Baby Bat loves his cave home and never wants to leave it. While practicing flapping his wings one night, he falls, and Pluribus Packrat rescues him. The two then explore the deepest, darkest corners of the cave where they meet amazing animals animals that don t need eyes to see or colors to hide from enemies. Baby Bat learns how important bats are to the cave habitat and how other cave-living critters rely on bats for their food.
6 books

Home in the Cave follows a baby bat who is learning the importance of his existence in the cave. His mother informs him to practice his flying so they can hunt together but baby bat loves his cave so much he never wants to leave. Soon he runs into a mouse that teaches him the importance of a bat to the other animals in that live in the cave. In the end baby bat learns to fly because he wants to take responsibility. ( )

Baby Bat doesn't want to leave his cave - ever. When his mother flies out to catch insects, he reluctantly tries a few wing flaps, only to fall - and meet another inhabitant of the cave, Pluribus Packrat, who shows him all the creatures that depend on the bats.

Their guano and the fungus that grows in it feeds cave-dwelling insects that feed other insects - even in the water! Pack rats like Pluribus have to travel outside the cave to find seeds and berries, adding to the cycle. Baby Bat, realizing how important bats are and how the milk he drinks from his mother comes from the insects she eats, decides he's ready to be independent - right after a nap.

Anthropomorphized nonfiction isn't really my cup of tea - I prefer either straight facts or a completely fictional story. The text shies away from some of the realities of the food cycle; although the other baby bats talk about their mothers' narrow escapes, the text never specifically points out that one of the ways bats contribute to the cycle is by being eaten.

I wasn't able to judge the art as well as I'd like; I reviewed this in ebook format and it wasn't very clear (plus, and I freely admit it, I am overdue for new glasses). The pictures are soft and fuzzy and the mammals faces' expressive. I would have liked more detail in the depictions of the cave insects (in an objective sense - personally, I could see them as well as I wanted to, which was not very well!).

Like all of Sylvan Dell's nonfiction/fiction blend titles, there are extensive educational activities and resources included in the book.

Verdict: This title will work best for kids who like stories with nonfiction components mixed in and in schools. It's too long for storytime but the fictional components are probably going to put it in a picture book section, where most parents are looking for shorter titles. An additional purchase, primarily for schools.

ISBN: 1607185229; Published February 2012 by Sylvan Dell; Ebook provided for review by author

When we think of bats we think of scary little creatures that fly around in the night swooshing down at our heads to frighten us. Instead, I discovered a delightful story about bats and how they contribute to their cave community. Bats are pretty thrifty and each cave dwelling animal depends on them more so than I ever knew or could imagine.

Baby Bat snuggles close to his mom. It's almost time for her to fly out into the world to gather insects for food. Baby Bat loves being in the cave and never wants to leave. Mom reminds him to practice flapping his wings so that some day he can hunt with her. Baby Bat listens to the other little bats tell stories about how danger almost got their moms. Now, he was really sure he never wanted to leave his safe home in the cave. When he stumbles into the nest of Pluribus Packrat he learns more about the cave, other animals and how much help bats are to the growth and stability of the caves many dwellers.

This is a wonderful fact filled story that young readers will keep and enjoy for a long time. Parents and teachers will enjoy learning all about bats and what can be found inside a cave. The back of the book has information and pictures that teach readers about cave crickets, cavefish, stalactites, stalagmites and bat echolocation. Readers can also decide if they feel bats are good or bad. ( )

Have you ever visited a cave and seen bats hanging from the ceiling or flying around? Baby Bat lives in a cave with his mom, and he never wants to grow up and leave his home, especially when he hears scary stories from other bats about owls and foxes who prey on bats. However, his mom must fly out of the cave to get food. While she is gone, the little bat makes friends with Pluribus Packrat who teaches him all about some of the other cave creatures, such as phoebes, rattlesnakes, salamanders, cave crickets, crayfish, and many more. Baby Bat also learns the importance of bats to the cave habitat. Will he ever decide to fly out of the cave and go hunting with his mother?
A lot of people are afraid of bats and hate them. However, these unique animals have some very important functions in the ecosystems in which they live. Janet Halfmann’s informative text and Shennen Bersani’s eye-catching illustrations combine to give a very sympathetic portrayal of life in the cave. The “For Creative Minds” section contains information about cave zones and rock formations, a quiz on cave habitats, a bat echolocation hands on activity, and a page comparing and contrasting bats, birds, and humans along with answers to the question, “Are Bats Good or Bad?” The publisher’s website gives further cross-curricular teaching activities and interactive reading comprehension and math quizzes for Home in the Cave. When our boys were younger, we toured several caves where we noticed bats in their natural habitat and attended programs on bat ecology. This book is a great way to study about these amazing creatures. ( )