A touching story about what it feels like to be an outsider and how you can make friends. Batty longs to have fun with some of the other animals in the Zoo. He tries to join in but, splashing in the penguin pool is far too cold, sunbathing with the lions hurts his eyes and, although the birds in the Tropical aviary are very beautiful, the noise they make hurts Batty’s ears. Sadly, Batty learns to accept himself for what he is only to discover that some of the animals want to be like him! An entertaining look about fitting in.
Batty's efforts to impress visitors at the zoo fail, but he is determined to be popular like the other animals. First he goes to the penguin pool but the water is cold and he doesn't like fish. Then he tries the gorilla enclosure but he doesn't have any fleas for the gorillas to pick off him. He tries to laze in the sun with the lions but its far too bright for his sensitive eyes. When eventually he returns to his bat cave he finds that everyone else is trying to be like him, hanging upside down. This clever and witty story is brought to life with Batty's upside down view of his surroundings, involving the reader in turning the book upside down with him. With its warm-hearted theme it is sure to delight readers young and old.
Sarah Dyer was born in Brighton in 1978. She studied her A levels at Bhasvic sixth form and then went on to do a Foundation course at Brighton BTEC. She has always lived near the sea until recently when she moved up to London to study a BA in Illustration at Kingston University where she obtained a 2:1 and loved every part of it. Her first book Five Little Fiends started as a project in the second year of University. She always tries to get the chance to get back home to see her family and friends still living in and around Brighton.
