Bats at the Beach

It's summer time, and what does one do in the summer? Well if you are lucky you hit Jersey Shore! I've heard there are other beaches in the world. I've even been up to Maine and New Hampshire to walk along their coasts. They are beautiful. But to me, summer will always be the Jersey Shore.
With the summer in mind I went browsing for a really beachin book and I believe I found the very one.
Brian Lies is a writer and Illustrator of children's books. He writes for many children's magazines as well as writing and illustrating many books. The one I picked up yesterday is called "Bats at the Beach".
"Bats at the Beach" is an entertaining story told in rhyme on a board book, that can be especially enjoyed by toddlers up to very young readers of Kindergarten age. The book is about a bunch of bat families enjoying the night at the beach. The bats are shown landing at the beach right at sunset, and enjoying all the activities that families do throughout the summer. The bats swim, splash, build sandcastles, tan under the moon, and enjoy themselves until the first light of dawn shows itself. Then everyone flys back to their homes to rest up for the next night. At the end of the book there is a special song written called the Bat Hymn, sung to the tune of the Battle Hymn of the Republic that I am sure you and your little ones will enjoy singing.
I absolutely loved the illustrations on this book.  The bats are doing what you could imagine bats really doing assuming they took their families to the beach.  The toasted marshmallows have grasshopper legs sticking out of them, which no doubt adds to the bats' delight. And they fly kites by attaching string to themselves and having a friend hold on to it while they hover up in the sky.
Brian Lies does two other books about bats, "Bats at the Library" and "Bats at the Ballgame."
If you enjoy this one, I am sure you will the others as well.
I originally bought this book for my neighbor's little girl who will be two tomorrow. But to tell you the truth I almost regret letting it go. It is definitely the kind of book I'd love to keep around just in case any little boys or girls would like to hear what the bats do at the beach. If you get this book yourself, don't forget the Moon Tan Lotion!