Pat the bat is bored with his humdrum life. Craving the excitement that he reads about in his superhero comics, he decides to craft his own special outfit and transform from regular Pat into Superbat! Pat is excited to share his superhero identity with the other bats, but when he does, they dismiss each of his superpowers in turn. As it turns out, all bats have superhearing, all bats can fly, and all bats use echolocation. Pat is deflated; maybe he's not so special after all. However, when he discovers a family of mice facing grave danger, he bravely acts to help them. Pat discovers that his true superpower is courage. Carr uses a familiar storyline—a character searching for his own special "superpower"—to playfully introduce readers to a few facts about bats and their behavior. The design of the book references comics throughout, as in the use of the consistent and dark color palette, the variations of the size of the font, and the action callout bubbles with sound effects. The final page of the book presents Pat explaining some bat facts in brief detail. A perhaps unexpected appreciation of bats that will be enjoyable to read aloud. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pat the bat wants to be -special, like the superheroes in his favorite comics.- So, while his fellow bats sleep the day away, Pat spends it at his mother-s sewing machine, crafting a superhero outfit. The other bats wake to discover that Pat has transformed into Superbat, but they don-t find his superpowers all that special. Superhearing? Flight? Echolocation? All par for the course when you-re a bat. A demoralized Pat is ready to hang up his suit when his superhearing picks up cries for help. Without hesitation, Superbat is off to save the day, rescuing a family of mice from a cat. Newcomer Carr keenly illustrates that the true mark of a superhero isn-t supernatural abilities but courage-a lesson a certain famous bat hero knows well. Drawing on the speech bubbles, sound effects, and bold colors of action hero comics, Carr creates an accessible and visually striking homage to the genre. A concluding list of -Batty Facts- gives readers information that will deepen their understanding of Pat-s story, including definitions of nocturnal and echolocation. Ages 3-5. (Aug.)

PreS-Gr 1Pat the bat wants to be different from all the other bats. After thinking things over, he rushes to his cave to make a costume so he can be SUPER BAT! The other bats make fun of him because he has no superpower. Sure, he has incredible hearing, the ability to fly, and echolocation, but so do all bats. Pat is a tad downtrodden until he hears a cry for help. A family of mice are being attacked by a cat. Pat flaps his wings at the cat and scares it away. The mice are safe! And Pat has discovered his superpowercourage. The simple illustrations are done in five bold color choices. Carr also evokes the 1960s Batman TV show, with brightly colored graphics labeled "WHAM!" and "SWAT!" The tale is wonderful and sweet in its earnestness. All children can identify with Pat's desire to be special. VERDICT A great choice for storytime fare wherever superheroes are popular.Nicole Detter-Smith, Homestead High School, IN