King Tut's Grandmother (Echo and the Bat Pack)

August 1, 2012

Gr 2-3-In these easy chapter books, Echo is a mystery-solving bat that grew up in a library. His young human sidekicks are Becca, Michael, and Tyler, aka the Bat Pack. In King Tut, he thinks that he spies a mummy chasing them on a trip back from the lake. He alerts the children, but they don't see it and chalk it up to Echo's tired eyes. When they read an article about an Egyptian exhibit coming to the museum, they joke with Echo about the mummy. They really are chased by it, and the kids and Echo must use their wits to get to the bottom of the mystery and thwart a theft. This is an entertaining introduction to ancient Egypt that could spur young readers to find nonfiction or additional tales related to this era. In Graveyard, Echo is minding his own business in the Fogville cemetery when he discovers a mysterious hooded figure digging for a buried treasure. He enlists the help of his Bat Pack to figure out just what the man is up to, and they make some startling discoveries. A nosy raven is in cahoots with the hooded man. They also meet up with a ghostly sailor who helps them out in the end. Full-color cartoon illustrations appear throughout both books and complement the texts. Discussion questions and writing prompts are also included.-Julie Shatterly, W.A. Bess Elementary School, Gastonia, NC

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2013
This series follows the adventures of bat Echo and siblings Becca, Tyler, and Michael. Together they are the Bat Pack, a spooky-mystery-solving team who face mummies, witches, ghosts, and sewer monsters. These lighthearted chapter books are just scary enough for young readers; full-color cartoon illustrations extend the formulaic narratives. Word puzzles and activities are appended.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)