The beautiful illustrations are part of what make "Stellaluna" such a pleasurable book to read with children. Discuss the role of illustrations in children's literature and show your child examples from "Stellaluna" and his favorite books. Point out the different techniques, and then have your child create his own illustration from "Stellaluna." He should choose his favorite art technique, such as watercolor or drawing, and use it on paper. Display his project in your home or classroom.
Create your own Stellaluna character from the story. For young children, print out a basic line drawing of a bat using your computer. If your child is older, allow her to draw her own. Cut this shape out and then glue patches of fake fur to the paper, creating the look of a real bat. Glue two eyes on the bat and use two large rice grains for fangs. Attach a string to the bat, and hang it from a ceiling or door frame.
The main character of "Stellaluna" is a fruit bat. Review the information near the end of the book, and discuss the fact that fruit bats do not bother people, as they only eat fruit. Purchase a variety of fruit, such as apples and pears, to use for your art project. Cut the fruit in sections for your child and use these as stamps. Give him different color stamping ink or washable paint to use for printing.
The importance of family in the story "Stellaluna" is clear -- Stellaluna spends the entire story trying to get back to her mother and family. Discuss the significance of family with your child and ask her to draw a portrait of your family. Provide her with a 5-by-7-inch sheet of paper and markers and crayons to complete the activity. Frame your child's art project in an appropriate-size frame and display this in your home. You may also choose to gift this creation to a family member.