ABOUT THIS BOOK: STELLALUNA
by Janell Cannon
“In a warm and sultry forest far, far away, there once lived a mother fruit bat and her new baby. Oh, how Mother Bat loved
her soft tiny baby. ‘I’ll name you Stellaluna,’she crooned. Each night, Mother Bat would carry Stellaluna clutched to her breast as she flew out to search for food.”
So begins this beautiful story of friendship and individuality. Bats are not an animal that people usually find cute and cuddly. However, the magnificent illustrations that are both warm and scientifically correct will add to your love of this award-winning book.
As noted on the book jacket, Ms. Cannon hopes to dispel erroneous myths about bats. Her “love and respect for all creatures inspired her to choose bats as the subject of her first children’s book.”At the end of the story, you’ll find two pages of information about bats.
The Ugly Duckling’s problem of “conforming”might occur to you as you read about Stellaluna trying to fit in with a family of birds. The joy that both the Ugly Duckling and Stellaluna feel when they discover who they are leads to a happy ending. Stellaluna’s storyline, also, develops themes of friendship and acceptance. Another quote from the text:
“How can we be so different and feel so much alike?
How can we feel so different and be so much alike?”
…….
“But we’re friends. And that’s a fact.”
Ms. Cannon uses figurarive language, such as: onomatopoeia (flump) and similes (“as limp and useless as wet paper”). She uses great vocabulary, such as: clammered and mused.
Stellaluna was a PBS Reading Rainbow selection. In a 2007 poll of National Education Association members it was named one of “Teachers’Top 100 Books for Children.”In 1994, it was the American Booksellers’ Book of the Year. Inside the front of the book jacket, several other awards are listed.
The Reading Comprehension Best Practice for this book is Predicting. You’ll be making predictions before, during, and after reading this story. As you look at the illustrations, you’ll be making predictions about what information you think the text will reveal. As you turn the pages during the SECOND READING, you’ll make predictions about what will happen next in the plot. During the THIRD READING, you’ll make predictions about what will happen to the characters the next day. Will everyone stay friends? I think they will!