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Children’s Book Giveaway: Bats at the Library

July 1, 2011 by 68 Comments

Many of our favorite children’s books are from authors who have passed away – words written in a different time. Goodnight Moon. Green Eggs & Ham. Bread & Jam for Frances.

bats at the library cover Childrens Book Giveaway: Bats at the Library

Author Brian Lies, however, has managed to write and illustrate a text that has all of the characteristics of a classic. Bats at the Library is a tale of grand creativity – a librarian leaves a window open and the bats swoop in for an evening of literacy.

The graceful text is a delight to read aloud and the darkly-colored paintings have plentiful detail to make the reader want to linger on each page.

bat telling a story Childrens Book Giveaway: Bats at the Library little red riding hood bat1 Childrens Book Giveaway: Bats at the Library peter rabbit bat1 Childrens Book Giveaway: Bats at the Library

Because it was published in 2008, it looks like this story missed the chance to win a Caldecott Medal (a shame!), but it still deserves a winning chance to be on your bookshelf.

WIN IT! One winner will receive a copy of Bats at the Library ($10.88) by Brian Lies! To enter, leave any topic-related comment on this post prior to Friday, July 8 at 11:59 p.m. All generic comments like “Enter me!” or “Love it” will be disqualified. Winner must provide a US mailing address.

*UPDATE* The winner is #6 Christine Jensen. Congratulations!

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  • Mica

    My husband and I were just praising our almost 3-year old son yesterday for being such an avid “reader”. The boy will ask us to read to him so many different times of the day and has the attention span to sit through multiple long books. I’m loving that he is starting to comprehend them and answer me when I attempt to ask him some deeper questions. I teach middle school reading, so this pleases me!! We have a nice sized home library, but are always looking to build our collection. You can never have too many books! I’ve never read this one before and would love to win it! By the way, I enjoy your blog. I only read a few, but yours is one of them. =)

  • Sarah

    We just found out we’re expecting in January of next year and are looking to build our child’s library!

  • Sara

    The artwork looks beautiful – very Rats of Nimh. Magical artwok can really bring things to life for our wee ones. ;)

  • MelissaT

    How fun! I’m on the look out for good books for my two-year old. It’s hard to find a book that’s not too weird!

  • http://thefremontfamily.blogspot.com Carrie

    When I was student teaching, there were bats in the attic of the school! The students loved making up stories about the shenanigans those bats were up to. :)

  • http://www.thoughtswithchris.blogspot.com Christine Jensen

    I love the illustrations!

  • Allison

    This book does look magical. I love books that encourage our imaginations to take flight.

    How old were your girls when they really started getting into books? My 15 month old boy just doesn’t seem to have an attention span for a story book, he prefers lift the flap – learn the word books right now. I’m hoping he makes the transition into story books soon.

  • http://norseandjes.blogspot.com Jesica

    The illustrations alone look amazing! I love learning about new books and if I don’t win, I am going to request this one at our local library!

  • http://crazydogslife.blogspot.com Jenn

    Fun books are essential! We’re enjoying several different ones now – my kids enjoy listening to us read anything and everything!

  • http://www.barefootchildhood.com Madeline

    Oooo…we love a good book around here. And, Levi is nuts over animals. He’d be fascinated by this one.

  • http://www.ngradstudent.blogspot.com NGS

    How come I’ve never even heard of this book?! It sounds adorable and I’m a fan of any book that has a library as a major setting. I’m totally in for this one!

  • Erica Ford

    It is always so nice, and greatly appreciated, to get a recommendation for a good children’s book. I was looking for books at the library the other day and it is amazing how many “bad” kid’s books there are out there. Books with terrible pictures and corny stories or straight up bad stories. Our old library in DE used to have a Caldecott Medal winner section in the children’s area and I would only get books from there. I need to start adopting your policy and finding books ahead of time and reserving them. Other great medal winners are Blueberries for Sal, The Little House, and my favorite, Make Way for Ducklings.

    • Stephanie

      I concur with you, Erica. The girls & I often sit and read books at local libraries for hours…and I’m always alarmed that the bad/cheesy/terrible/corny books outnumber the good/exceptional/delightful ones.

  • http://me-lace.blogspot.com lace

    This looks like a such a fun read. The girls love the library and reading books. Our library is also hosting an event about bats this summer. This would be a great book to read during that event.

  • kristen

    I miss Bookmans and their Caldecott Award section. We have a lot of Caldecott books, but I am ALWAYS looking for more (or ones of the same caliber). Thanks, Stephanie! Do the girls like the book?

