Squeaking Bats (Pull Ahead Books)

Simple text and photographs introduce the physical characteristics, behavior, and habitats of North American bats

PreS-Gr 2-Using very simple text and clear, full-color photos on every page, these books present basic facts about their respective animals. All feature lots of questions such as "Why do you think rattlesnakes buzz?" or "How is your house like a den?" This interactive approach is designed to spark discussion and should be especially appealing to young listeners. Also, much of the information is put into recognizable concepts for very young children, e.g., a wolf pack is compared to a human family. Older, newly independent readers may find the books lacking in depth, but will appreciate the feeling of mastery over the extremely simple texts. The eye-catching photos nicely complement the writing. However, the one of a rattlesnake giving birth is not for the squeamish. Each book also includes a large, simple line drawing of the animal with its major parts labeled and a map showing its range in the U.S. and Canada. While not essential purchases, these are good starting points for sparking interest in the topics, especially for libraries that serve a large population of younger children.-Arwen Marshall, New York Public Library

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