Spooky Kids' Books About Bats
There are a lot of reasons why bats elicit a sense of fear in kids. Perhaps it is their beady eyes and pointy, chiseled teeth that make them look threatening. These nocturnal mammals often live in caves, a place that is closely associated with the underworld and death. The fact that they sleep upside down with their wings crossed in front seems to draw a close association with vampires. The only real danger to humans, however, is if a bat is rabid. For this reason, if a person every comes in physical contact with a bat, immediate medical attention is necessary. Kids' books about bats usually portray these animals as friendly, winged creatures just trying to overcome everyday obstacles. While these critters are not exactly categorized as friendly, their portrayal as helpful and non-threatening is probably closer to the truth than most kids realize.
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Stellaluna
A stunning picture book about a baby fruit bat who is raised alongside some baby birds. The little bat is adopted by the mother bird and treated exactly as one of her own. Over time, the bat begins to mimic the birds' behaviors in this most unusual and heartwarming story. Gorgeous illustrations portray the emotional journey of an adopted bat and her longing to understand more about her past. The back of the book is packed with information about bats for kids who want to learn more about these flying mammals.
Kids will love the pouring over the detailed photographs of bats throughout this non-fiction book. Although bats may cause some people to feel frightened, readers will learn all the valuable contributions they make to the environment. From eating harmful bugs to pollinating plants, bats play a crucial role in the planet's food supply. Reader will learn how they use echolocation to navigate at night, and about the dark places where they prefer to sleep during daytime hours. An excellent book for kids who are interested in factual information about bats.
A bat takes up residence in a home that is already inhabited by a squirrel. Since the critters have different schedules, Bat is quite happy with the situation. But Squirrel does not want to share his spot no matter what. The two animals begin exchanging letters about this arrangement, each expressing how he feels about the living arrangements. In a case of epic misunderstanding, this funny book exposes the downfalls of written communication that does not always convey the intent.
Silverwing
An incredibly illustrated graphic novel about an undersized bat who is determined to prove his strength. When the colony migrates to the south, a strong wind separates Shade from the others. He faces enormous challenges and overcomes obstacles to eventually reunite with his family. Kids will appreciate the artwork and learn some valuable lessons from a resiliant little bat.
Nightsong
This is the story of a little bat who ventures out for the first time without his mother. Feeling a wave of emotions, from excitement to fear, the young offspring wonders if he is capable of navigating the night skies alone. His nurturing mother encourages him to follow his song, or echolocation as it is called in bats. When he returns after a successful night of exploration, the bat is exhilarated by his newfound courage and independence.
Bitsy Bat, School Star
A charming book about a little bat who just wants to fit in and make friends. Bitsy Bat is excited to start school. But on the very first day, her struggles are apparent. The cute bat can't sit upright in her chair, the bright classroom lights bother her eyes, and the noise is difficult to tolerate. When Bitsy uses her toes instead of her fingers to do work, the other kids are quick to point out she is doing it all wrong. Eventually she finds a clever way to celebrate everyone's differences, including her own. A valuable book about self-acceptance and inclusion, especially helpful for kids who don't always fit the mold.
Little Bat Up All Day
Little Bat wants to pull an "all-dayer" to see what life is like when the sun shines. With a trusted squirrel by his side, the two friends explore a hot, busy, action-packed day full of noise and commotion. This world is much different than the one Little Bat experiences when dark falls and everyone else is sleeping. Adorable pictures capture the thrill of a new experience through the eyes of a curious nighttime critter.
Fiona the Fruit Bat
The time has come for a baby fruit bat to spread her wings and embark on a solo flight throughout the night sky. Like many little ones afraid of new milestones, Fiona is not sure she is ready. The little bat wonders how she is expected to fly at night when she can't in the darkness. When her mother implores her to listen, Fiona discovers a hidden gift that will allow her to safely navigate without her vision. Written by a scientist who specializes in bats, lots of kid-friendly, factual information is woven throughout the story.
