Every story begins with a spark. Sometimes it’s a funny idea at bedtime, sometimes it’s a craft gone sideways, and sometimes it’s the question a child asks that lingers in your mind. That’s how Bats & Biscuits was born — a curious, slightly spooky, always joyful new picture book for children ages 3–8.

I’m excited to share that Bats & Biscuits is now available on Amazon KDP in paperback, with an ebook edition coming soon. Alongside the book, I’ve created a Bat’s Dress-Up printable activity, free to download, so children can join in the fun of the story by designing their own bat characters.

So, let’s peek behind the curtain — or should I say, into the biscuit tin.

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The Characters: Mischievous Bats and Midnight Snacks

The stars of this story are a band of bats with a shared love for biscuits. Not just any biscuits, mind you, but the kind that children might sneak before bed: jam-filled, or Jammie Dodgers, as they are called in the UK.

These bats aren’t scary; they’re cheeky, curious, and just a little greedy. They flit through the night, swooping and giggling, always in search of their next crunchy treat. Their antics are funny, a touch chaotic, and wonderfully relatable to children who know the pull of “just one more cookie.”

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The Making of a Felt-World Story

Like all my books, Bats & Biscuits started in my studio with felt, thread, and imagination.

• Step One: Hand-Stitching the Bats
  Each bat character was sculpted in felt, complete with tiny wings, fuzzy ears, and cheeky smiles. The handmade nature of these characters means children can see every stitch, every little imperfection that makes them feel real.
• Step Two: Setting the Scene
  The bats were photographed in miniature sets that mimic night skies and cozy corners. Light and shadow play a huge role here — it gives the book that spooky-season atmosphere while keeping it soft and inviting.
• Step Three: Layout and Storytelling
  The images were paired with text and designed into spreads that encourage page turns. The rhythm of the story builds, much like the bats’ excitement, until everything crescendos in a laugh-out-loud moment.

The result? A tactile, immersive world that feels part sculpture, part photography, and part bedtime magic.

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The Story: Spooky-Season Fun with a Biscuit Twist

Without spoiling the ending, here’s the flavour of the story:

• Two bats swoop out at night with one goal — biscuits!
• Their midnight adventure is playful, mischievous, and full of surprises.
• Along the way, the bats discover more than just crumbs; they stumble into lessons about sharing, fun, and friendship.

It’s a story that blends spooky vibes with humour — perfect for October, but enjoyable all year long. Children will giggle at the silly situations while also sensing the deeper message: adventures are sweeter when shared.

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Why I Wrote Bats & Biscuits

I wanted to create a Halloween-friendly story that was festive without being frightening. Children love the mystery of night-time, but many are still too young for real scares. These bats offer just the right blend: slightly spooky, mostly silly, and endlessly snacky.

The biscuit element came straight from life. Like so many parents, I’ve watched my kids sneak snacks or negotiate “just one more” at bedtime. That universal ritual became the heartbeat of the book: a funny, light-hearted reflection of childhood appetites and cheeky persistence.

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Reading Prompts for Families

One of the joys of Bats & Biscuits is how interactive it can become during story time. When you read aloud, try adding pauses where children can predict what the bats might do next, or invite them to shout “Biscuit!” whenever the word appears. These small rituals turn the story into a game, making reading feel active rather than passive. You might even spark a bit of creative chaos — children inventing their own bat names, deciding which biscuits they’d make, or drawing maps of where the bats might go next. It’s these playful extensions that make a story stick in their memory.

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The Magic of Handmade Stories

In a world where so much children’s media is digital and fast-paced, there’s something grounding about holding a book where every character started as a hand-stitched toy. Children can sense the realness in the felt textures, the tiny stitches, the way the light hits fabric wings. It slows them down, draws them in, and reminds families that stories don’t need to be slick or polished to be powerful. For me, that’s the magic of Bats & Biscuits: it’s a reminder that imperfection is part of beauty, and that sometimes the silliest ideas — like bats baking biscuits — can become the most loved traditions.

The Launch

• 📖 Paperback edition: Available now on Amazon.
• 📱 Ebook edition: Coming soon, perfect for families who prefer digital reading.

Both formats are designed for ages 3–8: large, clear text for reading aloud, bold photographs of the felt bats, and spreads that invite children into the action.

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Why This Book Belongs on Your Shelf

• For Halloween season: A playful, non-scary read with a touch of autumn magic.
• For bedtime: The rhythm, repetition, and humour make it a perfect nightly choice.
• For family bonding: It sparks giggles and invites conversations about sharing, sneaking snacks, and playful mischief.
• For book lovers: The felt-photography style is unique and visually engaging.

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Bonus Freebie: Bat’s Dress-Up Printable

To celebrate the launch, I’ve created a Bat’s Dress-Up printable activity. Children can print, cut, and dress up their very own bats with costumes and accessories. Think tiny hats, capes, silly shoes, and maybe even biscuit-shaped props.

Get your file here:

This activity extends the book into play:

• Children practice fine motor skills while cutting and pasting.
• They express creativity by designing their own bat styles.
• It becomes a toy for pretend play, weaving the story beyond the page.

The printable is available for free with this blog post, so your family can join the bats’ adventures right at the kitchen table.

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A Peek into the Series

Bats & Biscuits is part of a growing family of felt-animal books, alongside Goats & Ghosts and the upcoming Witches & Whisks. Each one blends slightly spooky fun with gentle, meaningful storytelling — always with characters children can see and almost touch.

My dream is that these books become seasonal traditions: pulled out in autumn, remembered at bedtime, shared between siblings.

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Final Thought

Stories connect us — they give children words for their imagination and families little rituals to gather around. With Bats & Biscuits, I hope your family finds a story that’s equal parts funny, spooky, and heartwarming. And maybe, just maybe, it will inspire a midnight biscuit or two.

With crumbs on my desk and bats in my sketchbook,
Lily Luz
Spoon & Sky