Janet Halfmann has been a popular author here at Wrapped In Foil. She has a new picture book out, Home in the Cave, illustrated by Shennen Bersani, published by Sylvan Dell. It fills the niche for young readers who prefer reading fiction, yet benefit from facts and details of nonfiction. The best part is the book comes with a free teaching activity guide (51 pages!), available for download at Sylvan Dell. 
The story follows main character Baby Bat, who isn’t sure he wants to learn how to fly because it will mean leaving the safety of his cave. Through an accident, he meets Pluribus Packrat. Pluribus shows him all the amazing cave creatures that depend on bats for their existence. Will Baby Bat find the courage to fly out to find food outside the cave and keep the food web going?
Included in the back of the book is a section called “For Creative Minds.” It gives a lot more information about caves and the animals that live in them. There are quizzes, such as distinguishing living things from non-living. On the following two-page spread is a hands-on activity about bat echolocation, a compare and contrast activity looking at bats, birds and humans, and an open-ended discussion of whether bats are good or bad.
For staunch fans of fiction, Home in the Cave is a way to stretch their wings into stories with an informational slant. Backed by tons of educational materials, it has benefits for fans of nonfiction as well.
Related posts about Janet Halfmann’s books:
- Star of the Sea
- Garter Snake at Willow Creek Lane
- Little Black Ant on Park Street
- Review of Astro: The Steller Sea Lion, and interview with illlustrator Shennen Bersani at Growing with Science
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Sylvan Dell Publishing (February 10, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1607185229
ISBN-13: 978-1607185222
Electronic copy of the book was provided for review purposes.