Cagan, Shauna. Addie and the Amazing Acrobats. Hippo Park, 2023. 978-1-662-64046-9. $18.99. Unpaged. Grades PreK-2. 

 Addie and her best friends Ben and Jude live under a red bridge with other neighborhood bats. The three are best known for their amazing flying acrobatic feats. They love to flip, swoosh, and cartwheel through the night sky. While they are all talented, the star of their show is clearly Addie. In fact, the animals of the neighborhood soon give their act a name– “Addie and the Amazing Acrobats.” When they are invited to join the Big Bat Circus, the three are ecstatic! But, it turns out the circus is only interested in having Addie join their company. So Addie grabs her bag, leaves the bridge, and is soon performing as an acrobat under the big top. As time passes, however, Addie finds that no matter how popular she is with the circus crowds, there’s something missing–her two best friends. Back at the bridge, Ben and Jude are finding that their act isn’t quite the same without Addie. When the circus is due to travel by her home, Addie is worried. Will Ben and Jude still want to be her friends?

THOUGHTS: This delightful picture book would make an ideal read aloud and could also be paired with a non-fiction text on bats. Readers will enjoy the acrobatic bat tricks as well as the interplay between the narrator and the protagonist. The digital illustrations convey the personality of the bats as well as the excitement of the aerials. An enjoyable story about the bonds of friendship.

Picture Book