Little Bat

Fantasy

by Clare Scott
illustrated by Philip Webb

Macmillan /McGraw-Hill

Read to STRATEGIES & SKILLS AT A GLANCE
Find Out
Comprehension
How does Little • Strategy: Monitor
Bat save the
birds? Comprehension: Reread
• Skill: Make Inferences

Vocabulary
• fluttered, giggled, peered,

recognized, snuggled, vanished

Vocabulary Strategy
• Thesaurus: Synonyms

Phonics
• consonant + le syllables

Word count: 318

A

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Little Bat

by Clare Scott
illustrated by Philip Webb

Table of Contents
Teasing Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Bats Are Best . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Forest Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Comprehension Check . . . . . . . . . . 16

Teasing Time

Little Bat hung from the cave roof.
“The birds think I am silly,”
he said to his mother.
Mother Bat peered at her son.
“Why?” she asked.

Little Bat thought about the birds.

3

The birds were mean to him. They
laughed at him. They said he had
big ears, and he did not fly in the
daytime. They said he did not have
feathered wings or a beak.

“You did not even feed me worms,
Mom!” said Little Bat. “I am all
wrong. I am different!”

Mother Bat flew to Little Bat.
“You are a perfect bat,” she said.

6

Bats Are Best

“I gave you milk when you were
first born. Now you can catch bugs.
Little Bat, you are very smart,” said
wise Mother Bat.

7

“Your strong legs let you hang
upside down. Your hearing is very
good, and your chirp helps you fly
in the dark.”

8

Mother Bat snuggled Little Bat.
“Those silly birds cannot fly at
night,” she said. “They would hit
things and bend their beaks!”

Little Bat sighed. “I still wish
I was not a bat,” he said.

10

Forest Fire

One stormy day, the sun vanished.
Thunder boomed and lightning
cracked. The lightning struck a
tree. Flames burst from the tree.

11

Soon the whole forest was burning!
Terrible thick smoke forced the bats
from their cave.

12

The birds recognized Little Bat.
They fluttered in circles.
“Help us, Little Bat!” they cried.
“We cannot see!”

13

“Follow me!” said Little Bat.
He chirped loudly and led them
to safety.

14

“You saved us,” said the birds.
“Little Bat, you are so smart!”
“Yes, he is,” said Mother Bat.
Little Bat giggled. “I am glad
I am a bat!”

15

Comprehension Check

Retell the Story 8IBU 8IBU
* 3FBE * ,OPX
Use an Inference Chart

and the pictures to help

you retell this story. *OGFSFODF

Think and Compare

1. Turn to page 14. Why was
Little Bat able to save the
birds? (Make Inferences)

2. Why do you think Little
Bat did not know how
special he was? (Analyze)

3. What are some ways that
people can make other
people feel special? (Apply)

16

Literacy Activities

Thank You!

Pretend you are one of the birds that Little
Bat saved. Write him a thank-you letter.

Write Synonyms

Synonyms are words that have the same or
similar meanings. List synonyms for the words
in this chart.

Word Synonym
flutter
giggle
peer
snuggle
vanish

How Animals Grow
GR I • Benchmark 16 • Lexile 320

2.5 Week 4

978-0-02-206733-5
MHID: 0-02-206733-7

10000

EAN

9 780022 067335 2

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