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Review: Bats!: Mysterious and Misunderstood Mammals

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Bats!: Mysterious and Misunderstood Mammals
By Lydia Lukidis
North Mankato, MN: Capstone Press, 2026. Informational. 32 pages.

In Bats!: Mysterious and Misunderstood Mammals, readers are invited into the hidden world of bats through striking visuals and clear, captivating text. Common misconceptions are addressed and cleared up, such as bats being bloodthirsty or gross. Physical traits, behaviors, and essential ecological roles—for example insect control— are also discussed.  An interactive echolocation activity helps readers better understand the way bats get around in the dark. The book also raises awareness of threats like habitat loss and disease and encourages bat conservation.  

Bats are cool year round, but I get especially enthused about them once we hit the autumn season.  I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about bats--different species, unique bat behavior, and interesting trivia questions.  The photographs are definitely a highlight of the book, although the picture of a bat licking blood off a wound in a chicken's foot was pretty gross.  This title would make an awesome book to share during a science unit at Halloween, or a great option for animal lovers and informational book lovers alike.  



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