The Bats on the Bus
by Alison Jackson
illustrated by Scott Magoon
Christy Ottaviano Books (Little, Brown and Company), 2026. 40 pages.
Review written August 17, 2026, from a library book.
Starred Review
This book makes me want to do a library story time again! And specifically, a story time for Halloween.
The idea is simple, and the execution is classic. We begin with:
The Bats on the bus hang
UPSIDE DOWN,
UPSIDE DOWN,
UPSIDE DOWN.The Bats on the bus
hang UPSIDE DOWN . . .All around the town.
Are you able to read that without singing it? I wasn’t.
Next, the Ghosts on the bus shout BOO! BOO! BOO! The Witches on the bus scream WHERE’S MY BROOM? The Giants on the bus stomp UP AND DOWN! And so on.
It ends when the Children on the bus yell TRICK OR TREAT! They lift their masks and we see that all the scary creatures on the bus were children in masks headed to a Fright Fest. (Well, except those bats hanging upside down.)
This book has all the elements of a Story Time Hit.
scottmagoon.com
alison-jackson.com
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Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.
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