Review by Booklist Review
In the Bat, Cat & Rat series' third outing, following the Geisel Award--winning Vacation (2024), the roommates cool off on a sweaty day by heading to the beach. Three-and-a-half short chapters chart their adventures in the sun and sand. Mishaps plague the pals at every step of their journey. After gathering their beach gear--Bat has a hat, Cat carries piles of books, and pack rat Rat is laden down with several bulging bags and a kite (with a striking resemblance to the googly-eyed visage of Bat)--they miss their bus. Arriving at their destination, Bat offers food to hungry seagulls and almost ends up as the greedy birds' snack of choice. When Rat's kite goes missing, Bat's kind offer to be a stand-in is an idea that soars. The simple, spare text has lots of repetition and read-aloud charm galore. Teague's expressive acrylic cartoon illustrations are packed with comical details. Beginning readers will delight in the friends' funny antics.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1--Dyckman and Teague set the third installation of their animal trio series on a warm, sunny day. Bat, Cat, and Rat enjoy a trip to the beach with a few hiccups and creative solutions along the way. The story is split up to display the personalities of each animal in a clear and enjoyable manner. The style of writing is well-suited for younger readers who are learning to read more independently. The illustrations are bright without being too overwhelming or busy. VERDICT Look no further for a sweet story of animal friends in a friendly, decodable text.--Lindsey Morrison
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
On a hot day, roommates Cat, Rat, and Bat head to the seaside. Unfortunately, laden by supplies, the trio miss their bus. "Too slow," says Cat, frowning at the others as the vehicle drives off. But Rat points out, "That bus was too fast." The next bus comes, and the friends reach the beach. Cat and Bat admire the beautiful views; Rat, mystifyingly, exclaims, "TOO SLOW!" The second tale in this book (made up of "three-and-a-half stories") sees the threesome enjoying a snack. Rat warns Bat against sharing with the sea gulls; as the aggressive birds descend on Bat, Cat frightens them away. In the "half" story, Rat discovers what readers will already have noticed a few pages ago: He left his kite behind. In the final tale, the trio search the beach in vain before finding a creative replacement: Bat! Soaring high in the sky, Bat can see the friends' house from here, and somewhat abruptly, the three of them decide to return home. Aimed at beginning readers, the text is simple, though not always phonetic (sweaty,breathed,thought), and in a very small font. While the storyline feels a bit meandering and uneventful (with a few jokes that don't quite land), Teague's depictions of anthropomorphic animals do ramp up the humor--a scene of the hungry gulls menacing bug-eyed Bat will elicit chuckles. Mundane, beachy tales enlivened by a few funny moments.(Easy reader/picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
