Marta Writes

Amazing, Misunderstood Bats

San Francisco Book Review 
October, 2019
Star Rating: 5 / 5 stars

As an author of a  variety of pieces of non-fiction literature for children, Marta Magellan  sets out to debunk the historic myths and clear misconceptions about  the creatures we call bats. Despite their usefulness in cutting down the  world’s supply of pesky bugs and their extraordinary ability to  pollinate plants and help in the efforts of regrowing depleted forestry,  many perceive bats to be disease-striken, blood-sucking, eerie  creatures who hang out in dark and dreary places waiting to attack.  Magellan supplies an ample amount of unique and fascinating facts about  Chiropteras with hopes of changing the viewpoints of those most  skeptical. She informs her readers that bats are, in fact, the world’s  best pollinators over long distances and that some of these creatures  can eat as many as 1,000 bugs in an hour. The world would certainly be  more bug-infested without them. She also notes that one of the most  feared among bats, the vampire bat, may be of significant help in  treating blood clots, a potentially life-threatening condition that  occurs in humans. Their saliva is a hundred times more potent than the  current medications used to treat this ailment. It successfully destroys  the clot without adversely effecting anything else in the blood. While  some bats do carry diseases, foxes, dogs, and raccoons are more likely  to pass rabies on to humans than are bats. They become paralyzed when  infected with this devastating disease, thus rendering them much less a  risk to humans. Magellan concludes with urging her readers to help  protect the habitats of these incredible creatures, so they can continue  to be of great benefit to the human population.

This extraordinary work of non-fiction captures the essence of what these small, but remarkable creatures can do. Amazing, Misunderstood Bats contains a plethora of interesting and original knowledge about bats.  It’s effectively convincing and a far cry from being dry and  encyclopedia-like. Graphic, vibrant pictures accentuate the text, and an  array of boxes filled with fun facts are included that help break up  the flow of the words throughout the book. Additionally, a glossary and  index are provided to aid in clarifying unfamiliar vocabulary, as well  as to offer guidance in finding specific topics. The striking  photographs throughout will likely capture the attention of children as  young as five or six and as old as nine or ten. While the younger  audience may enjoy learning some of the fun facts; the older ones are  more likely to bask in the details and overall content of the text.  Elementary school science teachers may find this book a useful resource  for their classrooms, and it’s ideal for libraries in both public and  private elementary schools to shelve or display. The overall quality is  great, and the content is truly exceptional.

Reviewed by Jennifer Padgett, M.Ed.
Education Specialist