Review of Batty Wings

[Alida Spies]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Batty Wings" by Marlene Rattigan.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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“Batty Wings” by Marlene Rattigan is a delightful children’s book about a grandmother who entertains her two grandchildren with stories about her unusual nightlife. JJ and Mia are in awe when Granny tells them about her adventures as a bat. At night, Granny grows bat wings and flies around the house and the neighborhood, checking on things. She also talks to her bat friends and tells them about her two beloved grandchildren.

The illustrations are beautiful and enhance the appeal of the story. Sergio Drumond’s colorful images support Marlene’s words to create a fascinating, visually appealing story. The text is clear and realistic. Word usage is appropriate for young children. It is easy to picture Granny, JJ and Mia having these conversations and having fun together. The author tells the story almost exclusively in dialogue, without long, complicated descriptions or background information. Marlene shares an adventure narrative without deep, hidden life lessons and moral viewpoints. Children love stories and pictures; they help them to visualize the story and the characters. To illustrate, some children may have never seen a bat. The depictions of bats hanging upside down and the text explaining that they only fly around at night serve to educate them about the species.

JJ’s comments about Granny taking pictures of herself or asking his dad to take photos of her in bat mode show how entrenched these devices are in everyone’s lives. Children today grow up in a different world from what their grandparents experienced. A book like this creates meaningful opportunities to stimulate their imagination and increase their appreciation of reading.

I didn’t encounter any errors in the book. I think it was exceptionally well-edited. I loved the book, and I disliked absolutely nothing about it. My rating for this book is 5 out of 5 stars. Children aged six or younger will enjoy it.

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Batty Wings
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