Product Description
Up marched the saxophones,
all 25 --
sopranos and altos
they come five by five

The creators of Bat Jamboree, which School Library Journal called "a witty combination of counting book and theatrical experience," are proud to introduce -- 385 marching band bats!From the drum majorette, who marches 1 X 1, to the sousaphones striding 10 X 10, these bats march in multiples to the tune of Kathi Appelt's snappy text and Melissa Sweet's boisterous illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Full of colorfulillustrations, this is a wonderful book.
The Marching Bat Band parades down the Grand Promenade to the tune of "Stars and Stripes."From two times two to ten times ten, the bats demonstrate multiplication. This book has 385 bats strutting their stuffand is a great follow up to Bat Jamboree by the same author andillustrator.Full of colorful, active illustrations with the right numberof bats on each page (to help in counting), this is a wonderful book. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (15)

Good stuff
Weekly World News sadly no longer exists but if your looking for the archives, which I'm guessing your local library does not have, this book is great.The book has a nice selection of stories and crazy imagery that WWN was known for.

WARNING: Just like a comedy album, this book will get old!
But I still give it five stars.I do so because I'm so happy that the creators of the Weekly World News put this book out, otherwise, I'd feel like a loser trying to colelct as many old issues as I could.

Will there ever be another periodical as great or informative as the WWN?I don't see any coming on the horizon.Even the WWN's website is down!

It all makes me depressed.But I can cheer up with one fact, that even though the Weekly World News is dead, Bat Boy still lives!

If you have seen Men in Black . . .
. . . then you understand why this coffee-table size book is a must have for your reference library, especially since the Weekly World News recently quit publishing.This thing would be hilarious, if it weren't so true.My only disappointment was that, while the book includes the excellent article explaining that Abe Lincoln was female (yes folks, "Babe" Lincoln),the editors neglected to include a related and one of my all time favorite WWN articles:"Woman Gives Birth to Abe Lincoln" (that is WITH beard).You'll enjoy this.

So funny
My dad loved this book...he used to collect the newspapers to get his students interested in reading something...anything!

set your faces to stun
This and the Holy Bible are the only two books you need.

I continue to be baffled why folks believe The New York Times but not the Weekly World News. The WWN has *never* had to print a retraction or correction. It is the journalistic standard to which the Columbia Review of Journalism should benchmark.

Modern documentation off what Old Scratch is up to.

You may want to get a copy of "Let's Pave the Stupid Rainforest and Give Teachers Stun Guns." ... Read more

Product Description
In a powerful book set in post-World War II Oregon, sixth graders from rival towns prepare for the 50th annual softball game. Two of the players - a Japanese American who spent the war in an internment camp and a girl whose father was killed at Pearl Harbor - collide with tragic results on the day of the big game. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

Bat 6 by Virginia Euwer


Bat 6 by Virginia Euwer Wolff



Virginia Euwer Wolff's Bat 6 takes place in post World War II Oregon, but it could just as easily have taken place in any county in America. Ostensibly, it is about an historic girl's softball play-off in 1949.But really it is a tale of how prejudice and bigotry can bring tragedy and how forgiveness can change it all.

The book follows the girls of the Bear Creek Ridge Grade School team and the Barlow Road Grade School team as they prepare for the fiftieth anniversary of Bat 6, so called because the players had to be in 6th grade, and the trophy was a bat with the names of the winners and the most valuable player inscribed on it.

That year was different from all the other 49 years.People were still recovering from the war, and hard feelings periodically surfaced, as in the racist soaped message about the Japanese on the windows of McHenry's store.Two new players emerged that were to change the Bat 6 tournament forever.Aki Mikami recently returned with her family from a Japanese internment camp, and a brand new girl who called herself Shazam showed up on the first day of school.

The story unfolds through a series of monologues by each member of each team.Shazam's father was killed in Pearl Harbor, and her mother was "not on her feet yet," so Shazam lived with her grandmother.Shazam blamed all Japanese people for her father's death.Although she hinted at this anger several times, no one wanted to confront her about it.They couldn't have guessed that these feelings would result in a tragedy that would permanently mar the final play-off and affect the community for years to come.

It is not the incident itself that makes Bat 6 an award-winning book.Virginia Euwer Wolff won the New York Public Library 100 Best Books of the Year award, a School Library Journal Best Book award, an ALA Notable Book listing, and a Jane Addams Award for this thought provoking work.What makes Bat 6 unique is the community's response to the incident that left Aki in a head and neck brace with her jaw wired shut for the entire summer.

As Virginia Euwer Wolff says on her blog, "As I looked through the characters, I found one who seemed to be ideally suited to do the right thing..... It is her oddness, her peculiarity, that enables her to do the right thing at the end of the story."

Manzanita or Manny to her friends, is the one teammate who convinces Shazam to come and see Aki after the incident.The visit is awkward and uncomfortable, but in the end, Shazam apologizes, making room for individual and community healing.

The book is a powerful foray into issues of racism, prejudice, war, and forgiveness. It is ideal for middle age readers and young adults, 4th grade through high school.The characters are complex, vivid and engaging.Of the 21 teammates, not one is left unchanged, and the same may be said for the entire community.The teen language is convincing and amusing.As Tootie, the catcher for Bear Creek Ridge, says of Aki's prowess on the ball field, "hubba hubba ding ding!"

