Cole Books

Ages 4-8 will love Dick Cole's warm and realistic drawings in The Falling Flowers, a celebration of a child and grandmother's urban trip and relationship. The two take a train to the heart of Japan to see something special, but Grandmother won't say what it is until they get there: when they do, Mayumie discovers something special in the very heart of modern-day urban Japan.

Ideal for children 4 to 8, The Falling Flowers is the story of a young Japanese girl and her grandmother. Mayumie and her Grandmother take a train ride into the heart of Tokyo, then walk together down a quiet street in the middle of the city and find a grove of Japanese cherry trees all in blossom. The simple, elegant text by Jennifer Reed is perfectly showcased with Dick Cole's watercolors giving this original story a timeless and universal appeal. The Falling Flowers would make a truly fine and appreciated addition to any picturebook collection.

Ideal for children 4 to 8, The Falling Flowers is the story of a young Japanese girl and her grandmother. Mayumie and her Grandmother take a train ride into the heart of Tokyo, then walk together down a quiet street in the middle of the city and find a grove of Japanese cherry trees all in blossom. The simple, elegant text by Jennifer Reed is perfectly showcased with Dick Cole's watercolors giving this original story a timeless and universal appeal. The Falling Flowers would make a truly fine and appreciated addition to any picturebook collection.

Mayumie's grandmother is taking her someplace very special. Mayumie wonders aloud, "Are we going shopping? To the museum? To the shrine? To the zoo?" Patiently, Mayumie's grandmother explains that this place is much more magical than any of those places, and it can only be viewed once a year. What kind of place could it be? Readers of this book will get their answer in this beautiful story, rich in descriptive details that will have them right there with Mayumie and her grandmother seeing, smelling, and touching The Falling Flowers. Children will enjoy Mayumie's journey and discovery, and teachers and librarians will want to share this story, especially in conjunction with an Asian studies unit.

Jennifer's story and Dick's illustrations come together to form an enchanting story that will appeal to reader's of all ages. I particularly enjoyed reading it to my granddaughter.

What did you want to be when you were five? Chances are, not much has changed. This book will help you use a lifetime of knowlege to figure out what you really want to do, and then shows you the path toward doing it.

Each chapter is filled with exercises that will teach you something new about yourself, and remind you of things you may have forgotten. The chapters lead you toward creating a portfolio designed to get you the job you really want. This book does everything the title promises, it will help you find power, passion and joy being at work!

Like everyone starting their career 30-40 years ago, we moved forward through trial and error. This coaching system will provide helpful guidelines for young people starting their careers, those well into their career who are not satified, and those thinking they want to make a major change in their life. Now, trail and error is not the only means of finding your way. I have given a copy of this book to my son to help him assure he is doing what he really wants to do with his work life.

I was fortunate enough to work with one of "Finding Power, Passion, and Joy's" authors, Mary Brandon, and benefited from both her coaching and a first-hand look at the constructs upon which the book is based.

PP&J's chapters construct a scaffolding by which the reader can gauge their real motivations for their current career path by reexamining the self from the ground up, and the work required is no small investment in terms of time--I estimate that I put in somewhere between eight to twelve hours in some cases working on each of the book's first eight chapters--but the investment of time, effort, and energy I put into PP&J completely changed the way in which I conceived of myself as a working human being. As such, I was able to reassess my previous decisions, the motivations behind them, and have now embarked upon a new career path, a path in which I finally feel both professionally and personally fulfilled.

Brandon, Cole, and Hunsberger distill their tremendous width, breadth, and depth of knowledge and expertise in assessing the interests and motivations upon which their clients in private practice into a program that's based upon sound, tested methods of psychology and assessment, building a comprehensive process by which one both reexamines their self-concept and can then produce not only a clear understanding of what they are called to do, but also a tangible product--a life-long portfolio--that turns the traditional resume on its head. A portfolio includes work samples, career highlights, and proof of one's progression and advancement in professional life.

The program and portfolio request exercises that one may find simplistic or vague at times, but the authors' motivations behind every question asked are sound, and result in a level of self-assessment that would require somewhere between ten to fifty times the financial investment in PP&J, and ten to fifty times the investment in terms of time and effort. The more seriously you take the process, the more effective it will be.

