Amazing Bats

by Seymour Simon

[See More Reader Level 1]

SeeMore Readers are designed for every young reader. Large, bright pictures instantly engage readers in the subject. Exciting yet simple text provides the information that kids, parents, and teachers wantfrom key facts to fascinating trivia. Each Reader is a fun invitation to read, observe, and see more!

Genres: Animals, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Biology, Science, Childrens

40 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2007

About the author

Seymour Simon, whom the NY Times called "the dean of [children's science:] writers," is the author of more than 250 highly acclaimed science books (many of which have been named Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children by the National Science Teachers Association).

Seymour Simon uses his website, SeymourSimon.com, to provide free downloads of a wealth of materials for educators, homeschoolers and parents to use with his books, including 4-page Teacher Guides for all 26 of his Collins/Smithsonian photo essay books. The site provides multiple resources for kids writing book reports or wanting to explore the online Science Dictionary, and also features the Seymour Science blog highlighting current science news. Educators and families are encouraged to sign up to receive the monthly newsletter from SeymourSimon.com to stay abreast of the latest materials that Seymour Simon is introducing to enrich the reading experience.

He taught science and creative writing in elementary and secondary schools and was chair of the science department at a junior high school in the New York City public school system before leaving to become a full-time writer. "I haven't really given up teaching," he says, "and I suppose I never will, not as long as I keep writing and talking to kids around the country and the world."

Seymour Simon is also a creator and the author of a series of 3D books and a series of Glow-in-the-Dark Books for Scholastic Book Clubs, a series of leveled SEEMORE READERS for Chronicle Books, and the EINSTEIN ANDERSON, SCIENCE DETECTIVE series of fiction books. His books encourage children to enjoy the world around them through learning and discovery, and by making science fun. He has introduced tens of millions of children to a staggering array of subjects; one prominent science education specialist described Simon's books as "extraordinary examples of expository prose."

Seymour Simon has been honored with many awards for his work, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru Lifetime Achievement Award for his lasting contribution to children's science literature; the New York State Knickerbocker Award for Juvenile Literature; the Hope S. Dean Memorial Award from the Boston Public Library for his contribution to children's science literature; The Washington Post/Children's Book Guild Award for Non-fiction; the Jeremiah Ludington Award for his outstanding contribution to children's nonfiction; the Empire State Award for excellence in literature for young people; and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Forum on Children's Science Books.

In a recent interview Simon was asked if he ever thinks of retiring. "I seem to be working faster and harder than ever. I absolutely don't feel any urge to sit back and look at what I've done. The only things that I'm thinking about are things I'd like to do in the future. I'm planning and doing and continuing to write. It's what I love to do. I remember a story about an anthropologist going to talk to a tribe and he asked them what was their word for "work." Their response was they have no word for work. Everybody does the things that they do in their life. I love that response. I don't differentiate between work and play. Everything I do is something that I enjoy doing - the writing, the research and everything else."

Seymour Simon writes and photographs nature from his hilltop home in Columbia County in upstate New York, where he lives with his wife Liz Nealon.

You can follow Seymour on Facebook and on Twitter, as well as on his website, which offers free, downloadable Teacher Guides to his books for educators, parents and homeschoolers, as well as the popular Seymour Science Daily Blo

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

So because of the 2005 publication date, albeit that with his Amazing Bats Seymour Simon certainly does an excellent job telling his intended audience all about bats, showing child readers and listeners from about the age of six to eight or nine how bats live, what they eat, how they hunt etc. (both smaller insect consuming microbats and the larger fruit eating flying foxes of the tropics, and of course Amazing Bats also mentions the blood lapping vampire bats of Central and South America), you will naturally not be encountering any findings, research and conservation questions/issues regarding bats later than 2005, such as for example the recent and lethal fungal infections that have been decimating in particular many cave dwelling bat colonies in large parts of North America, and yes, this is most definitely something to keep in mind about Amazing Bats.

But even though Amazing Bats most definitely is a bit out of date, for me this does not really bother me all that much (since I do very much appreciate the textual details presented and that Seymour Simon also strives to both keep his narrative decently simple and also repeatedly points out that bats generally pose no threat to humans and are actually insect vermin destroyers par excellence). And thus, that for me Amazing Bats is still only a three star rating actually and indeed has nothing really to do with the above mentioned datedness (even though I do think this is necessary to mention, to point out) but mostly that for one, there is no included bibliography in Amazing Bats (with Seymour Simon neither acknowledging his sources nor providing book suggestions or websites for further study and reading) and that for two, I also really am missing a section on bat evolution (as the history of how bats are thought to have slowly changed over time to become completely airborne and the only group of truly flying mammals is both interesting and also would in my opinion render Amazing Bats and as such Seymour Simon’s printed words considerably more complete).

[Brittany Gaskins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives many interesting facts about bats. It shows an overview of many different bats and their unique characteristics. The images are great for showing what the author has already discussed in the captions and text.

This book was great during our bat unit and students were able to use this information further in their writing and factual information. The differences in the bats really pulled them in to the reading.

The teaching tip I would use for this is a research task. Students could choose from different bat types and answer questions about its habitat, feeding habits, special characteristics etc. so students can write about their bat. Students would then group by one from each type to report on their bat type.

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

2008 September 22Really good pictures, but the stupid book doesn't label them, so must of the time you don't know which bat it is you're looking at.

One of them, by the bye, has a nose just like Hogsqueal from Spiderwick.

[Sarri Tate Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an early reader, informational text on Bats (Amazing Bats!). The photographs are interesting and vivid. There are about 2-3 sentences per page. There is information about different kinds and sizes of bats, what bats eat, debunking bat myths, and how bats are useful to humans.

[Emelia Longjohn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This does not give you a lot of details and it was very short and is for 6-8 years old I am not the biggest fan

[Doris Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an informational nonfiction book on bats. It has large print and vivid photos that hooks the reader in. I was excited to learn about the facts and were even more interested in looking at the detail in the photos. This is a great book to collaborate with science lessons or even around Halloween.

[Adrianne Rosal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is some pretty interesting stuff!!!!

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An informational nonfiction book on bats. Large print and vivid photos hooks the reader in, as I was reading this book aloud to my first graders they were excited to learn about the facts and were even more interested in looking at the detail in the photos. Good book to go along with your science lesson or even around Halloween.

[Milo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mama loves this book a lot more than I do. She has forced it on me enough to now realize that if I want to read it I will. I don't pick it up much. But, Mama still loves to look at the Squirrel Bat. It is the largest known bat with a wing span of six feet. She just doesn't understand why that does not impress me.

[Eva Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was good with lots of words I knew.
Aunt Kathy told me about bats that fly down into your hair and I think they should have a picture of that in here.
All the bats in this book have really sharp teeth and big wings.
The best animal books are 590.

[z.diddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the part where it showed a vampire bat with its mouth open.

[Jennifer (sullivan) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Picture Book/Non Fiction

This book shows the creepy looking bats, especially when the pictures are blown up and close up to where you see the bats.

[Samanthah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like it.And I learned a lot of things about bats.I think you should read the book.If you want to learn about bats,read about amazing bats!

[Horace Mann Family Reading Challenge · Rating 3 out of 5]

It tells you facts about bats. C.g.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great nonfiction, informational books. The large text and brilliant photos help keep the readers attention.

[Brittanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

genre: informational
grade: 1-2
feature: Kids love learning all about animals and you can teach a whole lesson off of this book and really get students into reading more informational texts. reading is fun!