Beginning with A Place for Butterflies (2006), this picture-book series has introduced the worlds of birds, frogs, fish, and now bats. This volume features Bond's detailed, acrylic paintings illustrating different kinds of bats within their habitats. On each double-page spread, a self-contained text box offers information about the species pictured. Meanwhile, a separate, continuous band of text can be read straight through the book. Stewart points out problems faced by bats and what specific steps people have taken (or steps they could take) to help the bats, such as turning off wind turbines when the air is still or putting up "bat boxes" to house bats that can no longer find dead trees for shelter. The text clearly conveys the idea that people can make a difference in animal survival. Back matter includes a selected bibliography, and the endpapers carry range maps for the 12 species featured in the book. An effective introduction.

Each double-page spread features brief information about how humans can help protect bats, a sidebar about a particular bat, and a detailed acrylic illustration. The book's conservation message occasionally oversimplifies (e.g., stating that we can help bats by stopping use of pesticides, which are, as the text says, only a possible cause of the deadly white nose syndrome in bats). Bib.

PreS-Gr 3 This book introduces 12 varieties of bats and their habitats around Canada, the United States, and Mexico, and brings to life their challenges to survive. It opens with the famous Mexican free-tailed bats taking flight from under the Congress Bridge in Austin, TX. Stewart's text serves to educate children not to fear bats, but to understand and appreciate the important things they do. It also provides primary-grade fact hounds with sidebar information about bats with specific problems and the efforts of scientists, communities, and agencies, such as Bat Conservation International, to save them. A page of facts and a well-selected bibliography of books, articles, and websites are appended. Bond's luminous acrylic illustrations add interest and informative detail. A memorable springboard to action. Nancy Call, formerly at Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Aptos, CA