Bats!: Strange and Wonderful [Hardcover]

Laurence Pringle (Author), Meryl Henderson (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up | Series: Strange and Wonderful

Bats are among the world's most misunderstood animals. This book gives readers an inside look at the earth's only flying mammals. Readers discover how bats can pluck insects from the air, fish from the water, and help giant trees and other tropical plants to reproduce, among other fascinating facts. Featuring stunning illustrations, this is a great introduction to an extraordinary mammal.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3-A lucid text describes some general physical and behavioral characteristics common to all types of bats. The ways in which these flying mammals benefit world ecosystems (e.g., through insect consumption, seed dispersal, and plant pollination) are emphasized. Vibrant, realistic watercolors of representative species extend the text on every page. Some illustrations are enclosed in boxes and superimposed on larger paintings; in most, body parts extend beyond the frames, giving them a 3-D effect. A particularly effective series of paintings shows a vampire bat's ungainly walk on its hind legs toward a sleeping cow. While this title provides information similar to that in Betsy Maestro's Bats (Scholastic, 1994) and Gail Gibbons's Bats (Holiday, 1999), its simpler text conveys complex concepts in terms that most children understand. With its appealing illustrations in an eye-catching arrangement and clearly written text, Pringle's Bats! is equal to the best introductions on the subject for this age level.
Karey Wehner, San Francisco Public Library
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

. "If you were a bat, you could stay up all night." So begins Pringle's child-friendly introduction to bats. Carefully crafted to overcome misconceptions and fears concerning bats, the text also provides basic information about the variety and habits of the flying mammals as well as their importance in the ecosystem. Readers may be surprised by some of the information, such as the fact that if hibernating bats are disturbed several times over the winter, they may die because they use too much energy in their wakened state. The text never descends to a "gee-whiz" tone, and the book is stronger for it. In an afterword, Pringle suggests ways to learn about bats first-hand and tells readers how to contact a bat conservation organization. Meryl Henderson's watercolor paintings illustrate the text with beauty and finesse. The many evening and night scenes set up dramatic contrasts using silhouetted figures. Harmonious colors, softly shaded from deep browns to glowing hues, are often accentuated by black backgrounds. Presented with respect for the subject and for the audience, this is one of the best of the many bat books, especially for a somewhat younger audience. Carolyn Phelan

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Boyds Mills Press (February 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563973278
• ISBN-13: 978-1563973277
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 9.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,844,368 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars I like bats!, October 6, 2008

By 

Backroads "Scatter-brained book fan" (Cache Valley, Utah) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Bats!: Strange and Wonderful (Hardcover)

Laurence Pringle certainly loves his bats. That much is evident in this charming little book that very much praises the bats. I remember that as a child bats were my favorite animal and I guess I still have something of a soft spot for them. So hooray for bats and this simple-but-thorough examination of these sweet little mammals. Pringle covers all the basics from echo-location to various species to all sorts of awesome little details. Meryl Henderson's illustrations are understated but work very well for this book. Great little piece for the junior bats lovers.