    • Stephanie

      Bookmans has a Caldecott Award section? How did I not know that? I’m checking it out first thing when we get back to Southern AZ. :)

      Yes – the girls do like the book.

  • Ellen C.

    My son would love to read this. Thanks for the chance.

  • Sarah R.

    My son would love this book, as would I! He’s 2.5 years old and he has been reading more and more for enjoyment. He likes to look at pictures and make up his own stories now, so books with great pictures are a key.

  • http://grettajohns.blogspot.com Gretta

    It’s not often you see a children’s book about bats that is cute & interesting. I would love to win this for our kids to enjoy. Thanks for the chance!

    bamagv at aol dot com

  • Amy Ward

    We are always on the lookout for great books for our son, he LOVES to read! Thanks so much for the contest! I am heading to the library this afternoon and will see if they have this book there!

    • Stephanie

      Wonderful! Let me know what you think of it.

  • http://kristiesnotes.blogspot.com/ Kristie

    Sounds like a wonderful story that I’m sure my children would enjoy :-)

  • Stephanie Tang

    Our little Natalie loves books! We’ll go to the library – bring home a bag full of books and read them ALL as soon as we get home! Recently we’ve been enjoying ‘Duck on a Bike’ and ‘Boo Hoo Bird’. :-)

  • Colleen

    Looks like a great book! Library Lion is a great book to check out and Library Mouse (books not by the same author). I read these books to my kindergarteners. Thanks for the giveaway!!

  • http://www.habitsforahappyhome.com Kerri

    I love discovering a new ‘classic’ and this sounds like a contender. Thanks for the recommendation!

  • http://treasuresinterracotta.blogspot.com Donita

    I love that book! And I especially love Author AND Illustrators. They are specially gifted, in my mind.

  • http://jewelsandtreasures.blogspot.com/ Vanessa

    I’m not sure I would love a bat book (they always have scared me a bit), but we do love to read and our girls would probably love it! :)

  • http://www.gregandkristinevans.com Kristin Evans

    We LOVE to read books here at our house. My oldest is only 19 months, but he definitely has his favorite books that we read EVERYDAY! Always looking to expand our library with quality children’s literature.

  • Lexigurl

    I would love to win this book for my classroom! I love books and finding new greats is always fun!
    lexigurl_17 (at) hotmail (dot) com

  • http://mommasgoneoverthewall.blogspot.com/ Staci A

    My son loves to read and especially loves reading about bats. We read Stellaluna this week and it has us on the hunt for more bat books. So I’m sure he would adore this one!

  • Maria

    I’d love to add this to our library! I’ve been trying to get my 6yo to read more over the summer, and I think he’d like Bats at the Library :)

  • http://www.planestrainsandtaxicabs.com Cathi

    Oh my goodness! Bat In The Library looks wonderful. We believe books to be precious! Our middle grandchild just learned to read and this is right up his alley. Something we can read to him or he can read to us. ;D

  • http://mommyinggrace.wordpress.com/ Dayna

    We would love to take a look at this book. I remember you recommending it before. We have quite a few favorite books that take place in the library…

  • http://starvingstudentsurvivor.blogspot.com/ Joanna @ Starving Student Survivor

    My favorite “new” author is Deborah Diesen. We love The Pout-Pout Fish and my favorite is The Barefooted, Bad-Tempered Baby Brigade. My kids aren’t as thrilled with that one, so I check it out from the library and beg them to let me read it to them. Her books are great to read out loud.

  • Monica Flores

    My sweetboy has recently been very interested in bats! He would love this!

  • http://www.lettners.blogspot.com Nini Lettner

    We love to read! My 4 year old is sounding out words and just itching to read on her own! Her 2 1/2 year old brother likes to read too. He makes up a story based on the pictures…it’s classic!

  • http://www.inductiveparenting.com Amy

    Our 7 week old has a basket of books overflowing in the nursery. We still haven’t made it out to get a bookshelf. Didn’t think we’d need one, but Mama (me) can’t help but pick up a few every time I’m at the thrift store.

  • Shannon Baas

    Great pictures.

  • Theresa H

    I love children’s books and I am thrilled that my daughter is going into early childhood education so I can find her books for her library!!

  • Amber Marie Barnett

    I absoluetely love children’s books and I have been collecting them for some time now. I have admired the Brian Lies books in the bookstores many times, but can never seem to find them used….I guess that means that they are so well liked that no one is reselling them! I would love to have this beautiful book to add to my collection!

  • Cynthia C

    My nephew has become an avid reader this summer. I’d love to surprise him with this beautiful book.

