Megabat and the Not-Happy Birthday (Megabat, #4)

by Anna Humphrey

Kass Reich (Illustrator)

It's Daniel's birthday, and Megabat wants to join in all the fun, but his excitement gets the best of him and suddenly the birthday celebrations are on the brink of disaster. The next laugh-out-loud book in this sweet and funny chapter book series featuring a talking bat.

Daniel isn't in the birthday party mood. He hates his new glasses -- they're dorky, and he feels silly in them.

Megabat LOVES Daniel's new face windows! They make him dizzy and his tummy feel funny. And he loves parties even more!

Daniel starts planning his party, and things are looking up -- all of his friends are excited, and he has some fun games planned. Plus: presents!

Megabat's party excitement is losing steam. He has to hide the whole time. He can't eat any of the delicious buttermelon. And he can't participate in any games, even though it's the thing he wants most in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD.

When Megabat loses his temper and breaks Daniel's best birthday gift, he realizes he's been a bad friend and gives Daniel what he thinks is the best possible gift: he runs away. But being alone in the big, wide, world is harder than he thought. Kass Reich's adorable illustrations paired with Anna Humphrey's hilarious text make for another unforgettable Megabat adventure, one that will appeal to Megabat fans and newcomers!

• ISBN10: 0735266042
• ISBN13: 9780735266049
• Publish Date: 2 March 2021
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Prentice Hall Press
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 176
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780735266049

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally posted to my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Megabat and the Not-Happy Birthday is the fourth book in the series featuring Megabat and his human friend Daniel. It's a cute chapter book for middle readers by Anna Humphrey, with illustrations by Kass Reich. Due out 2nd March 2021 from Penguin Random House on their Tundra imprint, it's 176 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is a well written and entertaining book about friendship, planning, anticipation vs. reality, forgiveness, and more. The book has a positive message and manages to show a refreshing diversity in the characters without being strident. I liked it that Daniel shows emotion and isn't shamed for that.

Megabat is adorable, as are the other anthropomorphic characters such as Birdgirl. The human characters are generally helpful and cooperative. The illustrations are full of whimsy and gentle humor. The writing is appealing (and I love Megabat's vernacular - when he doesn't know the word for something, it doesn't stop him for a second; we should all be so brave).

This would make a great gift, bedtime family read, library or classroom circle read, or similar. There is good scope for discussion here about bravery, honesty, facing fears, going outside our comfort zones (even with things such as food and meeting new people), etc.

Just a really lovely book for youngsters. Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.