Stellaluna

Reader reviewed by Dede

Stellaluna is a baby fruit bat who, during a fight between an owl and her mother, fell into a birds nest. Stellaluna learns to act like the baby birds, even eating disgusting bugs, but the mama bird won't let her hang upside down or do anything bat-like. When they all learn to fly, Stellaluna goes too far one day and gets left behind to sleep on her own. Stellaluna hangs by her hands that night because she promised the mama bird she wouldn't hang by her feet. She falls asleep and is woken by another fruit bat who tell Stella that she is upside down. Stella is reunited with her mother and is taught all the fruit bat ways and accepts herself. But she doesn't forget her friends, the baby birds and she invites them to spend a night with her. They do, and they do bat things, like hanging upside down, but they can't fly at night and they wonder how they can be so different yet so alike.

Reader reviewed by Amanda

Stellaluna is a cool book for kids to read together. It is informative and comforting.


Stellaluna is a fruit bat separated from her mother and is raised as a bird. She's eating bugs, sleeping at night, and not hanging upside down or in a bat's eyes---right side up. She goes off on her own and meets some other bats. They are confused by her actions. Stellaluna finds her real bat mother also. Then, she visits her bird family. They are all still friendly and a family. Also, you will learn about the history and life of bats in the non-fiction section.


Stellaluna is an excellent picture book for baby-sitting. It will tell kids about the differences in people and intolerance. They'll learn about bats (that's the bets part!) and like Stellaluna. I recommend Stellaluna for reading to kdis 6 and up! 4 stars!