Bat 6 is one of those books that stays with you long after it has been read.

"I'm not sure we human beings can make complete sense of our history. What we can do is keep telling the stories. And, luckily, we do just that. We keep trying to get it right."
Virginia Euwer Wolff, 2009

Aftermath of War
The year is 1949.In the little towns of Barlow and Bear Creek Ridge, there is a traditional softball game that has been played every year since 1899.The game was started because the men in the two towns were angry at each other and refused to speak.The women in the two towns decided to play a friendly softball game against each other in order to get the men talking to each other again.It worked, and became a tradition.The game in later years came to be played by the sixth grade girls every year, and the girls now always look forward to it.It is an honor and a last opportunity to do something for their towns before seventh grade, when they all go to the same consolidated junior high school.

This book is told by the members of both teams, and tells the story leading up to the Bat 6 game and the things that happen after the game.At first both teams expect it to be a normal year, but each team then gains someone new.On the Bear Creek Ridge team, it is Aki, a girl who used to live in town but had spent years in a Japanese internment camp during the war.On the Barlow team it is Shazam, a strange girl who comes to town without a mother or father, to live with her grandmother.Over the course of the novel her secret comes out, and the reader can see that there might be trouble at the game.

I liked the idea of this book.It is a good story about the aftermath of war, and what happened to families once the war ended.I liked that there is a wide diversity in the characters.There are rich and poor, those whose fathers fought and those whose fathers refused to fight, people who benefited from the GI Bill, people who didn't seem to be affected by the war, people with prejudices and people without.

I didn't like that the author tries to write the story in the way sixth-graders would really write.The girls have run-on sentences, their thoughts are disconnected, and they don't use proper grammar or punctuation.I found that very distracting and unnecessary.

Must read
Set just after World War II, Bat 6 addresses racism through the eyes of 12 year old girls.Although it's juvenile literature, the theme of this book is very mature.It should be required reading for pre-adolescents!It's great food for thought and discussion.

A Fun Story that Deals with Some Important Themes
Bat 6 is such a great example of point of view in a book. The story is told from many different perspectives that come together to paint the whole picture. The story develops the characters of Aki and Shazam the most, leading up to their confrontation in the game. Wolff makes Aki into a very sympathetic victim, but also creates a sympathetic and complex protagoinst with Shazam. The story exposes shortcomings in religion and in the USA. It provides a great introduction into the Japanese internment during WW2 and racism towards Asian-Americans. It makes a profound statement about the absurdity of war and the need for peace. Also, the story raises moral dilemmas about what is right and wrong. This would be great to integrate elements of thater and character analysis with the teaching. An easy read and fun story that also brings up some important and heavy issues.

6th Grader's Review
This book is about two girl baseball teams. Both teams have a new girl on their team. This story takes place a few years after World War 2. Both teams are really looking forward to the big game, Bat 6. In every chapter different girls from one team talk and give their opinion about the things that happen during the book. One conflict is racism between Americans and Japanese.One character that was interesting to me is Shazam. Shazam is a girl who is on one of the baseball teams.She was interesting to me because of how much racism she had towards Japanese people.

I did not like this book very much. I did not like it because the author had too much dialogue and not enough action. The author did a good job of describing the feelings of Shazam and how she hated Japanese people. Racism was a big effect on people back then, like Shazam. I think people who like sad books would like it because in the book something sad happens.


... Read more

Customer Reviews (33)

200 pages of primary sources
It is hard to argue with this book. This is the book to give to your history professor. It's hard to argue with 200 pages of primary sources. In the Islamic world of the past, as is today, any criticism of Islam was forbidden. That must be kept in mind when reading any book on the subject of Islam and how it treated it's subjects. Mark Durie in, "The Third Choice", for which Bat Ye'or wrote the forward, observes the reluctance people have when it comes to questioning Islam.The Third Choice: Islam, dhimmitude and freedom

Don't be intimidated, whether you are a Muslim, Christian, Atheist or call yourself something else, read the book.

A shocking book
I have started reading up on the Bible not to long ago. I am an Atheist, although I do (also) consider myself a 'cultural-Christian', because I accept the fact that 2000 years of Christianity has shaped my part of the world (Europe) as no other. And ofcourse the Greek-Roman legacy, not to forget. Sinds the turn of the century I have also focused more closely on the Islam and its history. We Europeans have had a tremendous influx of islam in Europe in the past 35 years. About 50 milion muslims live on our side of the sea right now, and that number has been reached within this period of time. It is a staggering fact. Whole cities have changed and the European culture of reason and a certain amount of tolerance has been challenged. Reading Bat Ye'or's book 'Eurabia' triggerd a hunger for more information. She writes with a balance and depth which is truly impressive. The facts she has uncoverd are staggering. I am still in the proces of balancing out all that I have read, but up till now I must confess that my state of mind is in a 'ding-dong' fase. I thank Bat Ye'or for her enormous contribution in this field. The Islamic civilization has hidden some very nasty things of her history. I am glad somebody is finally looking into it.

Outstanding
This is an outstanding book that gives in great detail the process through which the Christian Middle East was conquered, pillaged and subjugated as dhimmis by Arabian Islamic invaders, and how its largely Christian peoples were massacred, enslaved, and forced over time either to accept Islam --- or to accept permanent degradation, humiliation and impoverishment.

