Perhaps most disappointing, the much anticipated song, "Favorite Favorite," is a hodgepodge of silly rhymes ("My favorite cheese is runny and smelly./ My favorite noodle is vermicelli") and repetition. Very little is made of the urban nighttime setting, readers get no sense of Bat and Rat's creative process or collaboration, and yet two whole spreads are devoted to how they traverse the floors of their apartment building to meet in the lobby. But their storytelling never gains traction. Jennings (Lucky Cap) and Cordell (Another Brother) try to put a new twist on a familiar friendship-under-pressure story, and it's refreshing to have a children's book take place in a nocturnal, decidedly cosmopolitan hipster world.
Stuck on a song, they head to an ice cream shop, where a tragic accident (Rat is somewhat responsible for the demise of Bat's tower of ice cream scoops) and subsequent flareup inspire a new song that celebrates their friendship.
"Cordell’s images of jazzy patrons at the Twelve O’Clock Room add interest, while his consistent use of spotlights, streetlights, circular images, and stage lights accentuate and complement Jennings’ focused attention on a unique and caring relationship."īat and Rat are best friends and a musical duo: Bat is the composer/musician and Rat is the lyricist/singer. Children will delight in this charming story." "The clever artwork perfectly complements Jennings's sharp, funny wordplay. “Cordell’s starry cityscapes combine with Jennings’ gentle text for an agreeable read-aloud-with a cherry on top.”- Kirkus Reviews Written in a gentle, sweet style reminiscent of Arnold Lobel and Patrick McDonnell and with charming illustrations, Bat and Rat captures the tenderness of classic picture books with a hip, modern twist. One hot summer night, while tasting their favorite flavors of ice cream, like mosquito ripple, they find the inspiration for the perfect new tune-for they realize their favorite favorite is each other. Together these nocturnal pals enjoy their favorite things, like riding the subway, dumpster diving in Chinatown, writing songs, and playing in a band. Bat and Rat are two best friends living in the big city.
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