Bat Count: A Citizen Science Story

by Anna Forrester and Susan Detwiler

Before Jojo’s three-year-old twin brothers were born, the family barn was a... read more

Before Jojo’s three-year-old twin brothers were born, the family barn was a bat maternity roost, a safe place where mother bats could give birth during the summer months. Since then, White Nose Syndrome has caused the bat population to dwindle. As this story opens, African American Jojo and her family are preparing for a “bat count.” Each year they observe the number of bats that fly from their barn at nightfall, hoping there will be more than the year before. To their delight, this year there are three: the mother bat has given birth to twins. The appearance of the bats mirrors the joy experienced by Jojo’s family when her brothers were born after years of Jojo’s mother wanting another child, inspiring hope that the new bat family (and bat population at large) will similarly prosper. More information about bats, as well as ways to help them, follow the story. (Ages 4-9)

© Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2018

show less

7 Total Resources 2 Awards View Text Complexity Submit Text Complexity