Beginning in the 7th century in ever-expanding conquered lands that came to be known as the Islamic empire, non-Muslims were governed by the so-called Pact of Umar, under which they were purportedly "protected" from aggression. In reality, they were annually extorted of an onerous "head tax" and forced to become subservient to and debased by Islamic laws. In exchange Islamic rulers granted them the "freedom" to continue practicing their faith --- but among other things, denied them the right to own land or homes, ring church bells, build new churches (or have any taller than mosques), repair existing churches without official approval, ride on horses --- go outdoors without distinctly colored clothes or rags identifying them as non-Muslims.

No wonder then, as Bat Ye'or demonstrates with a vast collection of well-documented historical details, within an amazingly short time, Middle Eastern Christianity declined to a state of near extinction. Moreover, Bat Ye'or shows in great detail that all this occurred over 1,000 years before the Jewish people created the modern state of Israel.

In fact, since Rome's first century destruction of Jerusalem, and Rome's 4th century conversion to Christianity after the reforms of the Emperor Constantine, Israel hosted a large Christian population in addition to Jewish natives who had returned from exile or settled in Judea, Samaria and the southern region abutting the Red Sea.

In any case, Bat Ye'or carefully delineates the history that led to the current situation --- in which, for example, Egypt's besieged Coptic Christian community comprises but 10% of its population (despite the number of Coptic monuments), and remains very much oppressed and in fear. Similarly, Iraq's Assyrian and Chaldean Christians are as fearful and oppressed in liberated Iraq as they were during the chaos and genocide of Christians that followed World War I, in both Iraq and Turkey.

Bat Ye'or does focuses for the most part on the 7th through 16th centuries, but she does also touch upon the dhimmitude --- utter degradation and, as it were, social enslavement --- of the relative handful of Christians who remained in the Middle East into the 20th century.

This book is an excellent introduction to Middle East history for any and all readers. However, it may be especially poignant for Eastern Christians prone to blaming the sorry condition of their people on Israel's 1948 establishment --- as was a Syrian Orthodox gentleman whom I had the pleasure to meet some years ago at a friend's Gregorian Christmas celebration on January 7. His family in its entirety had completely absorbed Muslim anti-Israel propaganda, and he was fascinated to learn that such a history as this existed.

I recommend this book highly, along with Bat Ye'or's many other important scholarly writings on Islam --- including its history and its effect on current events.

---Alyssa A. Lappen

Great book, clumsy translation
The author's learning, decency, and humanity are obvious, and the story she tells is fascinating (and horrible). (One also should mention her courage.)

Sadly, the translation appears to be the work of someone whose grasp of English idiom is flawed in the extreme. The reader is constantly having to translate the text into English from "English." It's like trying to bicycle on a mountain road covered with big cobbles and the occasional pile of boulders.

an utterly stupid and worthless book
[...]

The writer does not understand the plight of Christians in muslim countries or what in practice Dhimmitude involves today as opposed to centuries ago under the turks.She depends on interpretations of texts rather than the life experiences of real people.The experiences of each country under Islam has been very different.Christianity was not destroyed in by Islamic rule in places like Greece or Bulgaria, even though they suffered terribly in all places.Islam cannot destroy christians who stand true.

The purpose of this book and its author is to whip up anti-islamic feelings in the west to a point where a conflict of civiliations becomes a reality.After all, for those who accept her (false) case, the only viable alternative to "save" the west is going to be to eliminate freedom of religion for Muslims.And what an anti-islamic crusade will mean for eastern christians is their total destruction.

Christians in the middle east learned in Iraq that they have no friends in America.The only thing the americans brought were missionaries to convert Christians to american churches.Churches where Christ is ignored, there are no crosses and where their god seems to be the Israeli government.

If you want to read true stories of eastern christianity in english, I would recommend William Dalrymple's From the Holy Mountain.
... Read more

Product Description

The mighty Casey is getting what any failed sports hero most desires: a second chance. He's got to prove himself after his last, disastrous game. All eyes are on Casey as he steps up to the plate. Will he finally bring joy to Mudville?

Customer Reviews (8)

Wow what a great job
My little boy checked this out at the school library.I had never heard of it and was a bit nervous.I loved the original and thought it could only go downhill.Boy was I wrong.It has the feel of Casey and is really well done.After reading it to my son, I read him the original.He like Casey's return even better!I will be going to Amazon.com to add this to our library.Great job!

A creative sequel!
Reviewed by Cayden Aures (age 4 ½) and Mom for Reader Views (4/09)

"Casey Back at Bat" is Dan Gutman's sequel to Ernest Lawrence Taylor's legendary poem "Casey at the Bat: A Ballad of the Republic." Casey is getting a second chance. Will he be able to prove himself?

Cayden: "I like playing baseball! We just played out in the yard yesterday. Casey is really big. Do his teeth really have muscles like they said? I think he is a giant! Wow, he can hit the ball really far! My favorite part was when he hit it all of the way back to when the dinosaurs lived. That was a long time ago because dinosaurs are extinct! That was a good story."

Parent's comments:

The story of Casey has been around for awhile and the illustrations accurately reflect this as they have an old-fashioned feel to them. The story itself is very creative and it is fun to see a new spin on an old classic. "Casey Back at Bat" by Dan Gutman would be an excellent choice for any young child who enjoys baseball.