The "bang for your buck" factor that PP&J possesses is astoundingly good, and while it's best when paired with a job coach or career consultant, if you approach the book with an open mind, you can affect profound change upon your life and career.

One emerges from the process with a stunningly crisp, clear, and composed sense of self, personally and professionally, with which one can present him or herself to new employers, or, embark upon new career paths, and/or start new businesses, using the ever-evolving portfolio one constructs to provide tangible evidence to back up his or her words.

If you're willing to put in the investment of time and earnest effort--and stick with the program, understanding that the authors know exactly what they're asking of you--the personal and professional rewards you reap for this small investment in yourself will be extraordinary.

You really can find power, passion, and yes, joy in your working life, and this book provides the means with which YOU can show YOURSELF the way there, and the "why" of where you really want to go as an effective and inspired working person.

By using Ms Brandon's book and through private coaching provided by her, I am now prepared to present myself calmly, rationally and professionally.

Included with the many valuable lessons in the book, Ms Brandon provides the plan for creating your life portfolio. My life portfolio made it very easy for me to arrive at the boardroom fully prepared for a professional job interview. I was able to present myself with the kind of confidence and style that I have never experienced before.

Ms Brandon's book and coaching have helped me find the strength to forgive myself for past errors, enabled me to realize my own greater potential and have helped me find the path of happiness and success in my life.

I have accomplished these things and more by using her lessons to identify my own self-imposed blocks to happiness and success and eliminating them.

I highly recommend the book for everyone from the young adult through the senior citizen. You will never be too old to find something of value in this book.

I also recommend starting the creation of the life portfolio at childhood and adding to it throughout your life. I am over 40 years old and I know that I would have benefited greatly from having started the life portfolio many years ago.

In paddle sports (canoeing, kayaking, etc.) you learn that there is no one else who is responsible for saving your life--YOU are responsible for saving your own life. It is no exaggeration that she and her book have given me the tools to save my own life.

This book is priceless. IT IS THE BEST MONEY YOU WILL EVER SPEND.

Buy it for a loved one, if they follow the plan (as detailed in the book), the benefit to them will be great and they will never be able to thank you enough.

Reviewed by Kelley Anderson for Reader Views (05/06)

"Finding Power, Passion and Joy Being at Work" is a self guided workbook that helps you to explore your interests, hobbies, values and other aspects of your life to determine what type of true values, work environment and preferred employer are the right fit for you. Through a question and answer process, you can set your own career goals, make a life purpose statement and create a career portfolio to present to potential employers.

Brandon, Cole and Hunsberger put together a comprehensive guide for anyone interested in finding a direction in life that will bring them purpose and satisfaction. This book is appropriate for everyone from the high school student trying to find a direction to take with their life to a retiree trying to find a part time job for recreation. The writing style is easy to understand, flowing and creative and I especially enjoyed the motivational quotes throughout the chapters. There were a few questions I felt were too general and would have liked a little more prompting, but overall I found the introductory statements and questions very well written.

I took the time to answer all of the questions in the book, even when I wasn't sure how they were related to my career choices and found myself pleasantly surprised in taking a deeper look into my dreams and interests than I had thought about in a long time. In addition, I was able to reaffirm that I am on the right career path at this point in my life. I was able to set some goals and make a rough plan of action. "Finding Power, Passion and Joy at Work" takes a long time to complete, requiring delving deep into all areas of your life and I believe only a person truly motivated to examine their life and career will be able to finish it.

The end chapters on creating your career portfolio were very insightful and there were many creative ideas for unique items to include in your portfolio.

I would highly recommend "Finding Power, Passion and Joy Being at Work" to anyone not satisfied in their current job. From making a life purpose statement to creating a career portfolio, this book will give you tools to make you more attractive to prospective employers and help you to find your work enjoyable again.

A thorough investigation of the history, design, techniques, and developments of gaff-rigged craft, both workboats and yachts. A comprehensive review of all major British and American types and some European ones as well, enliven with stories of those who built and sailed them. The book may benefit from a larger selection of illustrations, especially line drawings and sail plans.

Like Tom Cunliffe's "Hand Reef and Steer," John Leather's "Gaff Rig Handbook" is an excellent resource for someone building, restoring or merely interested in gaff rigs. I go back and forth between those two as the "best source", but in reality, I think both should be in your library (they are in mine, and both are well used).

