Beverley, Bat Your Service

by Kelly Collier, Kelly Collier (Illustrator)

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Sweet, thoughtful and a little kooky, Beverly isn’t sure why humans don’t want to be around her. Maybe it’s because she’s a bat?! Beverley sets out to make some new friends in this delightful story about being yourself.

An enthusiastic bat tries to be the perfect host for a human family in this laugh-out-loud, charming picture book perfect for fans of Penelope Rex, Gustavo the Shy Ghost, and Jory John!

Beverley the Bat loves having guests at his big, old house—or he would, if anyone ever stopped by. Then one day a human family moves in. Beverley rolls out the welcome mat by filling the house with eau de rotten egg (Grandma’s favorite), cooking delicious Bolognese de millipede for dinner, and thoughtfully shredding the clothes the family brought to make comfy nests.

But for some reason the humans don’t seem to appreciate Beverley’s gestures. How can the little bat become the host with the most?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781665962827
Publisher:	Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	08/26/2025
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	48
File size:	79 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Kelly Collier is the author and illustrator of the Steve the Horse series, The Imposter, and Beverley, Bat Your Service. She is also the illustrator of numerous books, including the Snail & Stump series, Sloth and Squirrel in a Pickle, and more. Kelly lives with her family in Toronto. Visit her on Instagram @IUsedtoBeanArtist.

Editorial Reviews

The delightfully creepy, not-so-spooky house sets the mood, with many tiny details to pore over. . . . A quirky look at the fine line between caring and scaring.

Kirkus Reviews

2025-05-03
An eager bat finally gets the chance to host guests at his dilapidated home.

Beverley loves entertaining company. Sadly, no one ever comes over. Beverley can’t understand it. The wallpaper is peeling, the roof has holes, and cobwebs are everywhere…why won’t anyone visit?! But one rainy afternoon, Beverley hears a commotion downstairs. Guests have arrived! And not just any guests. “PEOPLE GUESTS!” (A “sold” sign by the house and the many suitcases the newcomers bring will clue readers in: It’s move-in day for this hapless family.) Beverley can hardly contain his excitement. To make them feel at home, he writes a cheery message in drippy red paint on the mirror: “WELCOME / STAY FOREVER.” He sprays “Eau de Rotten Eggs” (Grandma’s favorite scent). And to make their stay complete, he whips up “millipede Bolognese”—with a worm soufflé for dessert, of course. Beverley’s brand of hospitality isn’t quite what the humans had in mind. Convinced they’ve moved into a haunted house, the two adults and one youngster (plus the dog) look increasingly horrified as the day goes on, but the other kiddo wears a huge smile. Beverley has managed to impress one guest! The delightfully creepy, not-so-spooky house sets the mood, with many tiny details to pore over. Full-page spreads are mixed with vignettes, featuring jagged speech bubble screams (not from joy). The family is light-skinned.

A quirky look at the fine line between caring and scaring.(Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews