Superbat

May 29, 2017
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.