Stellaluna has been one of my favorite children’s books of mine going back to my days of being a summer camp teacher at the Phoenix Zoo. It was released back in April of 1993, written by Janell Cannon. It was released on video last year and I found it in the video store. It’s a great movie for your preschoolers and primary graders.
Stellaluna is a baby Flying Fox who falls from her mother in flight (baby bats hold onto their mothers until they take care of themselves, if they fall off usually they die). Stellaluna has no idea what she is and when she luckily lands in a bird nest and befriends the three baby birds. Their mother adopts Stellaluna and raises her as one of her own. Momma Bird doesn’t want her hang upside down anymore, to eat bugs, and to sleep during the night (all things she doesn’t naturally do). Stellaluna falls out of the nest a day or two later and the baby birds follow her, they all fly around and end up getting lost. Stellaluna keeps flying looking for ‘their’ Momma bird while the three are sleeping and hiding.
Now you ask, why am I writing about this book? It is great on so many levels. Some of the other readers review that I have read that they see it either as a book about bats or a book about overcoming your fears. Yes it teaches children about bats, which bats are great animals (that’s why we read it our theme at the Zoo summer and night programs were Bats). It also teaches us not to give up to keep trying and even to try something new. Stellaluna and the baby birds each try out the others skills. The baby birds try hanging upside down, Stellaluna learns to sleep upright and eat bugs (some bats do eat insects but some are fruit bats all bats are nocturnal, sleep during the day awake at night).
Now why, do I love this book besides the great illustrations and story. It’s the basic principle of the Baha’i Faith that you can find in this book. It teaches children to accept and appreciate diversity. That we can be different and live together and be friends. That we don’t have to all dress and look alike.
Will Stellaluna continue living as a bird or will she find out who and what she really is? I can’t tell you the answer to this because I will ruin the ending. You must read this book to your little ones and/or watch the video. Stellaluna is one book I have in my collection just for reading to the grand babies or other small children we know. Rent the video, buy it, share the story of love and acceptance with your family.
For more information on the Baha'i Faith please check Baha'i Links
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