BAT’S BIG GAME

Bat’s Big Game

Written by: Eugene W. Field

Illustrated by: David McPhail

Scholastic Inc. Publisher, 2004

24 pages

Fantasy  

             I came across this story while looking for another story that features bats and I ended up being drawn to this story. Bat's Big Game is actually the simplified retelling of Aesop's fable. The story is about animals and birds who decide to play a game of soccer. The animals are team A and the birds are team B. Bat comes along and decides that he wants to play as well and decides to join the team in which he believes will win; the animals. However, after convincing the animals that he is as well an animal, Bat discovers that the animals are losing. So, Bat decides to convince the birds that he is a bird and join their team. Eventually, both teams learn about Bat's plan to be only on the winning team and force him to chose one and stick with it. 

            The illustrations in this story were created digitally and the text is placed in an informal placement. 

            Although the story has not won any awards it does have excellent morals and qualities. I believe this story is appropriate for children preschool to third grade. I would use this story to teach students how to be a good team player. As Bear says, "a good player sticks with the team...even when they are losing."Also, even though animals cannot really talk, the story does have facts within it about the different animals.