Stellaluna

Stellaluna

By: Janell Cannon

ISBN: 0152802177

Summary: Stellaluna is a bat, whom in the beginning of the story is just a baby. By an unfortunate event, Stellaluna is left motherless, until she falls into the nest of birds. Three babies and a mother bird care for the little bat, giving her rules and friendship. As Stellaluna gets older, she meets new friends and learns that the baby birds that she grew up with do not have the same abilities as her. In learning that everyone is different, and yet the same, Stellaluna is a bit confused. However, she also realizes that just because we are different does not mean that we cannot be friends.

Focus: Students will learn the differences between bats and birds, how bats use echolocation to see at night, and how sound is used in this process.

Before reading, ask students, what do you know about bats? What is the difference between bats and birds?

Read p. 2: What do you think ‘sultry’ means? (It means hot or humid)

What does the word ‘crooned’ mean? (To sing softly)

(Show picture)

Read p. 3: What does ‘swooped’ mean? (A fast drop through the air)

Why did the owl attack the bats?

(Show Picture)

Read p. 5, 7, and 9: What did Stellaluna use to grab a hold of the branch?

Why did the mommy bird get upset about the baby birds being upside down?

(Show pictures)

Read p. 11, 13, 15, and 17: What bad things were Stellaluna and the baby birds doing?

What do birds eat?

(Show pictures)

Read p. 19, 21, and 23: What did the baby birds do that Stellaluna could not?

What do you think is flying towards Stellaluna?

(Show pictures)

Read p. 25, 27, and 28: What did the bat mean when it said, “wrong for a bird, maybe, but not for a bat”?

What does ‘escaped’ mean? (Getting away from something)

(Show pictures)

Read p. 31, 33, and 34: Why can Stellaluna fly at night?

What do you think will happen when the birds fly at night?

(Show pictures)

Read 37 and 39: Were we right about what would happen?

What do the friends mean when they say “how can we be so different and be so much alike?”

 (Show Pictures)