"Pringle weaves information about the lives of these misunderstood mammals into his imagined-from-facts tale...this veteran science writer mostly avoids anthropomorphization, describing actions with lively language that's fun to read aloud... The conclusion of this simple story demonstrates the importance of these bats to our lives...Appropriate vocabulary introduces relevant concepts. Garchinsky's darkly atmospheric illustrations...will show well at storytime. A(n) effective appreciation." - Kirkus Reviews

"Pringle reveals with captivating detail this amazing creature's growth...This book is a delightful work of narrative nonfiction that communicates facts and terminology...alongside beautiful artwork. (T)he illustrations are an enchanting addition to the text...(and) Garchinsky expertly captures various scenes of bat life. (W)ritten in an accessible way for younger readers, Pringle also includes a solid amount of information in the back matter...and a call to action about the white nose disease that is threatening brown bat populations. An excellent choice for elementary nonfiction collections." - School Library Journal, starred review

"(A) lively, engaging account of one animal's life...(t)he impressionistic illustrations use soft strokes of color to portray the bat and his world. A beautiful, informative picture book about this common North American bat." - Booklist, starred review