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Misunderstood Creatures
Bart the Tiny Bat follows a tiny bat with one tooth who goes out one night and gets lost in a strange place, leaving him scared and alone, and only wanting to return home. What was the inspiration for your story?
So the bat hanging on the ceiling fan happened to me in real life. My initial reaction was similar to the character Barb’s in my book. I calmed down though and realized how scared the bat was. I got an oversized jar and scooped the bat gently in, and released it outside. I posted the experience on social media and it became clear this was my next book.
What educational aspects were important for you to include in this children’s book?
The importance of animals that we don’t understand and the role they play in the environment. Bats in particular play a very important role in our environment and are very misunderstood creatures. I also wanted to teach children to have empathy toward all animals.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
It was so fun learning about bats! I did my research and had some help from our local zoo. I illustrate my own books and that is honestly my favorite part. Creating characters, and drawing them into life.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
That’s a great question. I’m thinking about what other animals fall in the category of environmental importance and being misunderstood. There are a couple. The positive response from this book though makes me want to do more.
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Bart the Tiny Bat
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
LITERARY TITAN 