Bart the Tiny Bat by Edward Boyd is one of those children’s books that starts off sneaky—like, you think you’re just getting a little animal fact book, and then bam! It turns into this sweet, funny, kinda wild adventure about a teeny-tiny bat named Bart who gets chased by an owl, ends up in someone’s house, and accidentally freaks out a whole family. It’s half nature lesson, half nighttime chaos, and honestly, it’s adorable from start to finish.

As a teacher, I loved how the book mixed fun facts with the story. Right at the beginning, it dives into what bats eat (some eat frogs!), how they sleep upside down, and how they “see with their ears” using sonar. My students would eat that up. And then there’s Bart himself—he’s only 3 inches long and has one tiny tooth. The illustrations of him are so cute. I loved his little tooth hanging out and his smile was charming. Seeing him hang upside down, dodge an owl, and then end up on a ceiling fan in someone’s house? I was smiling the whole time. And when Barb’s bangs blew back from screaming? Totally relatable.

The story also really hits a sweet note. Poor Bart is so scared and lost you feel for the little guy. Trenton, the boy in the story, could’ve panicked, but instead he gently scoops Bart up in a bug jar and lets him go. The message at the end, “We all get lost sometimes.” I love that. It’s simple, it’s kind, and it’s something I can build a class discussion around.

If you’re a parent, teacher, or librarian looking for a read-aloud that’s both fun and meaningful, Bart the Tiny Bat is a winner. Great for K-3rd grade, especially if your kids love animals, surprises, and a little nighttime adventure.

Pages: 38 | ASIN : B0DZ4BV3JQ