Module 4-Book 2 Non Fiction book by Seymour Simon

1.Bibliography
Simon,Seymour.2005.Amazing Bats.San Francisco,CA:Chronicle Books.ISBN:1587172623

2.Plot Summary
Debunks myths about bats and replaces them with fascinating and relevant facts in order to provide readers in grades 1-3 with a general overview about bats. Seymour Simon explains complex subjects such as echolocation and hibernation in an easy to understand style.

3.Critical Analysis
Seymour Simon shares many telling details about bats in order to put the bat's importance in perspective, such as "A little brown bat can eat about 600 bugs an hour. That's like you eating 20 pizzas a night."

The facts in this photo-essay book,which begins with some generalizations that apply to all bats and then zeroes in on species-specific details, are laid out in a direct and uncomplicated style. They are coupled with many dramatic close-up pictures of bat faces and large easy-to read white print against dark background or black print against an appealing light background. Simon illustrates the range of bat sizes with a memorable "actual size" photo of the tiny pipistrelle and an impressive shot of the gigantic flying fox, whose wingspan of six feet "is wider than you are tall."


This book is the right size for small hands and features a likeable picture of ordinary,everyday children watching for bats. This should make the book extremely accessible to young readers.

However,the only resources for verifying the facts in this book are the well-documented picture credits. Many of the pictures are from the respected organization,Bat Conservation International.This book lacks a simple bibliography and afterword that would aid teachers and others in searching for more information about bats.

4.Review Excerpts
School Library Journal
"Gorgeous photographs distinguish these two books from similar titles. The first one begins with an introduction to the topic, followed by facts about where bats live, what they eat, and how they handle the cold weather. Simon does a good job dispelling myths, adding trivia, and drawing readers in."

The Horn Book
"The text does a good job of introducing some rather sophisticated scientific concepts (e.g., sonar, hibernation). The organization is random, but the pictures are eye-catching and surprising. A spacious page design helps focus to the eye."


5.Connections

If you live in South/Central Texas,invite a speaker from Austin's Bat Conservation International,to come speak to the children.

In San Antonio,give parents and children directions to the Newell Street Bridge, the newest urban bat colony in Texas inadvertently created by the grouping of a public sculpture hanging from the bridge.

Students located too far from a bat colony might consider adopting a bat at the Bat World rehabilitation Center in Mineral Wells,Texas. More information is available at:
www.batworld.org.

Other books about bats:
Ackerman,Diane.Bats:Shadows in the Night. ISBN:0517709201
This book follows Merlin Tuttle,founder of Bat Conservation International as he studies and explains bats.

Cole,Joanna. The Truth about Bats. ISBN:0439107989
Miss Frizzle, from the Magic School Bus, explains echolocation and other bat mysteries. ISBN:0439107989