A bat is a mammal that flies — really flies, not glides — and then finds its way home in the dark by shouting and listening to the echo come back. It sleeps upside down, raises one pup at a time, and can eat something like a thousand mosquitoes in an hour. The smallest weighs less than a penny; the largest hangs from a fig tree with a wingspan wider than a child is tall. Put all of that in a picture book and you get the thing children love about bats: an animal that looks a little spooky on a Halloween decoration and turns out, on closer inspection, to be a small furry creature with a very good sense of hearing and a mother who comes back for it every night.
Bookroo's collection of 107 bat books runs from chunky board books for toddlers to a Scientists in the Field title about white-nose syndrome. Our editors picked fourteen that cover the range: the classic about a fruit bat raised by birds, the library invaded after closing time, the field-guide nonfiction with the labeled wing diagrams, the graphic novel set in a bat rehabilitation center, and a talking Rousette bat with strong opinions about toast. Start with the shortlist, then browse the board shelf for the youngest listeners, the picture-book shelf for read-alouds, or the chapter shelf for readers who want the science at length.
A fruit bat pup falls from her mother, lands in a bird's nest, and is raised on a diet of bugs and rules about sleeping right side up.
A window is left open at the library after closing, and the bats pour in — some to make shadow puppets, some to actually read.
A pipistrelle bat wakes at dusk, hunts by echo, and comes back before dawn to a pup that has been waiting all night.
What bats eat, how they fly, where they roost, and why the ones near you are almost certainly harmless.
Chiro's mother sends him out alone for the first time with one instruction: sing, and the world will answer back.
More than a thousand species, and a great many of them are out there tonight pollinating fruit and eating the mosquitoes.
The world's smallest bat weighs less than a penny, and this book asks it questions until it answers all of them.
Bat has cherries. Bat is very clear that these are his cherries. The cherries keep disappearing anyway.
She swallows a bat. Then an owl, a cat, and several other things that should not go in that order.
A little brown bat stays awake in the daylight, starts making up poems about what he sees, and looks for someone who will listen.
An injured little brown bat wakes up in a rehabilitation center, surrounded by other bats explaining what he is.
Danny Dragonbreath goes looking for a giant bat in Mexico and finds one considerably larger than advertised.
Researchers count bats in a Texas cave, band them, and race a fungus that is emptying caves across the continent.
Tiny wings, touch-and-feel fur, upside-down naps, and the world's smallest bat — first bat books for ages 0–4.
A bat's Halloween night flight reveals hidden surprises.
A bat's nighttime adventure collecting treats.
A little bat's night flight sparks friendship and fun.
Discover spooky textures in a Halloween adventure.
First flights, echolocation, cave roosts, Halloween rhymes, and read-aloud nonsense in the belfry, for ages 3–8.
A flying contest tests friendship and teamwork at Crittercrawl Elementary.
A bat seeks acceptance from wary children. Can he change their minds?
A little bat learns to embrace her unique way of shining at school.
A bat discovers his true identity as a butterfly.
Freddy hears eerie attic noises. Can he face his fears and uncover the truth?
Explore a bat cave with Fly Guy and Buzz on a thrilling field trip.
Bats embark on a moonlit beach adventure filled with fun and surprises.
Explore the mysterious night woods where creatures stir and secrets unfold under the moonlight.
Freddy needs a cool nocturnal animal for his report. A sleepover leads to unexpected discoveries.
A bat and squirrel exchange notes, misunderstanding each other's intentions in a shared home.
A young bat must conquer her fear of the dark by discovering the power of listening.
Animals question Bat's upside-down view until wise Owl offers a new perspective.
Bat science in comics form, pet-bat comedies, cave adventures, poetry, and real researchers in the field, for ages 6–12.
A lonely creature seeks a spell to banish a ghost, discovering their unique identity along the way.
Explore the mysterious world of bats and their unique habits.
Mice vanish mysteriously, leading Gregor to a dark prophecy.
A young owl's pet bat goes missing and she must navigate her feelings and work with her friends to find him
Discover the quirky world of bats, the only flying mammals, through fun facts and illustrations.
Join a wild journey to uncover the secrets of bats.
Three friends explore a mysterious cave and discover a hidden world of glowing crystals and a family of bats.
A mouse's adventure leads to a mistaken funeral. Can she return home?
A tiny bat faces off against a fancy cat to keep his friend's heart from being stolen.
Katie's zoo trip turns upside down in the Bat Cave.
Rescue mission in Transratania leads to a vampire mouse encounter. Will they escape safely?
Can the Bear Scouts stop a theme park and save the bats' home?
