Join Bat, Cat, and Rat on their three-and-a-half sweet and silly roommate adventures in this hilarious “gift to reading” (School Library Journal, starred review), the first of a series, from New York Times bestsellers Ame Dyckman and Mark Teague.

What happens when three friends—a bat, a cat, and a rat—move in together?

In “Sharing,” Bat, Cat, and Rat find a cozy home to share. But will choosing rooms put their sharing skills to the test?

In “Joking,” Rat sets off a series of pranks and shenanigans with his rubber spider that have the trio screaming in surprise and laughing in delight.

In “Reading,” Cat catches Bat and Rat reading over her shoulder—or so she thinks, until it turns out they haven’t learned to read yet. Can Cat teach her friends to read along with her?

About The Author

Photo courtesy of the author

Ame Dyckman

Ame Dyckman is the author of many books for children, including the Bat, Cat & Rat series, How Dinosaurs Went Extinct: A Safety Guide, and the New York Times bestselling Wolfie the Bunny. Ame lives with her family in central New Jersey. Visit her at AmeDyckman.com.

About The Illustrator

Photo courtesy of the author

Mark Teague

Mark Teague is an award-winning author and illustrator whose books include Fly!, King Kong’s Cousin, We Are Going to Be Pals!, and You Are Not Sleepy!. He is also the illustrator of Cat Dog, written by Mem Fox; the Bat, Cat & Rat series, written by Ame Dyckman; and the New York Times bestselling How Do Dinosaurs…? series, written by Jane Yolen.

Product Details

Publisher: Beach Lane Books (February 6, 2024)
Length: 48 pages
ISBN13: 9781665930420
Ages: 4 - 8
Fountas & Pinnell™ J These books have been officially leveled by using the F&P Text Level Gradient™ Leveling System

Raves and Reviews

* "This is a charming early reader, a reminder of how mastery of the format invites children in not with vocabulary, but with story and meaning. What a gift to reading."

– School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW, 7/26/24

"Subtly but effectively, the book’s veteran creators show that mutual understanding is worth working for, even when it requires ceding some of one’s own assumptions."

– Publishers Weekly, 12/18/2023

"Equally effective as an inviting beginning-reader book or a read-aloud choice for younger children, this volume features friendship among three well-defined characters, along with humor that kids will enjoy."

– Booklist, 1/1/2024

"These delightful, very brief stories entertainingly touch on the joys and complexities of friendship.... Young readers will enjoy the stories and discover that a home with friends, even with its ups and downs, is a cozy place to be."

– Horn Book, March/April 2024 Issue