"Little Bat and Ophelia stuck together.
Ms. C. taught them to sing "The Seals
on the Bus." They talked about the
patterns the stars make and why the
moon changes shape.
Then it was time for show-and-tell."
The first day of school can be tough, as can the first night! Little Bat is so excited about this new adventure. He has everything he needs, and finds waiting very hard. When Mama Bat drops him off, he is surprised at the size of the school, at the night animals who are not as friendly as he had hoped, and he finds himself wanting to hide.
So, too, does Ophelia. She is an opossum looking for a friendly face. Having a friend makes all the difference; the night gets better. They spend their time together playing, learning, getting along with the other night students, even listening to Mrs. C's story which is brought to a quick finish with the rising of the sun. No worry, the story will wait until the second night of school.
There is such fun in the extraordinary art that allows readers to get to know the characters, to see how they interact with each other, and to watch as they find endless activities to keep them busy and always learning. It is not a perfect first night; it is a realistic look at the way children respond to new situations and gives those who are a bit apprehensive about the early days of a new year confidence to see what can happen. The details are telling, the dialogue is often humorous, and the ingenious play will bring much joy to readers.
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