Baxter is Missing
Eva, star of the Owl Diaries book series, accidentally leaves her window open one night. When her pet bat, Baxter, flies away, she is so upset that she cannot complete a writing assignment for school. She searches all over town for her beloved bat with the assistance of her friends. After a long day, Eva finally finds Baxter and comes up with the perfect theme for her story. Her writing is so heartfelt that she may even win the contest. A great easy chapter book about bats for beginners.
Bats
A leveled reader filled with amazing, close-up photographs of a variety of bat species. Kids will enjoy reading all where they like to spend the daytime hours, tucked in deep, dark hidden places. From remote caves to attics, they can find a place to hang upside down and sleep just about anywhere. Lots of other fascinating facts throughout this book will entertain kids who want to learn more. A perfect non-fiction book to complement fun stories about bats.
Bat Loves the Night
This story follows the routine of a bat after the sun sets and the sky turns dark. When the rest of the world falls asleep, the mother bat begins her nighttime adventure. Packed with scientific information about bats, kids will enjoy reading about how bats use sound to move safely through the sky, swooping down in search of food for her baby. As soon as the daylight appears, she retreats to her roost to rest until darkness falls once more.
Bats at the Beach
Kid are whisked away to an enchanting night at the beach with a group of energetic bats. Buckets, shovels, blankets, and snacks are spread out across the cool dark sand. Readers will enjoy the poetic words that describe a mystical nighttime adventure with bats that dig holes, build sandcastles, fly kites, and relax around a bonfire.
Bats at the Library
An award-winning book about a group of bats that swoosh through the library aisles late at night. Each one explores the shelves in search of the perfect book. They cause a little mischief and break some of the library rules during this magical night flying among the books. Haunting illustrations and lyrical prose work well to set a mysterious tone in this captivating book.
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Best Children's Books About Bats
Bats are incredibly interesting and important animals that help the environment in a lot of way. Lots of kids probably know some basic things about these mammals, like the fact that they are nocturnal and sleep upside down. There is something that seems spooky about these critters, especially when they are flying low at night. Maybe it's because they are associated with blood-sucking vampires and appear around Halloween as spooky decorations. While there are three bat species that drink the blood of livestock, there are no documented cases of human blood consumption. The best children's books about bats share valuable information and set the record straight about these misunderstood animals.
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Fun Facts About Bats
Kids will be surprised to learn some amazing things about how bats behave, what they eat, how they socialize, and the important role they play in the environment. These flying critters can elicit a sense of fear when spotted above, but the reality is that they are far more beneficial than harmful. Understanding more about these fascinating creatures will help kids appreciate all of their contributions.
- Bats are the only mammals that can fly. One particular species, the Mexican free-tailed bat, can reach speeds of 100 miles per hour. People can often feel alarmed when bats swoop down while flying. They are feeding on the bugs in the air that are drawn to the carbon dioxide in human breathe. So kids can rest assure that the bats do not have any interest in harming them when flying close by.
- Bats consume huge quantities of harmful insects. They are extremely helpful in keeping the population of night-flying insects under control. They eat mosquitos, crickets, beetles, moths, leafhoppers, chinch bugs, and many other insects that are either harmful or just a nuisance. Some of these bugs spread disease to human beings and livestock. Others are serious agricultural threats.
- Bats reduce the volume of pesticides required by farmers to protect crops. Because bats do such a good job controlling the population of insects that destroy fruits, vegetables, and other crops, farmers can cut back on spraying their fields with pesticides. Some scientists have estimated that bats can take credit for saving the U.S. between $3.7 and $54 billion in pest control services every year. And, even more important than the money, the health benefits of fewer pesticides are immeasurable.
- Bats and bees have a lot more in common than people realize. When most people think about pollinators, they tend to credit bees with all of the heavy lifting. The reality is that more than 500 plant species rely on bats to pollinate their flowers. Some examples include mango, durian, banana, avocado, guava, and agave. The term for pollination by bats is chiropterophily.
- More than 1,400 species of bats have been documented around the world. These extremely adaptable mammals can be found just about everywhere except in the most extreme locations, like deserts and polar regions. They drastically range in size, with the smallest species weighing less than a penny the largest species with wing span longer than six feet.
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