Bats Beneath the Bridge

by Janet Nolan, Emily Cox (illustrator)

More than one million bats nest under the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas, and fill the sky every evening from spring to fall.

Discover how the people of Austin, Texas, stopped being afraid of the more than one million bats nesting under the Congress Avenue Bridge and, instead, welcomed them. This true story includes a foreword by bat biologist Dr. Merlin Tuttle, who came to Austin to advocate for the colony by educating residents about the ways in which bats are good for the environment, and for humans too. Now, tourists from all over the world come to Austin to watch the Brazilian free-tail bats fill the sky every evening in early spring.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Animals

32 pages, Hardcover

Published September 5, 2024

Reviews

[Patricia Q · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting!

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful information about bats in the forward to entice readers!

The Mexican free-tailed bats found the rebuilt Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin to be the perfect roosting spot. However, people were frightened of the bats. So Dr. Merlin Tuttle came to town and visited schools, community groups and city leaders to get the word out on how bats benefit communities. Dr. Tuttle did radio and television shows and convinced the city that bats were beneficial and the city listened and now have a bat tourist industry.

Backmatter provides further history on how Austin became the "Bat Capitol of America." 100,000 tourists visit every year adding to Austin's economy. Further Bat Facts are also provided.

[Brooke - TheBrookeList · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bats are a crucial element of our environments, with so many beneficial impacts. But in our culture, bats can also be scary. Bats Beneath the Bridge is an interesting nonfiction look at a bridge in Austin, Texas, where the bats came to roost. When we learn about the animals around us and adapt our worldview, we can share the benefits and wonder of having them nearby. Simple and fun story to remind us (or teach us) that our cultural instincts sometimes require a little more information. The colors of the book are bold and bright, especially for a story about nocturnal creatures.

We put up a bat box in our yard last year, because we're excited for the benefit of having their natural pesticide help in our yard. We've been waiting for them to set up a home. Fingers crossed!

Read as a nomination in the nonfiction book award category as a panelist for Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards (Cybils Awards).

Story feels a little didactic and the illustration/product quality feels a little low.

[Wren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an interesting case study of urban bats presented for young readers.

The architects in Austin, TX had no idea that when they designed a new bridge that they created crevices that were perfect nesting places for bats that migrated into the area for female bats to give birth.

The residents were alarmed. However, an expert on bats, Dr. Merlin Tuttle, explained the bats' role in the greater web of life. Bats eat mosquitoes and they are effective pollinators. They were not threats to humans, even though they seemed scary to many residents.

The bats were allowed to stay now that the people understood their role in the environment.

I love the illustrations by Emily Cox. The pages have a dark blue-black for night. There are obviously bats, but we see some images of the bridge, people, an owl, some foilage.

The back matter includes "A History of the Congress Avenue Bridge Bats," "Bat Facts," and a "Glossary."

This is a great book not just about bats but about the way education helps people adjust their attitudes and their policies.

[Eileen Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learn about the largest urban bat colony and how it came to be! Through education and community events, residents of Austin Texas learned to appreciate the hundreds of thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats that began to roost beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge. The bats play an important role, helping farmers get rid of unwanted pests, reducing the need for harmful pesticides to be applied. With beautiful illustrations by Emily Cox and engaging text by Janet Nolan, this book is the perfect gift for animal lovers that you know, and a great addition for classroom libraries. Read the book and visit Austin to witness the magical flight of the bats at twilight! Back matter includes a glossary, history, and bat facts. Highly recommended!

[Stacy S. Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

BATS! It’s OK to think bats are a little creepy, but in BATS BENEATH THE BRIDGE you’ll learn how they can help the environment and a community. Thousands of bats make the Congress Avenue Bridge their home each spring. They migrate south in the winter. This story is about the bats in the city, resistance to them, and the work by Dr. Merlin Tuttle, a bat biologist and conservationist. Janet Nolan’s story paired with illustrations by Emily Cox introduce the readers to bats and how a community, with the help of Dr. Tuttle, welcome bats in Austin.

[Sarah Scheerger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is Bat-tastic!
Both informational and entertaining, Bats Beneath the Bridge tells the tale of bats under a real bridge in Austin, Texas, and how the citizens learned to appreciate the bats’ important role. With vivid language and a quick pace, this story will help young readers develop an appreciation of the important ways bats are helpful to the environment. Both the afterward and the foreword contain fascinating bat facts.

[Michelle Schaub · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Bats Beneath the Bridge, Janel Nolan shares the uplifting story of Dr. Tuttle and his work to protect the millions of bats living beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas. At its core, this is a story of science and environmental stewardship overcoming fear and misinformation. Bu its also a celebration of those marvelous nocturnal mammals: BATS!

[Dylan Teut · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been at this bridge at sunset when the bats took off by the millions. It was quite a spectacle. I assumed it was always that way; this book told the story of how the bat number increased and how citizens of Austin tried to stop the bats from gathering, but eventually learned how important they were for the environment.

[Liese · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an important book about how Austin, TX, learned to embrace the million bats that live beneath the Congress Ave Bridge. The font is v small and the text could be more engaging. Still, an important book.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This picture book is more for second grade. It’s a longer story about how Beth came to colonize a bridge in Austin Texas. Illustrations are lovely. The story is nice. It’s too long for storytime but altogether works and kids will find it interesting.

[Allison Haehnel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging non-fiction that combines human stories with bat facts. Colorful illustrations and themed endpapers add to the story. An introductory passage, bat facts, and History of the Congress Avenue Bridge Facts passages provide more details to the story. Highly suggest for elementary school.

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and informative!

ARC from Edelweiss.

[Michelle Brosi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Only okay

[Alexandra Alessandri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Janet Nolan's BATS BENEATH THE BRIDGE, illustrated by Emily Cox, is a wonderful and informative story about the more than one million bats that took to nest under the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, and the way the people of Austin learned to appreciate them. The text is engaging, and both the foreword and author's notes contain some wonderful bat facts! Emily Cox's illustrations are also lovely. A wonderful addition to any school, home, or public library!