two worlds at once. The mood is tender and reassuring, with a brief wobble of worry that resolves into warmth. Violence is absent, and the single moment of danger is softened. It suits a cozy bedtime, a rainy afternoon with a child on your lap, or a comfort reread for adults who love illustrated books. It is for readers who want something gentle, observant and kind about difference and friendship.

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