Childrens Baseball books
Awesome Book! Both my son and daughter love it. The artwork is fantastic and the story very entertaining.

4 1/2 A Screwball Twist on a Classic Story
As Spring training approaches, many kids will focus on the game of baseball. Adults, nostalgic about the sport in its more pristine state, may grab a DVD of "Field of Dreams," or search for a version of Ernest Thayer's classic ballad, "Casey at the Bat."`Casey' has been re-tooled many times, most notably by Patricia Polacco in her Little League Version, and illustrator Christoper Bing's recreation of a vintage book, complete with yellowed pages, old newspaper ads and articles, period uniforms and baseball equipment, and other ephemera.

Gutman, a longtime writer of baseball-themed books, takes the mythic Casey one step further than most.Casey is pretty much the same fellow we've come to expect, without the emphasis on his savagery or `lip-curling' swagger. He's broad-shouldered and strong-jawed, looking like a heavily muscled Gregory Peck. Guttman doesn't focus on Casey, but rather on the mythic aspects, exploding them with fanciful exaggeration and humor:

"His arms, his legs, his neck, his lips--his teeth had muscles too.
They rippled from his little toe up to his eyes of blue.
He sneered, he snarled at Mudville's foes, then threw the fans a smirk.
Some ladies found him handsome. Some thought he was a jerk.


Gutman departs from the original story on the third pitch to Casey: Instead of the tragic strike three, Casey hits ("whacks" and "cracks") the ball right out of the park, and into a fantasy flight that propels the rest of the book.Casey looks rather mundane in comparison, In its gravity-defying flight, the ball "crossed the great Atlantic," and makes history.. It strikes a certain tower in Pisa, Italy, causing it to lean, takes off the nose of the Sphinx, does an Einstein-ian 4th dimensional trip back in time to the dinosaurs ("The creatures were so terrified, so underground they slinked, and now you know how dinosaurs, in fact, became extinct.")

Finally, after this long, strange trip, the ball descends back to Mudville, and just as Casey tells an interviewer that `it's all in the wrists,' it lands smack in the glove of a shortstop still on the field.The denouement (which comes and goes a little too quickly) puts Casey back in his place, for as surely as Lucy pulls away Charlie Brown's football, Casey must be out--a fly out, but still an out.

The illustrators switch to a night game for some dramatic light contrasts, but also use the newspaper ad and vintage catalogue gimmick in extremis:The ads pattern the players' uniforms and the ballpark walls (which at least makes sense). They "antique" the pages, but with more subtlety than Bing, and the poses and compositions have a nice dynamism.

"Casey Back at Bat" has tightly constructed rhymes and dramatic illustrations. Gutman writes superbly for his audience, as always, and the humor sparkles. The book distorts--rather than subverts--the Casey narrative, and so it's probably more appropriate for toddlers and early elementary school than for kids a bit older. An anti-hero `Casey' has still not been written, but perhaps some legends are just too sacrosanct to turn inside out.

Worth waiting for
I don't know about you, but sequels scare me.Particularly sequels written by other people.Too easy for things to go horribly wrong.

This book is clearly written by someone who loves and understands Casey at the Bat.Also by someone who loves the sound of language--the rhymes are beautiful and surprising.And there's a lot of heart in this story. Gutman speculates on the feelings of the baseball fans for Casey, on world history, on the fate of the dinosaurs, all in a beautfully absurd way.

The illustrations have an old-time feel but are done with a modern sense of humor, and add a great deal to an already great story.Hooray! ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
The two hottest genres in comics gleefully collide head-on, as the most beloved American superhero gets the coolest Japanese manga makeover ever.

In 1966, during the height of the first Batman craze, a weekly Japanese manga anthology for boys, Shonen King, licensed the rights to commission its own Batman and Robin stories. A year later, the stories stopped. They were never collected in Japan, and never translated into English. Now, in this gorgeously produced book, hundreds of pages of Batman-manga comics more than four decades old are translated for the first time, appearing alongside stunning photographs of the world’s most comprehensive collection of vintage Japanese Batman toys.

This is The Dynamic Duo as you’ve never seen them: with a distinctly Japanese, atomic-age twist as they battle aliens, mutated dinosaurs, and villains who won’t stay dead. And as a bonus: Jiro Kuwata, the manga master who originally wrote and drew this material, has given an exclusive interview for our book.

More than just a dazzling novelty, Bat-Manga! is an invaluable, long-lost chapter in the history of one of the most beloved and timeless figures in comics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

The Lure of Batman Isn't Lost in Translation
Few things get comic book fans--not to mention hardcore Batman-lovers--more irate than the thought of the campy 1960s "Holy haberdashery!"-era Batman TV show. It took 20 years and the vision of director Tim Burton for the Batman mythos to live the campy TV show down. Surprisingly, it lived on in Japan even longer in the form of manga.

Perhaps it's the ability to look back on this time with nostalgia from the relative comfort of a time when a Batman movie is seriously discussed as an Oscar contender. Whatever it is, the massive volume Bat-Manga! is a delightful look back at a time long gone but whose presence is still felt, in comics and in the real world.