On my boat building site...I reviewed "Gaff Rig Handbook":

"This was suggested as the best resource out there on the gaff rig, and after a long wait while [I]obtained this book from England, I can report that it is everything people say it is. Great text, clear illustrations, and quite a bit of information not found elsewhere makes this my favorite of the books listed."

The most recent edition, published by Wooden Boat Publishing in 2001, is now available. The content is much the same ... in fact, I can't find a difference ... with the prior edition, so no need to "buy again" if you have an older copy. But if you are serious about gaff rigs, and Gaff Rig Handbook isn't in your library ... it should be!

I thought I understood gaff rig until I got into this incredible book. It truly is the definitive text on the subject. Be warned - this is not necessarily an easy book to read. It is dense, profound stuff, and there are many places that will stop you in your tracks as you read paragraphs over and over, trying to tease out and understand all the multilayered detail. But once it's accomplished, the lights go on, and you have a new understanding that a more "readable" treatment would never have afforded. The illustrations are marvelous, whether it's the crisp, highly detailed line drawings of rig details or the wonderful rare old photographs of the glory days of this marvelous rig. Truly a must read. And it isn't just a tribute to the racing yachts - this is a book of working sail, where men's lives and livelihoods depended on their watercraft.

Also highly recommended is "Hand Reef and Steer", by Tom Cunliffe, which is a much more readable and user friendly text for the gaff rig owner/sailor

Leather's book is probably the best resource on the Gaff Rig that I have seen yet. Great text, clear illustrations, and quite a bit of information not found elsewhere makes this my favorite of the books I've reviewed. While Leather is a Brit, he does have quite a bit of info on American gaffers as well, including a chapter on the fishing schooners of New England. Each major component of the gaff rig is treated with a chapter (Mast and Spars, Running Rigging, Standing Rigging, etc.) and then adaptations for several specific types of boats (catboats, sloops, cutters, smacks, yawls, schooners, etc.)

If you're only buying one book on gaff rig, this should be it. Full of useful information, supported with many practical diagrams (not all of them original,) it is a first-class resource for anyone contemplating building a gaffer, or converting from a different rig.

Note that this book is described by the publisher as an "extended" 3rd edition of the book originally published in two editions under the title "Gaff Rig". I am not clear how much additional information has been included in this new edition, but the change in title indicates that there might be considerable differences between this "Handbook" and the two earlier "Gaff Rigs."

Derek Prince adds his vast Biblical knowledge with his own experience to a book that repeatedly hits the nail on the head in regards to the great disaster that is now occuring among believers in America. The divorce rate among conservative evangelicals currently outstrips all other social categories. As a long time teacher in juvenile halls, drug rehabs, etc., I have seen the fruit of "christian" psychology on kids and their parents for over 20 years. The Dobson crowd has cashed in on the sins and sorrows of the Church for too long now, but this book points the right way back to God's original plan for Christian men.

If you are sick of the humanistic junk and want to be freed from worldly philosophies that have cursed far too many, then get this book in front of you ASAP.

This book is a message that all the fathers, wifes, sons & daughters need to hear. I am a clinical psychiatrist, I really get a lot of help from this book.

As a female bookseller, I highly recommend this book for women too. The book provides a quick & concise insight to God's expectation of a Husband and Father's role. He also covers the Building blocks of a successful marriage. Very easy to read for non-readers.

ONCE AGAIN DERECK PRINCE HAS WRITTEN A BOOK THAT IS WELL GROUNDED IN THE WORD OF GOD. HE IS ABLE TO TAKE FROM THE BIBLE THE OWNERS MANUAL FOR LIVING A GOLDLY LIFE AS FATHER AND HUSBAND. ALTHOUGH NOT AN ACTION PACKED THRILLER, IT IS WHAT WE HAVE COME TO EXPECT FROM A WISE AND GODLY MAN...HARD-HITTING TRUTH AND CLARITY. I CERTAINLY RECOMMEND IT TO ANY MAN THAT WOULD LIKE TO FIRM-UP THE FOUNDATION OF WHICH HE STANDS AS A HUSBAND AND A FATHER.

