Stellaluna PDF
Stellaluna PDF
Stellaluna PDF
by Janell Cannon
adapted by M.Plumtree
Narrator 1: In a warm and sultry forest far, far away, there once lived a mother fruit bat
and her new baby. Oh, how Mother Bat loved her soft tiny baby.
Narrator 1: Each night, Mother Bat would carry Stellaluna clutched to her breast as she
flew out to search for food.
Narrator 2: One night, as Mother Bat followed the heavy scent of ripe fruit, an owl spied
her. On silent wings the powerful bird swooped down upon the bats. Dodging and
shrieking, Mother Bat tried to escape, but the owl struck again and again,
knocking Stellaluna into the air. Her baby wings were as limp and useless as
wet paper. Down, down she went, faster and faster, into the forest below.
Narrator 3: The dark leafy tangle of branches caught Stellaluna as she fell. One twig was
small enough for Stellaluna's tiny feet. Wrapping her wings about her, she
clutched the thin branch, trembling with cold and fear.
Narrator 3: By daybreak, the baby bat could hold on no longer. Down, down again she dropped.
Narrator 4: Flump! Stellaluna landed headfirst in a soft downy nest, startling the three
baby birds who lived there. Stellauluna quickly clambered from the nest and
hung out of sight below it. She listened to the babble of the three birds.
Narrator 5: Many, many times that day Mama Bird flew away, always returning with food for
her babies. Stellaluna was terribly hungry - but not for the crawly things Mama
Bird brought. Finally, though, the little bat could bear it no longer. She
climbed into the nest, closed her eyes, and opened her mouth. Plop! In dropped
a big green grasshopper!
Narrator 6: Stellaluna learned to be like the birds. She stayed awake all day and slept at
night. She ate bugs even though they tasted awful. Her bat ways were quickly
disappearing. Except for one thing: Stellaluna still liked to sleep hanging by
her feet.
Narrator 7: Once, when Mama was away, the curious baby birds decided to try it, too. When
Mama Bird came home she saw eight tiny feet gripping the edge of the nest.
Mama Bird: "Eeeek! Get back up here this instant! You're going to fall and break your necks!"
Narraator 7: The birds clambered back into the nest, but Mama Bird stopped Stellaluna.
Mama Bird "You are teaching my children to do bad things. I will not let you back into
this nest unless you promise to obey all the rules of this house."
Narrator 7: Stellaluna promised. She ate bugs without making faces. She slept in the nest at
night. And she didn't hang by her feet. Stellaluna behaved as a good bird should.
Narrator 8: All the babies grew quickly. Soon the nest became crowded. Mama Bird told them
it was time to learn to fly. One by one, Pip, Flitter, Flap, and Stellaluna
jumped from the nest. Their wings worked!
Narrator 8: Pip, Flitter, and Flap landed gracefully on a branch. Stellaluna tried to do
the same. But she was not as graceful. How embarrassing!
Stellaluna: "I will fly all day, Then no one will see how clumsy I am."
Narrator 9: The next day, Pip, Flitter, Flap, and Stellaluna went flying far from home.
They flew for hours, exercising their new wings.
Flap: "We had better go home or we will get lost in the dark."
Narrator 9: But Stellaluna had flown far ahead and was nowhere to be seen. The three
anxious birds went home without her.
Narrator 9: All alone, Stellaluna flew and flew until her wings ached and she dropped
into a tree.
Narrator 10: So she hung by her thumbs and soon fell asleep. She didn't hear the soft
sound of wings coming near.
Narrator 10: Stellaluna's eyes opened wide. She saw a most peculiar face.
Bat One: "Ah, but you're a bat. Bats hang by their feet. You are hanging by your thumbs,
so that makes you upside down. I'm a bat. I am hanging by my feet. That makes
me right side up!"
Stellaluna: (looking confused). "Mama Bird told me I was upside down. She said I was wrong."
Bat One: "Wrong for a bird, maybe, but not for a bat."
Stellaluna: "More bats gathered around to see the strange young hat who behaved like a bird."
Mama Bat: "An owl attacked you? You are Stellaluna. You are my baby."
Mother Bat: "Yes come with me and I'll show you where to find the most delicious fruit. You'll
never have to eat another bug as long as you live."
Stellaluna: (squeaking) "But it's nighttime. We can't fly in the dark or we will crash
into trees."
Mother Bat: "We're bats. We can see in darkness. Come with us."
Narrator 11: Stellaluna was afraid, but she let go of the tree and dropped into the deep blue
sky. Stellaluna could see. She felt as though rays of light shone from her eyes.
She was able to see everything in her path.
Stellaluna: "I'll never eat another bugs as long as I live she stuffed herself I must tell
Pip, Flitter, and Flap!"
Narrator 11: The next day Stellaluna went to visit the birds.
Stellalluna: "They hang by their feet and they fly at night and they eat the best food in the
world."
Narrator 12: When night came Stellaluna flew away. Pip, Flitter, and Flap leapt from the
trees to follow her.
Narrator 12: Stellaluna swooped about a tree, and the birds grasped a branch. Stellaluna
hung from the limb above them.
Stellaluna: "We're safe. I wish you could see in the dark, too."