  • Amy M

    Sounds like a great book! I love the idea of swooping down for a night of literacy. It makes me want to have a living room sleepover with a long night of reading great books beforehand!

  • http://metropolitanmama.net Jacquelyn Cannon

    My daughter is interested in bats and this would be great book for her.

  • cindy r

    okay – this might sound weird, but if you look at the little bat holding a book on the bottom right corner of the cover – the look on his/her face is exactly the look I get when I finish an excellent book including the “hugging” of the book, lol- utter joy and contentment..and a bit of sadness that the book is over.

    Would love to have this book to read to my two boys, ages 3 and 4. We read often throughout the day and always before bed – we love the “You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You” books (by Mary Ann Hoberman) when both my husband and I read together. You should check them out, if you haven’t seen them. They’re fun, for the reader as well as the listener.

    Thanks for the give away and the book recommendation.

  • Gay

    This book looks fantastic! I am going to be teaching 2nd grade for the first time this fall and I am spending this summer reading/buying LOTS of great books for my classroom library. This one is a perfect fit!

  • Jennifer

    Thanks for the suggestion- Im always looking for new authors at the library- and its so much easier to have an idenitifed one- sometimes I bring home real stinkers!

  • Lisa S

    Book giveaways are my all-time favorite because you can never have too many books! My daughter loves reading a different book every night so we have to head to the library all the time!

  • http://www.brianlies.com Brian Lies

    Hi, Stephanie! Thanks so much for the kind words about BATS AT THE LIBRARY! I’m thrilled that you’d want to give it away as a prize. May I throw in a bookplate, signed to whomever the winner of the book wants?

    I especially like Cindy R’s comment about the little bat on the cover of the book—and most especially that she sensed of a tinge of sadness that the book is over. That’s what I was going for. As a kid, I remember finding authors whose books I’d devour at a sprint, and then discovering that there weren’t any more by that author. I love reading great stories, but there’s always a lingering sense that they’re going to come to an end…

    All the best,

    Brian Lies

    • Stephanie

      Thanks so much for commenting, Brian…AND thank you also for your generous offer to throw in a signed bookplate as well. I’ll take you up on that and will be sure to let you know when I have selected a winner.

  • http://www.melanieski.blogspot.com Melanie

    I am always looking for new books for my boys. What better than a book about bats reading! This looks like a great book and look forward to reading it.

  • Linda Kish

    The artwork is beautiful in this book. And I love books that rhyme.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

  • Kirsten

    I love the illustrations in this book. One of my favorite things to give my grandchildren is a book. When a friend or family member has a baby I buy them “Love You Forever”. It makes me cry every time I read it but I love it.

  • http://livinglifenmotion.blogspot.com/ Tarah

    I love the illustrations of this book – you’re right – the makings of a classic! I’d love to add this to my sons library.

  • http://www.ayearwithmomanddad.com JulieK

    I always enjoy picture books with characters that are different animals than the standard puppy, bear, etc. This book looks fun and very engaging!

  • Jasmine Smith

    Hi Stephanie,

    Bats at the Library and Bats at the Beach are on our list of favorites. We also enjoy The Giant Hug by Sandra Horning (about a little pig who sends his grandmother a hug through the mail), and Dream Big Little Pig by Kristi Yamaguchi. Now that my five-year-old is reading on her own, we have a variety of Scholastic’s Word Family Tales.
    But for my two girls, evening story time isn’t complete without the ABCs of Yoga for Kids by Teresa Anne Power.

    • Stephanie

      Bats at the Beach! That sounds fun too! I’ll have to look it up at a local library. :)

  • Jen

    love the illustrations, it reminds me of mouse guard!

    thanks steph!

  • http://myheartbelongs2books.blogspot.com/ apple blossom

    Oh, this looks like a really cute book thanks

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

  • Rebecca Peters
  • Jill L

    Always love new books for the little ones. We love to read.

  • april bever

    My little one is only 6 but he loves to read, I’m sure he would like this

  • Tobster

    We’re always looking for new great books — this seems like it would fit the bill. I love introducing new ones to my kiddo, and I love when she takes to them and asks for them by name.

  • Diane Baum

    I’ve always been afraid of bats, but I have a friend who l9ves to explore caves looking at bats.

  • susan smoaks

    this looks like a great book and the illustrations are amazing

  • Ed Nemmers

    I like the darkness and richness of the illustrations!

  • pridelandmama
  • Kristen

    Hey! Just testing to see if you keep the comments open even after the contest is over. Trying to figure out what we want to do! :)

    • Stephanie

      I typically keep my comments open for forever, but I know that some bloggers choose to close comments after a certain window of time has passed.