Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Bat facts for kids

The Mad Hatter reciting, with the Dormouse next to him, as illustrated by John Tenniel

"Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Bat" is a funny poem from Lewis Carroll's famous 1865 book, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The poem is recited by the silly Mad Hatter during a tea party in chapter seven of the story. It's a parody, which means it's a humorous imitation, of the well-known nursery rhyme "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star".

What the Poem Says

The Mad Hatter recites these lines during the tea party:

Twinkle, twinkle, little bat!
How I wonder what you're at!
Up above the world you fly,
Like a teatray in the sky.

Meaning Behind the Words

During the Mad Hatter's tea party, the Dormouse often falls asleep and interrupts the conversation. In this scene, the Dormouse interrupts the Hatter's poem.

The "Bat" in the poem is actually a secret joke! It was the nickname for Professor Bartholomew Price. He was a teacher at Oxford University and had taught Lewis Carroll. Professor Price was also well known to Alice Liddell's family. Alice Liddell was the real-life girl who inspired the character of Alice in the book.