Batman: Exploring the World of Bats [Hardcover]

Laurence Pringle (Author), Merlin Tuttle (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 30, 1991 | Age Level: 9 and up

Describes Merlin Tuttle's interest in bats, his study of them in their natural habitat, and his work to protect them through such efforts as the organization he founded, Bat Conservation International.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-- Fear and ignorance have been Merlin Tuttle's chief obstacles in his fight for the worldwide conservation of bats. This cogently written title focuses on the noted mammalogist's life and work, while also debunking a variety of myths about these much-maligned small animals. The text briefly describes Tuttle's childhood fascination with nature, his formal education and early fieldwork, and the development of new techniques in the field of wildlife photography. Also examined are the general physical characteristics of bats and their ecological importance as pollinators and distributors of seeds. Approximately two dozen photos taken by Tuttle illustrate the text; all but two are in color. These include captivating close-ups of bats in flight and feeding on fruit or insects. Well organized and superbly photographed, this title offers a unique perspective on these gentle mammals and will complement Johnson's Bats (Lerner, 1985) and Pringle's Vampire Bats (Morrow, 1982; o.p.). --Karey Wehner, San Francisco Public Library
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 42 pages
• Publisher: Charles Scribner's Sons (April 30, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684192322
• ISBN-13: 978-0684192321
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,650,604 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Photographs Highlight Batman, September 8, 2008

By 

Renee Huskey "I learn something new every day." (Pacific Northwest) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Batman: Exploring the World of Bats (Paperback)

Laurence Pringle's Batman pays homage to Merlin Tuttle and his life's work with bats. In a culture wrought with myths and predisposed to fearing bats, this extraordinary wildlife photographer (and founder of Bat Conservation International) preaches a fascinating perspective on these misunderstood little mammals. The text of this book is interesting inspiring, and very educational; and readers will find themselves reconsidering their attitudes about these "gentle, intelligent, and endangered" creatures as they learn more about their often critical role our delicately balanced ecosystem. However, it is Mr. Tuttle's close-up photographs of his bats that steal the show. Whether is it the dwarf epauletted bat from Africa, or the California Leaf Bat, or any one of a Rogue's Gallery of bat faces, each photograph puts a new face on a world that readers only thought they knew.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Real Batman, January 6, 2008

By 

Kathy "Kathy K-teacher" (El Paso) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Batman: Exploring the World of Bats (Paperback)

Dr. Merlin Tuttle is a real superhero who has used his lifelong love of bats to begin to turn around their undeserved reputation as pests. He gives the rest of us a start in appreciating their value as pollinators of some our favorite foods and in controlling the mosquito population. He taught himself photography in order to potray the worlds' bats in a more positive fashion--the majority of the color close-up bat portrait photos are his. His enthusiasm about what they can do gets us all interested in exploring bats. Though he now has the help of the organization he founded, Bat Conservation International, he has often single-handedly convinced farmers, developers and even the city of Austin to preserve the bat colonies in their domains. Dr. Tuttle has proved that one person can really make a difference.