Addie and the Amazing Acrobats

A trio of anthropomorphized bats wow wildlife crowds with nightly on-the-wing exhibitions in this high-flying authorial debut from Cagan. And while Addie is the undisputed star ("Her aerial stunts were simply spectacular"), the seemingly resentment-free team declares they are "BEST BEST FRIENDS"--until Addie is invited to be a solo headliner at the Big Bat Circus. Readily leaving pals Ben and Jude behind, she enters a new world of spotlights, glamorous costumes, and a dressing room filled with fan mail and gifts. As time goes on, though, Addie feels that "something was missing," and worries whether her friends will want her back. Though the wrap-up seems to unnecessarily portray fame and friendship as an either/or, Cagan makes the characters' journey fun, with meta-interplay between the narrator and protagonist, and crisply outlined cartooning that evokes a lively nocturnal world. Ages 4--8. Agent: Mona Kanin, Great Dog Literary. (Sept.)

Is fame more important than flipping, flitting, and flying with friends? In a story of friendship that survives separation, Addie, Ben, and Jude are best friend bats, the type of best friends that celebrate their birth, first tooth, and first daytime sleepover together. Together, they form Addie and the Amazing Acrobats. Addie is "the Superstar," Ben is "the Big Flipper," and Jude is "the Comet." Crowds come to watch them every night, but when the representative of the Big Bat Circus visits, Addie learns only she is being asked to join. The dismayed narrator reports that Addie leaves her friends and becomes a featured circus act. At first, life is wonderful, but then Addie realizes something is missing. When the circus visits Addie's old bridge, she anxiously wonders if Ben and Jude are still her best friends. When she learns they are, the circus train leaves town so the show can go on, just with a different star. Subtle humor is embedded in the digitally created illustrations, often with a backdrop of a dark teal sky. Illustrations of the bat acrobatics are creative, and crowds of bats hanging upside down at performances provide unexpected images. In addition, the bats' acrobatics provide inspiration for a colony's worth of vivid verbs. Anyone who has friends is a true star. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.