ALA Booklist (Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2001)

Zoologist Davies, author of Big Blue Whale (1997), offers an enticing picture book about animals that blends story with fact. Lyrical text in large print that's suitable for beginning readers follows a mother bat through a typical evening, as she wakes and sweeps out into the inky night, hunts insects, and returns to feed her young at daybreak. Bat facts are printed in smaller typeface, teaching readers about bats' body features, eating habits, echolocation, etc. Lovely, atmospheric watercolor-and-pencil illustrations show surprising detail and succeed in making an oft-maligned animal appear realistically fuzzy and appealing. A small index concludes this attractive, well-written introduction to a bat's world.

Horn Book

Melding science and story, Davies describes the nocturnal activities of one pipistrelle bat, including its echolocation capabilities, hunting style, diet, roosting preferences, and maternal instincts. The delicate watercolor and pencil illustrations paired with the simple text deliver a welcome introductory perspective on this oft-misunderstood mammal. Ind.

Kirkus Reviews

Bat (a pipistrelle) wakes up, flies out into the night to eat, and returns home to feed her young. The narrative, in large type, gives much of the information about bats in a voice that can work as a read-aloud ("Gliding and fluttering back and forth, she shouts her torch of sound among the trees, listening for her supper"), while smaller type on some pages elaborates ("Using sound to find your way like this is called echolocation"). The watercolor-and-pencil illustrations, in browns and blues, hint of night, without being too dark. Close-up views of plants and animals show detail, while wider sweeping landscapes give context and a sense of space. The details of Bat's fur and face do justice to this mammal, which many young kids may still think of as "gross." This is useful as a very first introduction to bats, but readers will need to go farther to answer some questions (like what kinds of bats do eat "fruit, fish, frogs, even blood!"). And while there is an index of 15 terms, there is no bibliography. Nevertheless, this is a beautifully designed and thoughtfully executed informational storybook. ( Picture book/nonfiction. 4-7 )

School Library Journal

K-Gr 3-A charming and informative story about a pipistrelle bat. With Fox-Davies's delicately detailed illustrations, the world of this tiny creature is truly brought to life. While the large-print story unfolds as the bat awakens and flies out into the night, the author also includes some scientific tidbits that appear in smaller type. Davies offers vivid descriptions of the animal's flight, its navigational skills, and the hunt for food. She explains how a bat's senses of hearing and smell are most important to its survival and how it cares for its young. This beautiful and fact-filled selection is distinguished by excellent writing and art.-Cynde Marcengill, formerly at Horry County Memorial Library, Surfside Beach, SC Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.