This book is a quick read and really highlights the essentials for a godly Christian family. He speaks with much godly wisdom and a lifetime of experience.

I went to my college bookstore and they wanted almost $200 for this same book, and I found it on here for 70 dollars less, new!

So this is a fantastic book. Explains all concepts and terms well.

Book is in much better condition that that which I would expect from a used book.

This is not an easy book, however it is the easiest Chem book I have ever seen. The CD-ROM and the CengageNOW are worth their weight in GOLD! USe them because they SURE make this process a ton easier. BY getting this through Amazon I save a good bit on what the FCCJ bookstore is selling it for. Plus I got this delivered directly to me AND no long lines to stand in. This is a good book! Enjoy it! Have fun with Chemistry!

I bought this for self-study, to refresh myself on general and organic chem and to get a solid introduction to biochemistry. So far, I'm enjoying it. Well written with good illustrations although aimed at an introductory audience.

This book is in its 8th Edition with two new authors. The style continues the high standards set in the previous edition. I find this book to be a very good quick reference guide for chemical reactions, stoichiometry, organic and biological chemistry. I am very sad to see that Bettelheim and March have passed away!

This is an excellent book that covers all aspects of web development. To often are programmers unconcerned with the aesthetics representing the code they create. However it does not matter how functional your site is if the user cannot enjoy it, understand it and navigate it. That is where this book fits in. It is the perfect medium between the programming world and the design world. If read cover to cover this book can give even the most inexperienced reader the skills needed for professional web development. It is well organized and laid out in a manor perfect for the classroom environment. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in web development.

The book is well written and concise with many wonderful examples to support the text. The combination of both web design and web programming into a single resource is inspired.

I have been teaching Web related courses for several years now. When I received a note from the publisher's representative annoucing the textbook, my first reaction was "Another Beauty From Paul Wang" and I was right! I have copies of all books written by Paul Wang including the best-seller, five-stars book (ANSI C on UNIX). Finally, there is a book that I really can use in teaching courses on both Web Design and Web Programming. Most existing books either discuss Web Design or Web Programming but not both. I have adopted the book and I will be using it to teach my Computer Science students as well as my MBA students. The book is well-written, comprehensive, and probably is the first book that is written by people on both sides of the aisle: Arts and Computer Science. I have always believed that most computer science folks lack the artistic side of Web publishing and many people in the arts field lack the technical side of it. I believe the two authors (a well-known and famous computer scientist and author Paul Wang and a leading expert on Visual Communication Design Sanda Katila) have done an excellent job and provided us with a wonderful textbook that addresses the subject of Web development in an integrated manner. This textbook can be used by almost anyone who is interested in Web development. It is easy to read and follow and it is very interesting. Yet it is challenging and very informative. I highly recommend this book and give it a Five-Stars rating without hesitation.

This is an excellent book that covers all aspects of web development. To often are programmers unconcerned with the aesthetics representing the code they create. However it does not matter how functional your site is if the user cannot enjoy it, understand it and navigate it. That is where this book fits in. It is the perfect medium between the programming world and the design world. If read cover to cover this book can give even the most inexperienced reader the skills needed for professional web development. It is well organized and laid out in a manor perfect for the classroom environment. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in web development.

To see the book cover, detailed table of contents, and
a rich set of supplemental materials please visit the
book site: sofpower.com/wdp

Jack's Garden by Henry Cole is a wonderful book about a young boy's flower garden and how it grows throughout the year. I read it each spring to my story hour children, and then we all plant sunflower seeds. As the seeds begin to grow into plants, we re-read the book and talk about what's happening. This book's beautiful illustrations do the best job I've ever seen of showing how the garden and its flowers develop through each stage from bare earth and tiny seeds to seedlings, young plants, buds, and finally blooming flowers. Extra drawings and labels in the margins identify garden tools, parts of a plant, types of seeds, insects, birds & bird eggs, and other wonderful tidbits. The cumulative text (think of "The House that Jack Built") builds up the idea of the garden developing and growing one stage at a time. I consider this one of Henry Cole's finest picture books, and that's saying a lot!

