The Secret Life of the Little Brown Bat by Laurence Pringle, Kate Garchinsky
Published by Boyds Mills Press on September 11th 2018
ISBN: 1629796018
Pages: 32
Goodreads

The Secret Life of the Little Brown Bat by Laurence Pringle and illustrated by Kate Garchinsky is a narrative nonfiction for children five through eight. This is a true life, compelling tale of survival by a young bat and his mother. Although he gives a name to the bat, Pringle avoids anthropomorphism as he tells of the actions of the bat’s first year of life in a hollow tree with his mother, in an abandoned barn with other young males, and in a cave for the winter. There are natural adventures as he first flies, catches insects, leaves his mother, and avoids being eaten himself .Pringle manages to include lots of information about the little brown bat’s body and flying ability within the narrative. In the three pages of small print information at the end of the book, readers and listeners learn that about 90%of brown bats in eastern North America have died from a fungus over the past ten years. The book concludes with a glossary. The illustrations are impressionist swirls of color highlighting the flying ability of this agile mammal. Since many primary age children have a hard time understanding that paintings can be informational “real” books, librarians, teachers, and parents may need to promote this book.  It would be a great read-aloud and is highly recommended for ages 5 through 8.
Margy Soule, Coffin Elementary School, Brunswick.