Bat Planet: The Mysterious Life of the Creature of the Night

Gr 3 Up–Bats are generally given a bad rap because most people don’t know a lot about them. This book, however, sets the record straight. Amid bright colors and plenty of photographs, it features five sections on bats but also delves into other topics like evolution, geography, and conservation. Each part also highlights a bat myth, ­appearing against a parchment scroll background to briefly share the myth, how it may have gotten started, and what is true. The author uses the first-person sparingly as he offers solid, relatable examples to explain sometimes heady concepts, such as describing evolution as a tree that branches into different species throughout the years. Several italicized bold words are explained within the text or set in colored blurbs in margins, further making the book more manageable for young readers. The last section contains what is often back matter in other books: issues facing bats, ways to help, and more. Also included are a glossary, resources (although not too recent), and an index. The author admits there are things not covered in the book, joking that it would make the book too big, but also because there are still bat species waiting to be discovered, perhaps by readers.