Wholesale Bat

A detailed chronology of developmental milestones drives this life study of bats, including their habitats, physical features, and conservation measures taken to protect these flying mammals. Part of the Spotlight on Nature series Books about animals have nearly universal appeal--especially when the spotlight is placed on the wild families that make up the natural world. Spotlight on Nature is tailored for readers wanting to know more about their favorite creatures than a simple picture book or encyclopedia article can tell them, and the narrative feature interspersed throughout the informational text will attract fans of classic nature shows. Each title also underscores the importance of conservation, pointing out where people can see the animal in both captivity and the wild. Ages 10 - 13 Nonfiction, 32 pages, 2021 ISBN 978-1-64026-337-6 Reviews "Organized chronologically, these in-depth animal profiles cover life stages from birth through adulthood. Clear prose describes animal development, weaving in statistics and key facts about habitat, family structures, physical characteristics, and behaviors. A related “Meet the Family” section narrates the progress of specific species, interwoven with the main text that covers the broader animal group. A timeline at the page bottom tracks the animal’s age. Photographs highlight key data, often expanded with highly effective “close up” features. The complexities of the koala’s “paws and claws,” for example, are shown perfectly with eye-catching images and explanatory text (Koala). Occasional full-page photos feature fun, oversized captions that add to the visual appeal. Closing pages look at the animal’s status in the wild and current conservation efforts. VERDICT First-rate animal portraits for middle grade students." School Library Journal, November 2021 "The sheer variety that exists among nature and its inhabitants is on full display in the "Spotlight on Nature" series (8 titles), which follows different animals through their life cycles. Featuring striking photographs and with material pleasingly laid out against crisp white backgrounds, these oversized volumes open with the birth of an animal, outline the challenges they face growing up, and explore their habitats and abilities. While Dolphin discusses several of the species in this marine family, including orcas and river dolphins, it focuses primarily on Atlantic spotted dolphins and the ways in which they communicate. The volumes that feature multiple species (Dolphin and Eagle especially) could have benefited from labels on their images, but the information in each is strong and presented clearly and accessibly.