Flying Fox Bats
Checkerboard Animal Library. Bats Set I Series
on Goodreads (5)
What’s inside...
This book introduces young readers to flying fox bats, highlighting their habitat, behaviors, life cycle, and physical characteristics. It explores the bats' biology, sizes, dietary needs, and reproduction, including pup development. An anatomy diagram helps identify bat body parts. The text also discusses the bats' habitat with a detailed map indicating their global distribution. The threats to their environment such as hunting and deforestation are addressed, along with ongoing conservation efforts. The book underscores the bats' crucial role in plant pollination and forest regeneration. Enhanced with bolded glossary terms, phonetic spellings, and an index, this book is designed to be accessible for young chiropterologists.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
6-7
Length
24 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think it would be like to see through a flying fox bat’s eyes at night?
Why do you think flying fox bats live in large groups?
How do you feel about the way flying fox bats help the environment by spreading seeds and pollinating flowers?
What similarities and differences do you see between flying fox bats and other animals you know?
Tip: Role play these questions
Before reading, ask your child what they already know about bats to activate prior knowledge.
Pause at interesting sections to discuss the illustrations and how they help tell the story of the flying fox bats.
Encourage your child to imagine being a flying fox bat, asking how they would navigate their environment or find food.
After reading, connect the story to broader topics like wildlife conservation and the importance of every animal in the ecosystem.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding Ecosystems
Explanation: Flying Fox Bats delves into the life and habitat of flying fox bats, demonstrating their role in pollination and seed dispersal.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of every creature in maintaining the balance of nature, encouraging them to respect and protect their environment.
Example Lesson: Empathy toward Animals
Explanation: The book portrays bats not as scary creatures, but as essential and fascinating animals, fostering a positive attitude toward them.
Real-World Application: This perspective helps children develop empathy for animals, encouraging compassionate actions such as creating habitats or participating in wildlife conservation efforts.
Example Lesson: Importance of Research and Learning
Explanation: Through engaging facts and images, the book presents research about flying fox bats, illustrating how learning helps understand the world better.
Real-World Application: This lesson motivates children to embrace curiosity and research in their daily activities, from school projects to understanding the world around them.
Example Lesson: Conservation and Responsibility
Explanation: The book discusses threats to flying fox bats like habitat loss and encourages steps to help protect them.
Real-World Application: Children can learn about the impact of human activities on wildlife and explore ways they can contribute to conservation efforts, even at a young age.