Bats: Biggest! Littlest!

Markle, Sandra.  Bats: Biggest! Littlest!  Boyd's Mills Press     2013  31p   $16.95  ISBN 978-1-59078-952-0  elem/ms  series: Biggest! Littlest!  Nonfiction  E-BN

The close-up color photos illustrate the parts of a bat from one of the largest with a wing span of three feet to one of the smallest, which has a wingspan of six inches.  Fascinating photos show bats in flight, feeding and in their natural habitat.  The informational text will provide researchers with all they need for reports, including how bats protect themselves from wind and cold, their daily life, habitats, what they eat, how they locate food and who the predators are.  The early life of bats is detailed, including the care that mother bats provide their young.  The many species of bats and their unique features are detailed as well as a map showing where they live in various countries across the world.  The benefits bats provide to the environment, such as pollination and control of insects and pests, are featured, as is a mention of the harm they can do to crops and diseases they may carry. A first choice for libraries involved in STEM initiatives.                 

Summary: Explores the many species of bats, their habitats, their sizes, and  their eating habits. Excellent close-up color photos will pull in even those who detest bats.  Perfect for STEM-based collections as well as for the reader interested in bats. Grades 3-8.      

Bats                                                  --Lois McNicol