Have you ever taken time on a summer evening to scan the sky for these nocturnal acrobats with their erratic flight patterns? It’s the perfect weekend to do just that. International Bats’ Night takes place the final weekend of August.
Be sure to read up on these fascinating and misunderstood creatures, too!
Little Bat in Night School by Brian Lies (E LIES) – Little Bat can’t wait for his first night at school with other nocturnal animals, but he’s also a bit nervous because it is a new experience.
Stellaluna by Janell Cannon (E CANNON) – After she falls headfirst into a bird’s nest, a baby bat is raised like a bird until she is reunited with her mother.
Bats by Elizabeth Carney (J 599.4 CAR) – They live in spooky caves, in forests, even in the dark reaches of ordinary attics and bridges. They flock by the hundreds, and they sleep while hanging upside down! Learn about one of the most interesting creatures around–and discover the bat’s unique place in the wild and in the world.
Bats: Learning to Fly by Falynn Koch (GN J 599.4 KOC) – A little brown bat’s wing is injured by humans on a nature hike. He is taken to a bat rehabilitation center where he meets many different species of bats. They teach him how they fly, what they eat, and where they like to live. Presented in graphic novel format.
Poppy and Ereth by Avi (JF AVI) – Poppy the deer mouse has an adventure in the sky—and in a cave—with her unlikely new friend, a bat.
Megabat is a Fraidybat by Anna Humphrey (JF HUMPHR A) – Megabat can’t wait to go to camp! There will be so much smooshfruit, and he loves a good sing-along. He has made a new friend there, but she wants him to go flying to spooky caves. And her mom is very toothy. Megabat does his best to avoid going into the scary woods. But can he overcome his fears to help save his new friend?
Good Night, Bat! Good Morning, Squirrel! by Paul Meisel (E MEISEL) – A lonely bat thinks he has found a perfect home until he discovers that it’s already inhabited by a persnickety squirrel. Since each is asleep during the other’s waking hours, the two begin exchanging notes. With these notes, Squirrel does her best to oust her unwelcome guest, but Bat misunderstands and thinks Squirrel is happy to have a new friend. This is a sweet opposites-attract friendship story that gently shows how to find common ground despite outward differences.
Owl Bat, Bat Owl by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick (E FITZPA) – An owl and a bat family endeavor to share living spaces on the same tree branch, where initial wariness is overcome by the curiosity of the families’ babies on a wild and stormy night that compels them to set aside their apprehensions.
The Secret Life of the Little Brown Bat by Laurence Pringle (J 599.4 PRI) – Follow a year in the life of a little brown bat named Otis as he learns to be a hunter, escape predators, and find a mate. Stunning, realistic illustrations celebrate the beauty of these mysterious creatures as readers learn important facts through an engaging and fascinating story. The book also includes back matter with more in-depth information, a glossary, and further resources.
A Place for Bats by Melissa Stewart (J 599.4 STE) – Uses simple yet informative language to introduce young readers to the ways human action or inaction can affect bat populations. Describing various examples, the text provides an intriguing look at bats, the ecosystems that support their survival, and the efforts of some people to save them.
Bat Loves the Night by Nicola Davies (E DAVIES) – BAT LOVES THE NIGHT takes the reader on a bat’s journey through a hushed nocturnal world. As nighttime falls, a pipistrelle bat awakens and swoops into the shadows to find her evening meal. But as morning’s light creeps across the sky, the bat returns to her baby in the roost—and waits for night to come again.
Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts & Pieces of the Natural World by Julia Rothman (508 ROT) – Suitable for anyone who appreciates and wants to explore the curiosities and beauty of the natural world, this title offers a look at all kinds of subjects, including mineral formation, the inside of a volcano, what makes sunsets, monarch butterfly migration, the parts of a bird, the anatomy of a bat, and more.
The Bat Book by Charlotte Milner (J 599.4 MIL) – Discover why these mammals are essential to the world we live in, learn just how much they matter, why they are under threat, and what we can do to help. Bright, bold, and beautiful illustrations accompany fascinating fun facts about these furry flying mammals in this adorable kids’ book.
Oscar and the Bat: A Book About Sound by Geoff Waring (E WARING) – Bat teaches Oscar the kitten to hear and identify the sounds around him, whether they are made by animals and birds or by a passing thunderstorm.
Hello, Bumblebee Bat by Darrin Lunde (J 599.4 LUN) – A series of questions and answers introduce children to the life and habitat of the exotic and endangered Bumblebee Bat. Scientifically accurate illustrations make these exotic animals accessible to young readers.
Bats at the Library by Brian Lies (E LIES) – Bored with another normal, inky evening, bats discover an open library window and fly in to enjoy the photocopier, water fountain, and especially the books and stories found there.
Discover even more about bats…
https://www.batcon.org/ Care to learn more about bats and bat conservation? Check out Bat Conservation International.
Bat conservationist Merlin Tuttle has likely taken more photos of bats than any other person around. Browse his amazing gallery here. https://merlintuttle.smugmug.com/
Explore DK FindOut! to learn more fun facts about bats. https://www.dkfindout.com/us/animals-and-nature/bats/
…and here are some more bat facts at nature.org. https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/arizona/stories-in-arizona/top-10-bat-facts/