Whoever coined the proverb, "a picture is worth a thousand words" could have been talking about Jack's Garden by Henry Cole.
This book is an excellent illustration of how, step by step, a garden is planted and what the seeds and living creatures do from that point on. We get to see above and below the soil as the garden progresses throughout the season. There are all the names of the plants and creatures labelled neatly next to each, on the main page and in the margins. Best of all, the classic children's poem about the house that Jack built is modified into a catchy text for each picture that makes understanding the magic of a little garden ecosystem effortless for kids as young as three years.

Top notch illustrations and a unique format set this picture book apart and earned it a permanent place in my collection. I only wish I had it in hardback!

I'll share the review I wrote for The Home School Manual =======

Jack's Garden "This is the garden that Jack planted." The first double-spread illustration with these words shows Jack on the bare ground. Next, "This is the soil that made up the garden that Jack planted" and an underground picture of various creatures. The story repeats on each page spread adding a new line. This book is a winner. Excellent for reading practice and excellent for science with all the insects, birds, plants and so on illustrated and named.

I wish this book had been available for me when I was a young child. I'm delighted to be able to give it to my son, age 3. This book shows so many things to be found in a garden - from the first scene where Jack stands shovel in hand in an empty garden through the final page where Jack is surrounded by the beautiful outcome of his work to grow a beautiful garden. Along the way we learn the names of so many creatures and gardening items and see how a garden grows. Buy this book. It's a jewel.

This book is outstanding! Far from being for just the pre-school/younger elementary set, it has a wealth of information which even older kids can benefit from. In addition to the text based on the House That Jack Built, it has labeled drawings of garden tools, insects in the soil, seeds, clouds,parts of plants, plants, butterflies, birds, and other insects. We (my kids ages 4 thru 10 and I) had fun pointing out the things we know and learning the ones we didn't. The illustrations are excellent- colorful and detailed. This book is a wonderful addition to homeschool unit studies on plants.

This is a short book on Management By Objectives (MBO). It covers goal setting, incentives, and follow up in a lot of detail but is still an easy read. If you need help coming up with well defined goals, this book provides a great set of questions that you can use to refine employee and department goals so that they are practical. The questions will speed your creation of goals.
The book doesn't cover any other management topics.

If you're about to become a manager for the first time and don't have a clue about how to get your direct reports to do what you want them to do, use this book as a step-by-step primer. It explains what to say, when to say it and how to follow up. It teaches you why meeting and connecting with employees individually is so important if you want to keep them accountable and get results. Author Brian Cole Miller's advice will help you develop your coaching skills. It will also save you a lot of headaches if you're struggling with problem employees. Miller shows you how to work with difficult employees in a way that is supportive, yet puts the ownership of results squarely on the employee's shoulders - where it belongs. If you've just promoted someone to manager, or if you are a new manager, we suggest that you make this book a part of your on-the-job training and development curriculum.

This is fantastic. Miller (great name!!) uses the same style from his first book (also good-Quick Team-building Activities for Busy Manager) and applies it to something much more important: holding your employees accountable. The book is organized so well for the busy manager, that it's almost more like an outline than a traditional book...it's easy to breeze through it, gleaming the points you need, glossing over stuff you already know (and not fear that you're missing anything). BUT, you can also dive deep into detail whenever you want it, or learn from the many examples provided. The steps here are concrete and logical. The flow makes sense...you learn quickly that this is not rocket science...or is it just that Miller knows how to make things seem simple, so the average manager "gets" it and can do it?

Like he warns in the intro, there's not a whole lot of theory here-just the how-to steps with examples and checklists of how to apply them, and then just enough theory to support them without ever bogging you down. So if you accept that up front, you wont miss the theory (which weighs down most other books on this subject, anyway). You'll just appreciate the simple process (which is cool, since he was able to make his 6 step process fit an acronym SIMPLE). If you need some help on holding your employees accountable, and you just need the quick and dirty "just tell me how to do it!" version, this is the book for you! A quick read, to the point, well organized. Miller packs a lot of punch into very few pages. A great resource for the harried manager who wants some help, but quick.

As managers, we work at top speed all the time and often we simply assume (and hope!) our employees are getting the job done. This book offers an easy to implement way to ENSURE employees are getting the job done. What a relief to have found this book. THANKS!

