The Fable of Mother Bat

Which family do bats belong to? To that of mice, with which they share their large ears? To that of birds, since they, too, fly? Or to that of humans, who breastfeed their young, just like bats? In the African fable, Mother Bat decides one day to go off and visit some of her relatives but, when she meets them, none of them recognise her. In a simple, direct form of storytelling, she expresses what it is like not to feel included. Mice, of course, cannot fly; birds have no teeth; and humans do not hunt by night. So Mother Bat is rejected by all the animal “relatives” she approaches. They can only see what makes them different and, blinded by stereotypes, they fail to see beyond them. Like all fables, the story of Mother Bat, which is freely adapted from a tale by Babacar Mbaye Ndaak, a Senegalese author and singer, offers a moral. Disheartened and frustrated, she returns home after being rejected. She and her little ones decide that, from now on, they will live their own way, hanging upside down from a tree. This illustrates the triumph of individuality over stereotype, and offers a charming explanation of what gave rise to such truly special creatures. Marta Solazzo’s colourful and whimsical illustrations bring the story to life for young readers, adding a touch of levity and humour to the tale. This is a children’s book with a memorable story.

La favola di Mamma Pipistrello
Freely adapted from a story by Babacar Mbaye Ndaak, with ilustrations by Marta Solazzo
Modu Modu, 2013