School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-7-This latest in the science-related graphic novel series turns its focused eye to the world of bats. A little brown bat is lost in a Southwestern desert at night, just as a group of nature lovers are out for a tour. Injured in a commotion with the humans, the bat is taken to a wild animal hospital. This loose story line allows the author to include facts about a wide variety of bats, some native to the area and some not. At the hospital, a number of creatures introduce themselves, describing their eating habits, physical characteristics, and habitats. Humor is abundant throughout, as bats explore their own misinformation about people. Human/bat interactions are a large part of the book, and Koch demystifies commonly held beliefs about bats and discusses habitat loss. The writing is accessible and engaging, and the level of content is detailed enough for young researchers, but casual browsers and graphic novel enthusiasts will find this an attractive choice, too. VERDICT An excellent addition to school and classroom libraries.-Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Bats often get an unfairly bad rap, and this installment in the Science Comics series goes a long way toward debunking some of the more pernicious myths. During a night hike to observe nectar bats in the desert, some skittish hikers accidentally swat a little brown bat out of the air, injuring his wing. The ranger quickly scoops him up and takes him to Reba, a bat specialist. While the little brown bat rehabilitates at her facility, he meets other bats of all types. As the brown bat gets to know his fellow chiropterans, Koch intersperses panels with more detailed explanations of bat types, behaviors, habitats, diet, and other features, as well as important facts about bat conservation and ways people can help preserve bat habitats. The animated bat characters are cartoonish enough to be expressive yet realistic enough that they're recognizably different species of animal, and Koch nicely emphasizes those differences in labeled diagrams. With plenty of informative back matter, this inviting, engaging nonfiction comic is perfect for kids hungry for science.--Hunter, Sarah Copyright 2017 Booklist
