1. Of all the animals in The Bat Poet, the bat himself seems to be the most unusual. Why do you think Jarrell chose the bat as the main character? Do you think it was a good choice?

2. The bat and the mockingbird have a long discussion on poetry. The bat finally realizes that although he cannot sing like the mockingbird, he can write poems. Is it important to be able to sing like the mockingbird, or are the bat's words just as important, or even more so?

3. At the opening of The Bat Poet, the bat has no desire to write poems. What changes his mind?

4. One of the things that puzzles the bat about the mockingbird is how the mockingbird scares other animals from the yard and then imitates them. The bat never understands this trait. Why do you think the mockingbird does...