Stellaluna
by Janell Cannon
Knocked from safety with her mother by an attacking owl Stellaluna lands headfirst in a bird’s nest. This baby fruit bat’s world is turned upside down when she is adopted by the occupants of the nest and adapts to their peculiar bird habits.
Reading Tips for Story Explorers
Find a comfortable space to read together
Slow down and enjoy the illustrations
Ask and answer questions together
Make reading part of your routine - bedtime is a great time for reading
Use these prompts to encourage deeper thinking with your children:
"Tell me more, why do you think that?"
"How do you know that?"
"Interesting, did you notice anything else?"
Phonemic Awareness
When introducing the book, share the title and notice these phonemic elements:
The first sound in the title is Ss. This letter makes the sound /s/ like snake, silly, and skunk. Let’s say that sound together: /s/, /s/, /s/. Point to the S in the title. Read the title together, emphasizing the sound /s/. Page through the book and find other words that start with the letter S.
Ask the children to say the word after you. Show them the cover of the book and have them read the word out loud with you as you point under each word.
Vocabulary
Clamber: To climb with difficulty or in an awkward way
Clutched: To keep in a firm grasp; hold tightly
Swooped: To sweep down suddenly from above (dive, plunge)
Dodge: To avoid something by moving quickly aside or changing direction
Shriek: A loud shrill cry of fear, joy or surprise
Muse: Think about something for a long time
Questions to Discuss
What kind of food do bats eat? What do birds eat?
How does the picture on page 8 help you understand what is happening in the story?
What are some things Stellaluna learns to do after she falls into the bird’s nest?
How does Stellaluna feel about being a bat at the end of the book?
What do Stellaluna and the birds learn from each other?
Let's Play
Use the circles (Venn Diagram) below to compare and contrast bats and birds. On the left, list 3 things about bats. On the right, list 3 things about birds. In the middle, list qualities that bats and birds have in common.
