MR. BAT WANTS A HAT

When Mr. Bat sets his sights on a fancy hat, he meets his match in one tiny human.

Flying above a crowd, Mr. Bat spots a sea of beautiful hats. When his eyes land on a particularly sparkly baby bonnet, he snags the hat, and the little one begins to bawl. Though the hat is beautiful, Mr. Bat can’t enjoy it knowing he’s upset its original owner. Mr. Bat finds a way to right his wrong and discovers a new footwear obsession in the end. Black’s writing keeps an age-appropriate pace. Mr. Bat’s interactions may be similar to those of readers on the playground or a play date, and he learns a lesson that will be familiar to many little ones: What we want most isn’t always ours for the taking. Mr. Bat is undeniably adorable with his tiny fangs, pink nose, and fashion sense. His face is especially expressive, making him a visually compelling character. The pages are a mix of grid, comiclike layouts and full-page illustrations, which gives the story a sense of momentum and allows the action (Mr. Bat swooping in, for example) to come to life. While the humans except for the baby largely appear in the background or in a crowd, most of the faces are pale, the baby’s included. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An adorable tale featuring an endearing character who learns an important lesson.