Bat-Manga! seems to be a labor of love for legendary graphic designer Chip Kidd. He's packed it full of content, given it an amazing cover, and kept it in the original, right-to-left manga format. All the material reprinted within was originally published in Japanese in a weekly anthology called Shonen King and has now been translated into English for the first time. Perhaps even more enticing are the numerous images of Batman-related toys and memorabilia from the '60s.

Considering that, these days, Batman seems to fight the Joker over and over again in his current comics, it's almost refreshingly original to see him and his boy wonder pal Robin fight robots and aliens and mad scientists. It's pure '60s zeitgeist all the way through, but it's also fun and adventurous in a way that a lot of comics have forgotten how to be.

Another favorite from this collection: The quotes, trivia, and tidbits that run along the margins of some of the pages. They helpfully explain such things as "Bruce's butler, Alfred: The one who knows Batman's true identity. He's behind the scenes but provides all kinds of assistance." Or random gems like this: "Fruit trivia: At the turn of the Meiji Era, all kinds of watermelons were brought in from America, and their prices dropped because they became so abundant."

Longtime comics fans will chuckle to see an old villain known in the States as the Weather Wizard remade in these pages as Go-Go the Magician. And silly comic-book staples like the Bat-copter make an appearance here as well. It's all in good fun.

Perhaps most impressive of all is the solid detail of the art, which is decidedly set in the '60s era but also mixes elements of the '40s and '50s in, while also using deep inks and shadings to create stark contrasts on each page. The traditional manga style of artwork that most Americans are familiar with doesn't come into play here either. Instead, these strips walk a fine line--they're certainly for kids, but they're not as corny as one might expect.

It turns out the lure of Batman isn't lost in translation. True fans of the hero should enjoy this opportunity to see the Dark Knight cast in a different light.

-- John Hogan

Fun book to pick up again & again
Just a very cool looking book that you'll want to pickup over and over.The incomplete stories can be annoying, but with the predictability of the plots it's not exactly like they're cliffhangers!The artwork is great, but the photos interspersed of Batman toys that were sold in Japan in the 60's is the greatest feature!

This edition is a real complement to your Batman collection

wow, I thought I will never see this Batman manga again.This re-publication of the Japanese Batman manga is really a dream comes true.I can remember in my childhood days, this is a very popular manga, and re-reading this English copy brings back all the good memories.The manga artist Mr. Kuwata is famous for his sci-fi series: 8-man, Ultraseven, The Yellow Glove, Super-dog, etc.,His clean-cut drawing style and great story-presentation skills capture generation of fans in Japan.We're all grateful to Mr. Kidd for bringing this project to live to the English speaking world.My only compliant is volume two is not out yet (there are missing episodes in volume one).If the book can be printed in the Japanese manga paper, that will be perfect.

Great Buy
If you like comics books, or obscure bits of culture, this is perfect. In addition to the actual Batman manga the book also shows all the different Japanese Batman Merchandise. The hardcover version is entirely worth it, and makes the book feel incredibly special. I recommend this without any shadow of a doubt.

Any Batman Fan Will Love it!
In 1966, the Japanese manga anthology, Shonen King, licensed the Batman character for original stories. Those stories ran for about a year and were never collected in either Japanese or English. Until now. Graphic artist and book cover designer, Chip Kidd has collected the stories, translated them into English, and included many photos of Japanese Batman toys from the collection of Saul Ferris. The stories are often erratic, the reprints from the original newsprint two-tone; neither distracts from the wonderfulness of the book. The Japanese take on Batman is eerily prescient of the current look on several of the recent Batman animated series, and the manga influence on many of today's current comic artists. There is also an interview with Jiro Kuwata, the manga writer and illustrator who wrote the stories in the collection. Sure, it's dated and campy, but it is a spectacular book and any Batman fan will love it. ... Read more

Product Description
"Ronald is an awkward but enthusiastic baseball beginner who is grateful to be on the team. Initially discouraged because he cannot hit the ball, Ronald eventually discovers his error . . . and he starts to improve. . . . The colorful, expressive illustrations are a bright asset."--School Library Journal. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Wonderful lesson!
This story portrays a boy who is able to laugh at himself.Despite the fact that he can't play baseball he still enjoys playing and the children learn to accept him just the way he is.It's a heart warming story that teaches children to accept themselves just the way they are. ... Read more

Product Description
What is THE most requested bedtime story by forty three million, eighthundred and ninety thousand, two hundred and twelve baby bats around the world?

That would be The Amazing Adventures of Sam the Bat!

Young Sam, safe with his mother in the free-tail bat colony in the SouthernCalifornia desert, learns all the stories of his tribe. The most famousis the tale of the lost colony, who flew east to escape a drought andnever returned. The story says the lost ones found a new home, under abridge over a river, but no one knows for certain.

One fatefulday, Sam loses his own colony and home, and thus begins an incredibleadventure: wee Sam, the baby bat, goes from the desert to therainforests of South America, to a five-star hotel in London, to thetowers of Notre Dame in Paris, to the other side of the world--only tofind that sometimes, home is in the first place you should have looked, and sometimes, the stories are true.


