Common Sense Media Review
By Tracy Moore
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Bats celebrate the end of hibernation with live music.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
The bats are out of hibernation and reveling in the sights and sounds they've been sleeping through for months. To celebrate the new season, they head out to the theater, where they're treated to a musical variety that skips through genres, styles, and signatures only to discover that, long after the performance is over, there's music to be found in everything.
Is It Any Good?
BATS IN THE BAND is a rich visual read. If it were only an instructional tour of different musical styles, it would still be educational. But it takes a love of music one step further by showing the way it affects us before, during, and after the experience, from anticipating to reveling to hearing music in our heads as we leave the venue. Plus, it connects this experience to becoming artists of a kind ourselves: Inspired by what we've seen, we can see and hear music in things we once ignored or missed -- a buzzing streetlight or a tumbling trash can. The illustrations, done in acrylic paint, and the rhythmic text give it a warm, nostalgic glow. Captivating for kids who've shown an interest in any instrument, spoon or otherwise.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about different musical styles. Which is your favorite? Do you like country or jazz or rock music? Why?
Have you ever seen a live music performance? What were some of the instruments? Did you dance and sing or sit quietly and listen?
Have you ever made your own instruments out of household items such as spoons or bowls? Try starting your own family band with things lying around the house.
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Brian Lies
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Arts , STEM , Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : HMH Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : August 5, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 32
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate