Stellaluna

Review

Common Sense Media says

Picture book gets a sweet musical adaptation for families.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this animated adaptation of the classic children's picture book is fairly faithful to the book's premise, which follows a baby bat who's separated from her family. Younger kids, especially preschoolers, might be frightened when the owl chases the bats and Stellaluna falls away from her mother. Baby birds are mean to Stellaluna, but they eventually learn to respect Stellaluna as a fruit bat, not a "weird" bird. In addition to teaching kids about birds and bats, the movie encourages kids to treat each other fairly and appreciate one other's differences.

  • Educational value3
    Children will learn about the differences between a bat and a bird. Stellaluna instinctively wants to sleep all day and be up at night; she wants to lick her foster mother (a bird) and not eat the bugs and worms that her baby bird friends consume. An owl is introduced as a predator. When Stellaluna is reunited with her family, they teach her how to act like a bat.
  • Positive messages4
    The movie, like the book, teaches lessons of self-identity, confidence, and family. At first Stellaluna is melancholy because she doesn't act or look like her bird hosts, but eventually she discovers who she is and where she belongs. The birds and the bats learn from each other. One song, "Best In You," reinforces that it isn't what's on the outside but on the inside that counts.
  • Positive role models2
    Mother bird adopts Stellaluna but makes her promise to follow the rules of the nest and act like a bird. The mama is a bit strict about Stellaluna acting, flying, and eating "as a good bird should." Stellaluna has an identity crisis; she doesn't understand why she's different than her bird friends and doesn't fit in properly. When she's reunited with other bats, she's gratedful to her bird family and defends the way they raised her. But the baby birds are much crueler in the movie than they are in the book. The parrots Stellaluna meets teach her that it's not what she looks like but who she is that matters.
  • Violence & scariness1
    The sequences with the owl chasing the fruit bats might frighten sensitive young viewers, especially because the perspective makes it seem like the mother bat is killed (she isn't). It's also scary when Stellaluna falls and is separated from her mother's grasp. Some children might find the fact Stellaluna's away from her family sad, even though she has a home with the birds until she's reunited with her bat family.
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What's the story?

Based on Jannell Cannon's beloved children's book, STELLALUNA follows a baby fruit bat (voiced by Chiara Zanni) who becomes separated from her mother's grasp when an owl chases after their family of Flying Foxes. After landing near a nest, a mother bird takes in Stellaluna but tries to repress her differences. At first the baby birds are mean to Stellaluna, and she questions her ability to fit in with her bird foster family. But eventually she discovers the truth about her roots and where she belongs.

Is it any good?

 

Like most picture book adaptations, Stellaluna is padded with songs and extra characters to fill out the simple plot. Those expecting a page-for-page filmed version of the book might be surprised at some of the characters' personality differences, but the fundamental story is the same: Stellaluna is "upside down" living with her new bird family, and she doesn't know why she's compelled to do things that are so un-bird like.

The animation isn't of the dazzling Pixar variety, but the songs are surprisingly catchy, and Stellaluna is an irresistibly sweet protagonist. This is one of the rare children's films that seamlessly blends in educational tidbits (in this case, about bird and bat habitats -- and habits), so kids will likely want to learn even more about bats, particularly Flying Foxes like Stellaluna.

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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about Stellaluna's message of family and belonging. What other stories and movies deal with children separated from their families?

  • How are the baby birds like little bullies at first? What makes them change their mind? Kids: 
    Why isn't it OK to treat people poorly because they're different? Parents: Read about how to handle bullying.

  • What does Stellaluna learn about herself in the story? Should the mama bird have forced her to act like a bird when she isn't one?

This review was written by Sandie Angulo Chen
Parent of 19 year old
February 21, 2012
AGE
2
 
Sweet stuff for preschoolers
Stellaluna is the sweetest bat in children's literature - and now on TV!
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Helped me decide (3) | Had useful details (4) | Read my mind (3)
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This review was written by Sandie Angulo Chen
Topics:book characters, wild animals
Studio:MGM/UA
Director:William R. Kowalchuk Jr.
Cast:Chiara Zanni, Kathleen Barr, Scott McNeil
Genre:Family and Kids
Run time:41 minutes
DVD release date:February 21, 2012
MPAA rating:G
This review was written by Sandie Angulo Chen
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
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