About the Author

Barbara Bash, author-illustrator of six award-winning titles for Sierra Club Books for Children, has worked for many years as a calligrapher, illustrator, and teacher of book arts and botanical drawing. She lives in upstate New York.

Reviews

Gr 1-3-- Positive attributes of the little brown bat are emphasized as Bash states on the dedication page that the animal is considered a symbol of good fortune and wisdom in China. She remains true to this positive theme by beginning the book in a maternity colony as female bats give birth and demonstrate the same tenderness and care for their pups that the more ``cuddly'' mammals show toward their young. Activities throughout the seasons are followed as the young mature, hunt for insects, hibernate in caves, and emerge to begin another yearly cycle. Bash's illustrative talents shine as she provides visual variety in depicting her subjects, which to many may appear rather drab. Alternating barn settings with the deep tones of moonlit nights and sunset scenes provide light and dark backgrounds for closeups or for hundreds of bats dramatically flying through the air. Of special appeal are sequential pictures of a bat catching insects by flying in various positions as it uses its wings and membranes to capture prey. Lively and descriptive language accompanies the illustrations. Appended pages include facts about other species, show a man-made bat house, and caution against touching the animals because of possible rabies. An excellent choice to dispel myths and for the study of this nocturnal and hibernating species. --Diane Nunn, Richard E. Byrd Elementary School, Glen Rock, NJ