"SAM THE BAT is a delightful book that manages at once to teach childrenabout a fascinating and greatly misunderstood species, while holdingthem under the spell of a touching - and often very funny - story withan appealing hero.  I'm sorry I didn't get to read it to my ownchildren." - Peter S. Beagle, author of The Last Unicorn and Mirror Kingdoms

Customer Reviews (1)

Great Book on Bats!
My son and I really enjoyed this book.I really liked both the illustrations and the content.The only thing I did not like, was the reference to "50 million years ago".Otherwise, this is an excellent book on these amazing mammals.Immediately, on the first page even, my son said, "Mom, that picture is beautiful!"I agreed with him.
It dispells many myths about bats, as well as giving facts about them in an interesting way.The maps, diagrams, and definitions, were very helpful as well.Glancing back through the book, there are at least 34 different bats illustrated with their unique names.It definitely held my son's limited "6 year old" attention span.The pictures were engaging and very well done.Highly recommend for personal library, school, or even to do a project or reports on bats.
... Read more

Product Description
2 books--a storybook and an activity book-- in one!In the rhyming story, children can count down from 5 to 1 as five little bats get into mischief!In the activity book, kids can color objects in the story, do a word search puzzle, find hidden pictures, and more.The coloring and activity pages are educational and fun!Three crayons are attached in a blister pack to the front of the book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

fun for children
A fun and educational book for children. This book is a good introduction to bats for small children. This book shows that bats are benefical and are not scary. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Great Play with My Background CD
Great script for an exciting, fun play.Definitely worth performing.

In 2007, I recorded a background CD for a local production of this play.I used my keyboards, drum machine and digital multi-track recorder to recreate the music in a karaoke style for their performances.It came out quite authentic.I'm MRPJZ on myspace.

Thrilling!
I read this play and later saw it, too, performed at the local high school.The script itself is a brilliant work, but if you really want the full experience it is a must-see show.The music is heart-rending and inspiring, and the lyrics are creative and meaningful.I find the story, if a bit twisted, to be very truthful to our modern society, and it gives insight to our natural discriminatory ways.The Bat Boy has to face the hatred of the townsfolk and struggle to get them to see him for who he really is.This simple theme is packed with twists and turns galore, plenty of suspense, and loads of laughs.Every time a song or a scene gets pulled to a tense or teary climax, there will be a line, or even a subtle word, that provides comic relief.The script alone is wonderful to read, but I recommend you buy the CD with it, because the music is so incredible.Overall, a thrilling play!

This musical rocks!Fully.
My school is putting this on and I'm in it.When I first researched it, I was a bit skeptical, but the superb music and writing changed everything - this script only verifies my appreciation for Farley and Flemming's work.There's so much room for fun - choreography, character, song, setting, and things like that.The musical probably has every questionable subject possible: incest, rape, interspecies sex, gore, and the like - we have a box for letters, as most school productions of this likely do.But you watch it (or act in it) and you enjoy it so much, and you laugh yourself silly while thinking it's "so wrong".But that's the great part - it exposes all this material and makes fun of it without losing the sharp, dry wit, the earnest motives.And O'Keefe's music, of course, carries the day.Anyway, the script matches the musical well - it's concise and clear.Watch the show or be in it - it flows so well you'll have the time of your life.

LVLT and BATBOY
A few years ago a friend of mine gave me the CD of the original Broadway Cast. I really enjoyed this musical.About a year ater that, the Las Vegas Little Theatre in Las Vegas produced the musical, and I was the Stage Manager.I fell in love with the wild story, and its craziness.BATBOY isn't everyone's cup of tea in the theatre, but I loved the show.If you are an avid reader of"those kinds of newspapers",you'll get more than a few laughs over the CD, and the script. Oh yes, my CD was stolen from me, and I just had to have another copy for my collection. I still have my copy of the play.

Musical Difficulty - 10 / Lyrics & Message - 1
If you can divorce yourself from the lyrics (and show) that really says nothing... and says it quite crassly, the music is amazing.

I believe the composer is extremely talented and could make a competition quality arrangement of "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall". Too bad this set of music doesn't say something equally important.Perhaps next time. ... Read more

Product Description
Bats are amazing creatures. Discover the secrets to their amazing flying skills and body make-up.14 color photos. ... Read more

Product Description

The outlook wasn't brilliant
for the Mudville nine that day:
The score stood four to two
with but one inning more to play....

Since 1888 Casey at the Bat has been read and loved by baseball fans around the world. Now Mighty Casey has been brought to life by celebrated illustrator C. F. Payne, who captures the old-fashioned fun of an afternoon at the ballpark for a brand-new generation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

An excellent modern alteration of the classic ballad
This modern rendition of the classic ballad altered to appeal to modern young people retains the charm of the original. In this case the game is in a little league and Casey is an arrogant young man. He believes himself infallible and in the spirit of the original Casey ends up getting a lesson in humility. There is an excellent surprise at the end that reinforces the theme of the story.
The images strongly reinforce the wording of the poem, illustrating the knocking of the cover off the ball as well as the runner hugging third. Rooters for the home team are adamant, even the goat mascot has an expression of anger at the calls of the umpire. The surprise ending brings it to a level that all children can relate too, making it a very good book for young people.
This modern rendition of the classic ballad altered to appeal to modern young people retains the charm of the original. In this case the game is in a little league and Casey is an arrogant young man. He believes himself infallible and in the spirit of the original Casey ends up getting a lesson in humility. There is an excellent surprise at the end that reinforces the theme of the story.
The images strongly reinforce the wording of the poem, illustrating the knocking of the cover off the ball as well as the runner hugging third. Rooters for the home team are adamant, even the goat mascot has an expression of anger at the calls of the umpire. The surprise ending brings it to a level that all children can relate too, making it a very good book for young people.

illustrator Ken Bachus hits a homer with this one
One of many titles in the popular Raintree Stories series of classic tales, both fiction and nonfiction, from around the world, "Casey at the Bat" also appears in many anthologies of children's literature. This well-traveled 116-line poem is about a baseball team, the Mudville Nine, on the verge of losing a game, and an overweening batter -- their star -- who refuses to swing at the first two pitches, both strikes. On the third pitch he digs in, looks fierce, and, much to everyone's surprise, including his own, swings and misses.

The Baseball Almanac calls the piece "a baseball poem so well-written that it is simply classic poetry." But the poem is not just about baseball; it is part of baseball history. Ernest Thayer initially published the poem anonymously, because he considered it doggerel, a throwaway set of lines. But as time passed and it grew in popularity, more and more people claimed to have written it, and so he "came out" as the author, so to speak. The poem's subtitle, "A Ballad of the Republic Sung in the Year 1888," is rarely included with it, but indicates the mock seriousness of the work. Despite the technological changes of the past 120 years, the Mudville Nine's situation is sweetly familiar. Anyone attending a baseball game in a stadium today could identify with the hyped-up crowd in the poem. And as for gifted but arrogant players? Plenty of those still around.

The text is illustrated by Ken Bachus with sharp attention to the clothing and facial hair typical of the late 1880s. His ink drawings are detailed and accurate, from the players' uniforms and floppy baseball gloves to their drooping moustaches. Bachus indicates Casey's physical superiority in two ways: Casey hefts three bats in the on-deck circle rather than the usual two, and his moustache ends are longer than anyone else's. But he isn't perfect: his ears stick out, and he's beady-eyed.

In a liberal interpretation of the text, the illustrator shows Casey taking the first two pitches while leaning on his bat rather than holding the bat in ready position. This choice underscores Casey's arrogance: it's not just that he didn't swing; he couldn't swing. The last drawing is a treasure. Casey sits alone and bent over on a rough-hewn plank bench, his bat and the elusive ball at his side. His posture says "learned a hard lesson" better than any words could. This Casey will never again lean on his bat and watch a pitch go by.

A perfect read-aloud poem for pre-teens. The last lines should be read with a slow and exaggerated seriousness: "There is no joy in Mudville -- mighty Casey has struck out."

Polacco book
I truly love Patricia Polacco's books, and it so convenient to be able to purchase them at Amazon.She is a gifted writer, and they are a gifted company.Thanks!!

Polacco shines!
As an elementary school librarian looking for a narrative poem to share with students, one couldn't do better than Polacco's version which adds a fine twist at the poem's ending.
Sadly, out of print...though purchased through an excellent reseller.

casey at the bat
I use this book to teach mood and tone in my classes.It is a great book for all baseball fans. ... Read more

Product Description
(Ages: 5-8) The Animals and Birds are getting ready for the big game. Bat wants to WIN WIN WIN-which team will he play on? The Animals look strong and fast, so Bat picks that side.A bat has fur and teeth, after all.But when the Animals fall behind, Bat switches to the Bird team-doesn't a bat have wings? Maybe the Birds will win!

Silly Bat learns a lesson about team spirit in this lively tale retold by renowned storyteller Margaret Read MacDonald. Artist Eugenia Nobati's animals add plenty of style and fun. The author lives in Washington State; the illustrator lives in Argentina. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Book Review: Bat's Big Game
Author of aught seven standout "Little Rooster's Diamond Button" is back with this retelling of an all too common schoolyard occurrence: switching teams when losing looks eminent. "Bat's Big Game" will be a nice addition to teacher's collections and will work well as a classroom read aloud.

Bat is anxious to take part in the Birds vs. Animals soccer game. The thing is, Bat wants to be on the winning side. He sizes up each team, decides that the Animals have it in the bag, and joins their side. It helps that bat straddles the line between the two species - the wings of a bird, but also the fur and teeth of animals. When Team Animal falls behind on the scoreboard, Bat makes a switch to the other team. The birds accept him but the animals go on a scoring tear, nudging ahead in goals. When Bat tries to trade sides again, the jig is up and he is banned from both squads. Lesson learned and price paid, Bat sulks off to practice his skills for next time.

As I was reading, I couldn't help but think this question: why is the soccer game birds vs. animals and not birds vs. mammals? After all, aren't birds animals too? Maybe there's a good reason for this, but it struck me as odd.

Eugenia Nobati's digital illustrations continue to blur lines between paper/canvas and computer artwork. I would have placed a wager that these were the former. Solid nonetheless. If I asked 10 random folks the first word that came to their mind when they looked at the illustrations in "Bat's Big Game", I'm guessing "cute" would be response numero uno. Softly textured characters exist within a world of slightly hazy, vague landscapes. If you know Rob Scotton's work on the "Russel the Sheep" books, then you can get a sense of the style.

