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The Bat-Poet Hardcover – January 1, 1997

by Randall Jarrell (Author), Maurice Sendak (Illustrator)

4.7 109 ratings

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There was once a little brown bat who couldn't sleep days-he kept waking up and looking at the world. Before long he began to see things differently from the other bats, who from dawn to sunset never opened their eyes. The Bat-Poet is the story of how he tried to make the other bats see the world his way.

Here in The Bat-Poet are the bat's own poems and the bat's own world: the owl who almost eats him; the mockingbird whose irritable genius almost overpowers him; the chipmunk who loves his poems, and the bats who can't make beads or tails of them; the cardinals, blue jays, chickadees, and sparrows who fly in and out of Randall Jarrell's funny, lovable, truthful fable.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Randall Jarrell's The Bat-Poet is the story of an artist. Although the bat-poet may look like a furry mouse with wings, he swells with an artistic sensibility. One day, he discovers how amazing it is to stay awake during daylight hours, exploring things mostly unseen by standard, nocturnal bats. But when he tries to get his bat friends to stay awake with him, they say, "Day's to sleep in." And so the sensitive bat-poet is left alone to embrace the wonders of the day, including the fascinating activities of the possums, squirrels, chipmunks, and especially the mockingbird. The bat-poet attempts to sing a song like the mockingbird's, "But when he tried, his high notes were all high and the notes in between were all high," so he imitates the mockingbird's words instead, and concocts poetry about how the sun "shines like a million moons" and other daytime marvels. Children will identify with the bat-poet's struggle to be understood, and adults will revel in Jarrell's artful prose and gentle wisdom. Maurice Sendak decorates more than illustrates the book with delicate, endearing pen-and-ink sketches of woodland scenes--the perfect complement to Jarrell's lyrical, philosophical, exquisitely spun fable. School Library Journal writes, "The totality charms by turns the eye, the ear, and the imagination, and as true poetry must, it satisfies the heart." (All ages) --Karin Snelson

About the Author

Randall Jarrell (1914-1965) received the National Book Award for his book of poems The Woman at the Washington Zoo. His children's book The Animal Family was named a Newbery Honor Book, and his translation of The Three Sisters was produced by The Actors Studio Theatre.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins; Second Printing edition (January 1, 1997)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 48 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0062050842
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062050847
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 9 - 12 years
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 4 - 6
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 0.25 x 8.88 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,580,165 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #23,142 in Poetry (Books)
- #48,238 in Children's Literature (Books)
- #56,264 in Children's Animals Books

Customer Reviews:
4.7 109 ratings

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4.7 out of 5

109 global ratings

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Tryn Rose

Beautiful tale, become who you are!

Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2023

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This sweet bat expands its wings, reaches for life, and gives gifts to all in this wonderful story of looking large at our interesting world, night and day! I just bought it for my cousin’s family so their daughter knows she can do *anything in her one wild and wonderful life ahead.

One person found this helpful

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marro

Utterly Charming

Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2022

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This book & it's illustrations are so charming. It would be enjoyable for adults as well as children, & should be better known today.

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kat mikell

a magnificent volume from a magnificent author.

Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2023

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Randall Jarrell wrote my all-time-favourite book - "The Animal Family", also illustrated by Maurice Sendak. I jumped when I discovered another tome by the pair. I was not disppointed! Mr. Jarrell has such a warm, welcoming, soft way with his writing. I smiled throughout the whole book.

2 people found this helpful

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R. Day

Thoughtful story

Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2013

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The story is about a bat who is different from other bats, who wakes during the day to observe the world around him and then writes poems about what he sees. He shares his poems with the creatures he observes and receives varied responses. There is something very touching about this bat and how he puts his thoughts and observations into the poems. Being a person who often doesn't "get" poetry, this gave me insight into why people (or bats) write poetry. And the different ways the other animals responded to the poems was enlightening too. The Bat's poetry effected them not always in ways the bat anticipated. I think this is a very nice book. As I sat down to write this review my 8 year old let me know that he has also been reading it (unknown to me) and he really likes it a lot. At his Montessori school they read a lot of poetry and are learning to write poetry too. So I was very pleased that he decided to give it a try.

7 people found this helpful

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Joe Watts

Great book

Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2021

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A wonderful book. Not only did it keep my children engaged but held my full attention too!

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Kerry

What if your point of view was worth exploring?

Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2015

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Beautiful little book, first read it aloud to the family on the way to Victoria from Penticton, so shorter than most chapter books by a long shot. Nice conceit and a spur to writing for anyone teetering on the edge of wondering if their point of view might be worth expressing. Also, the illustrations are charming! Jarrell's book, the Animal Family, is also lovely and unexpected.

3 people found this helpful

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Elphabin

great GREAT book

Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2014

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Yup, great GREAT book, and lovely Maurice Sendak pictures...read this book to a rapt group of 4th graders in a poetry section I taught. They LOVED it, educational, fun, good intellectual kids book.

2 people found this helpful

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Donna J. Sund

The Bat Poet

Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2010

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I was recently at the desert visitor's center in Borrego Springs, California and attended a talk at the center by a park ranger about bats. A lady present had a book she wanted to tell everyone about. It was the Bat Poet. I am an educator (retired) with a major in English and have a special interest in children's literature. I am especially interested in older published works for children, so of course, I was interested in the Bat Poet. I enjoyed reading the book and plan to share it with my grandchildren and great grandchildren at certain ages.

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Top reviews from other countries

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Vivi Figueira

Uma história singela sobre o olhar e a poesia

Reviewed in Brazil on April 15, 2019

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Uma história simpática, de um pequeno morcego que resolve também vivenciar o dia e passa a se encantar com o que vê e a criar poemas destes novos sentimentos, poemas para outros animais, como ele os vêem. Nestas criações ele sente timidez a princípio e se importa com as opiniões dos outros animais, às vezes acontece de não se lembrar de alguns poemas que criou,.. todo um universo de criação, observação e sentimento de um pequeno morcego.

Também há alguns desenhos do Maurice Sendak.

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delia

Una piccola perla

Reviewed in Italy on November 2, 2019

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Uno dei libri per bambini , ma non solo, più belli mai scritti.
In Italia uscì una ventina di anni fa in un unico volume con
un'altra storia dello stesso autore riguardante la famiglia
inusuale di un cacciatore e di una sirena purtroppo non più
reperibile sul mercato. É quindi necessario
conoscere l'Inglese....ma ne vale assolutamente la pena...
I bambini ascolteranno INCANTATI

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