Bertie the Very Blind Bat, written by Joanne Moore and illustrated by Michelle Gemmel, tells the story of, you guessed it, a bat who can’t see. While his vision makes many things more challenging, Bertie chooses to focus on his strengths, like his speed and supersonic hearing. In fact, he refers to himself as a super-bat!
One day, Bertie’s vision gets him into trouble, flying into a van he believes is a cave. When the doors are closed and he finds himself trapped, he panics and questions his “super-bat” status.
But then (spoiler alert!) Bertie remembers how loudly he can screech. When his loud screech results in his freedom, he’s reminded that sometimes your unique “superpowers” are exactly what you need most.
Bertie the Very Blind Bat Review
This book is a part of The Bit Different Collection, a series of books focused on raising awareness about disabilities and other differences while promoting inclusivity. In Bertie, the author does a fantastic job of continuing this messaging without feeling like a lesson at all. It simply reads like an uplifting story about a cute bat, allowing children to discover the message for themselves.
My eight-year-old and I noticed and appreciated that Bertie didn’t allow his visual impairments to define him. While he would have liked to see better, he didn’t dwell on what he didn’t have. Instead, Bertie chose to focus on and celebrate his other strengths.
His positive self talk (a sort of mantra he repeats throughout the story) was very empowering. It actually opened a conversation with my daughter about how the way you talk about yourself impacts your self image and confidence.
Words are incredibly powerful, especially for children. This book offers a positive example of how to talk to and about yourself that kids can easily connect with.
I personally appreciated that Bertie was a bat rather than some adorable panda or kitten or other universally-loved animal. I think it only further bolstered the author’s goal of promoting inclusivity, since it challenged readers to see an often misunderstood animal differently.
The illustrations were endearing and even left a few fun finds for kids, like a spider comforting Bertie inside the van and Bertie’s friend, an owl, peeking out from behind a bush to make sure he was okay.
Overall, this is a positive and empowering story young children are sure to connect with. You can find it on Amazon and can follow author Joanne Moore on her website, Facebook, and Instagram.
P.S. Did you enjoy this Bertie the Very Blind Bat review? Want more from author Joanne Moore and The Bit Different Collection? Be sure to check out my Crosby the Not-So-Snappy Crocodile review (and author interview!) here!
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