"Bat's Big Game" is more of a "serves a purpose" book than a pure "just for the fun of it" story, but it fills it's role of addressing schoolyard mischief with success. ... Read more

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Product Description
Presents an introduction to the Earth's only flying mammal. This title features watercolours that depict various bat species. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

I like bats!
Laurence Pringle certainly loves his bats. That much is evident in this charming little book that very much praises the bats. I remember that as a child bats were my favorite animal and I guess I still have something of a soft spot for them. So hooray for bats and this simple-but-thorough examination of these sweet little mammals. Pringle covers all the basics from echo-location to various species to all sorts of awesome little details. Meryl Henderson's illustrations are understated but work very well for this book. Great little piece for the junior bats lovers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

An Excellent History of America's Western Frontier
Based on its title, one might expect this book to simply be another biography of Bat Masterson, but it is much more than that.I say that for several reasons.First, and foremost: It is thorough, comprehensive, and meticulously documented and, as a result, presents what can only be assumed to be a true picture of Bat Masterson, warts and all.Secondly, Masterson's career spanned almost the entire period of the wild western frontier --- starting with his time as a buffalo hunter in the 1870s, when buffalo ranged by the millions on the prairie, and ending with his transition to boxing aficionado, sportswriter and newspaper reporter in the early 1900s.Thirdly, he traveled widely, and appears to have been in almost every boom town on the western frontier at one time or another, and served as a law officer in many.And last, and probably of most interest to many: he lived, worked, drank, gambled, and sometimes fought beside many of the most celebrated and colorful gamblers and gun fighters of his day.Most prominently, he was an intimate friend and associate ofWyatt Earp, a man he met early in life on the plains, and a man he greatly admired and steadfastly supported all through his life.

Put this all together and you have an important book, and one which should become part of the historical record of not only Bat Masterson, but of America's western frontier during its heyday (the period from 1870 to 1900).

If you like reading about the old west, you'll like this one.It answers a lot of questions and fills in a lot of blanks.And you might be in for a few surprises.I, for one, was surprised to learn that Bat Masterson was the inspiration for Damon Runyon's story "'The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown," the story which led to the film "Guys and Dolls" with its main character, "Sky Masterson," modeled after Bat.Try this book.You'll like it --- five stars.

Exellent Book
I not being one to read novels much at all, found this book very easy to read!I liked the fact that the author used historical documents to support his book, and had learned a great deal about Bat Masterson himself.The author also includes a lot of other characters that Bat had associated with during his time.I also come to learn that Bat had really been involved in a lot of small town politics, which in a sense was surprising to me for the life style he led.

I have not read other books of Bat Masterson, but I feel I don't need to after reading this book.

Bat Masterson Rocks
Bat Masterson: The Man and the Legend
I have been watching the old Bat Masterson TV series recently and I got curious about who he really was. This book is very well written and full of stories and excerpts for other biographies and newspaper articles to create a pretty complete picture of William Barclay Masterson.

Well researched and written book about a western icon
This is a well researched and written book about a western icon.Unlike many westerns, this one is a very interesting read - sharing not only the life of Bat Masterson but the gunfighters and others who lived around them and their experiences.For example, a whole chapter is on Jim Masterson and his experiences in southern Kansas and Colorado in the late nineteenth century.Although the book does an excellent job of covering Bat during his Dodge days and especially his two years as sheriff of the county and the "battle of the Plaza" afterwards, I especially liked the stories about his late years in Denver and New York, including his close calls with possible gunfights during that time.Yes, Bat Masterson did not kill 27 men, and only one is credited to him, but it is clear from this book, that the reason for this was that most people stayed clear of him because of the recognition of his prowess with a six gun.This book is not only a history of Bat Masterson but an excellent history of the gunfighters who crossed his path.Consequently, I highly recommend this for any individual interested in that period of US history.

Very Good Account
This is probably the best biography of Bat Masterson out there. It is also a good history of 19th Century Kansas is that interests anyone. I learned that alot of western history took place in Kansas so I may want to travel there and check out the sights thanks to this book.

... Read more

Product Description

It's fun to tell time as you dance around the clock!

Put on your dancing shoes and get ready to boogie! It's American Batstand - a twelve-hour rock and roll extravaganza with Click Dark as your host. Decked in go-go boots and bobby sox, the buoyant bats bebop their way around the clock. And there's a special guest appearance at the end!

With their swinging text and groovy illustrations, the creators of Bat Jamboree and Bats on Parade don't miss a beat when it comes to the basics. Telling time has never been so much fun!

Customer Reviews (2)

Wonderful for Bat Fans
While not exactly a "learn to tell time book", this adorable book teaches clock/time recognition along with bat acceptance. Excellent art and rhyme make it a must for bat fans of all ages.

Boogie oogie oogie
All night long the bats get down on American Batstand and at each hour the bats take up a different dance as Click Dark, their host, introduces a new tune. Children will love the sotry and feel absolutely brilliant once they've discovered that they can use this story to learn to tell time orhelp reinforce what they already know all on their own. ... Read more

Product Description
Primarily for grades K-5, this book includes 18 games, craft projects, and many more fun activities that enable children to learn the facts about bats before negative stereotypes become established. Grade level guidelines and pertinent background information are included to help teachers plan study units on bats. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Educational and fun !
My son asked for a book about bats and this book is fun and educational. You can do many activities in this book and learn many interesting facts about bats.It is also a great price as well ! ... Read more