Book Review: “Bats in the Band” by Brian Lies

Recommended reading age: 3 to 6 (though kids of all ages can enjoy reading this with their families)

What Makes This One of the Best Children’s Books

Some parents harbor concerns about dwindling opportunities to ignite musical interest among their children – especially as some schools continue to shrink music programs.

But never fear, as award-winning author and illustrator Brian Lies swoops in to offer an upbeat solution with his gem, “Bats in the Band.” This charming and visually striking book provides an accessible introduction to numerous musical instruments and styles, all guided by a pack of giddy, rollicking bats itching for a nocturnal jam session.

Not only will readers glean some intriguing bat fun facts – I for one didn’t know bats hibernated before reading this book – but they’ll also experience a joyful musical tutorial, as winged performers prepare and present a raucous concert celebrating every instrument and genre.

These bats jam on almost every instrument imaginable, spanning strings, brass, winds and percussion (and even instruments from all corners of the world, including a sitar and bagpipes). They also boast eclectic tastes, with fuzzy creatures performing a range of blues, country, rock and classical.

Lies offers simple, delightful descriptions for all of these musical elements, and his lyrical rhymes make the book feel like a song in itself. It’s downright impressive how his writing skills prove on par with his highly detailed illustrations, so realistic that these bats look ready to fly off the page and get trapped in the reader’s ventilation system.

Perhaps most enjoyable of all, the book conveys a contagious love for music. In fact, the nighttime characters seem to crave a concert just as much as the bugs they feast upon.

How my Child Reacted to This Book

My son, currently in preschool, remains enamored with this book at every reading.

He points to all the pictured instruments, demanding to know their names, and constantly notices more details about the bats and their various species and shapes.

His favorite parts include:

A.) when a bat wallops a gong with all his might

B.) a small concert for bat younglings, with one tot in the throes of a tantrum, and

C.) a one-bat band festooned with enough musical instruments for a small symphony

He also remains eager to experience music after we read, and immediately asks me to take out my violin and play for him after we close the book.

Activities to Pair with This Book

To help this book boost a child’s budding appreciation for music, parents might try following up this reading with listening to various radio stations to explore the styles mentioned in the book.

My son and I also pored over online videos of people playing different instruments, so he could hear what the instruments from the book actually sounded like (he insisted on watching a gong video repeatedly).

If parents play any instruments themselves, this book could also serve as an excuse to dust those off and offer children a private concert in their own home.

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