Batman Storytime

Batman turns 75 this year! Doesn't he look great for being part of AARP for 25 years?

Today (July 23) marks what has been officially called Batman's Birthday by DC Comics. However, some sources place Bruce Wayne's Birthday in October or November, so you haven't missed your chance to do a Batman Story Time of your own.

Opening Song: Happy and you know it/Ready for a Story

Sit Down Song: The More We Read Together

First Book: Batman: The Story of the Dark Knight by Ray Cosentino

I love these stories, Ray Cosentino writes excellent introductions to DC superheroes for children. These are far more palatable for storytime than the usual easy readers that we tend to get, and I recommend them to parents all the time.

Song: Happy Birthday to you! (Batman)

Song: The Batman Song

The Batman's arms Karate-chop, karate-chop, karate chop, the Batman's arms Karate Chop, All night long.

Other Verse: feet-kick, kick, kick; Bat-a-rang: swing, swing, swing; wheels on the Batmobile go round and round; legs - run, run, run; The Batman always - Saves the day (heroic pose)

Now is where I deviated from Batman, because Batman stories for preschoolers are not thrilling, so we talk about his favorite animal...the bat!

Second Book: Batty by Sarah Dyer

Song: 5 Black Bats

Five Black Bats (same 'tune' as 5 little pumpkins)

Five Black Bats Hanging upside down.

The first one did not make a sound

The second one said “I’ll fly far tonight”

The third one said “I don’t like sunlight”

The fourth one said “I want to eat some bugs”

The fifth one said “I want some hugs”

Oooh blew the wind and down went the sun,

The Five Black Bats flew off for some fun.

Third Book: Hello, Bumblebee Bat by Patricia J. Wynne

Song:  Flap Little Bats (Tune: Ten Little Indians, attribution needed)

Flap, flap, flap little bats,

Flap, flap, flap little bats,

Flap, flap, flap little bats,

Early in the evening.

Additional Verses:

Clap, clap, clap little bats,

Dance, dance, dance little bats,

Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle little bats,

Soar, soar, soar little bats,

Sleep, sleep, sleep little bats,

Early in the morning.

Song: If you’re a hero and you know it !

(Sung to: If you’re happy and you know it)

If you’re a hero and you know it, Flex your muscles

If you’re a hero and you know it, Flex your muscles

If you’re a hero and you know it than your post will surely show it (heroic pose)

If you’re a hero and you know it flex your muscles.

Verses: Jump up high, Fly around, Run real fast

Song: Super Pokey

We put our right glove in

We put our right glove out

We put our right glove in

And we shake it all about

You do the Super Pokey and you fly yourself around

That’s what it’s all about!

Verses: Left glove, Right boot, Left boot, Mask, Cape, Super Self!

Other Recommended Reads: 

The Day I Lost My Superpowers by Michael Escoffier and Kris Di Giacomo

(I love this story, but Batman doesn't have SuperPowers so I guess I will save it for next years SRC!)

Batman: Gotham's Villains Unleashed by John Sazaklis; Il by Mada Design, Inc.

(The only other Batman Story I considered. A little long, but a good introduction to his most famous villains.  The Cosentino book has a small section that's basically the same, so this was cut.)

A Place for Bats by Melissa Stewart; Il by Higgins Bond (Very preachy about Bat conservation, which I was okay with except I didn't want to discuss all the ways humans are killing bats.)