Accountability is essential to individual and organizational success, but few leaders know how to make it happen. Consequently, accountability remains at too high a level-far away from the people who really should be accountable for their work. Managers spend far too much of their valuable time chasing after details, progress reports, and hope-it-got-done worries. If there were a way to calculate the value of managerial time wasted because of our accountability deficiency, the cost would be astronomical. If you could calculate the cost to you, personally, it would far exceed the price of this book.

Miller presents his advice in a design that's easy to grasp-complete with anagram. He offers a SIMPLE system: Set expectations, Invite commitment, Measure results, Provide feedback, Link to consequences, and Evaluate effectiveness. Each of these components is explained in its own chapter, following the same format. The principle is presented, followed by an explanation of why it is important, then the how-to. Examples and checklists (good ones at the end of each chapter) strengthen the book's value.

You will gain a considerable amount of worthwhile knowledge, technique, and advice reading this book from cover to cover. However, the strongest benefit will come over time as you use this volume as a reference book, a handbook to return to for refreshers and reinforcement.

Idea: copy relevant items from the end-of-chapter checklists and use them as daily reminders that you're doing what must be done to build and maintain accountability. This is a book you'll want to keep close to your desk as an important companion.

PS-the principles will work in non-business situations, as well.

This book could also be titled "Bicycle Repair for Dummies" and is on a par with that classic book on auto repair. The easy-to-read content includes basic information that every bicyclist (young or old) should know, but that most don't. If you ride a bike, you need this book. Also, the illustrations are superb and greatly help the reader identify parts, discover problems, and perform certain repair and maintenance techniques.

This is a creative book with delightful and practical illustrations. In an entertaining and instructive way, it teaches children responsibility to take care of their bikes. It also teaches important safety rules. Any child getting a new bicycle would benefit greatly by receiving a copy of this book. Even parents whose child owns a bicycle would benefit from reading this book. It is a great book for parents and kids to read together.

"Kids' Easy Bike Care" is a wonderful, thoughtful book authored by Steve Cole. Mr. Cole addresses all of the fundamentals of bike ownership and maintenance, and hass thoughtfully geared the book for the inquisitive youngster (and his or her parents) who is about to begin bicycle riding for the first time. From hand signals to the "five step tune-up", Mr. Cole covers all the bases. Moreover, Mr. Cole responsibly emphasizes the importance of "Safety First!", which is a crucial message that needs to be communicated to every child who sets upon a bike. The text of the book, coupled with clear and informative diagrams and illustrations (drawn by Sarah Rakitin), is easy to understand for kids and adults alike.

I believe that "Kids' Easy Bike Care" is a perfect gift (holiday, birthday, or otherwise) for bike-riding kids -- and I would especially encourage parents to purchase this book both for the novice bicyclists within their family, as well as for their own information. While I learned a lot from reading "Kids' Easy Bike Care" as an adult, I would have found this an invaluable resource as a child still learning to ride and take care of my bike. Great work, Mr. Cole!

It is evident to me after reading this book, as a senior citizen who just bought a new bicycle, that the contents of this book are not just for kids. It was extremely helpful to both me and my husband who are SENIOR kids. This book would be a very appropriate purchase for anyone regardless of age who owns or is contemplating buying a bicycle. After reading this book, children of ALL AGES would gain the confidence to maintain and use their bicycle safely. This book should be available at all bicycle shops.

This book really tells you everything you need to know about caring for your bike including repairs, tune-ups, safety tips, etc. As other reviewers have said, it's a great resource for adults and kids alike. Sarah Rakitin's illustrations are both cute and helpful. A great addition to anyone's library!

This is a very readable children's book about bats. It helps to dispel some of those nasty myths about our only flying mammal that seem to persist. I use this book as part of my unit on bats that I teach in my second grade classroom. A twin text that I also use is Stellaluna. Pairing fiction and nonfiction works very well with young children. Zipping... is very informative and a very good resource for exposing children to needed symbiosis of man and nature. I will be building a bat house with ny students as a follow up. Think about this book the next time you find yourself swatting at a pesky mosquito.

Got it for my older brother (wont say how old):)000 We both enjoyed it, learned a lot. Got it to get free shipping well worth it. When ever my brother gets tried of the book he'll give it to someone who needs to learn just how important Bats are!!!

This book was about bats like the flying fox and vampire. It taught me all about different kinds of books. I recommend it.

I love this book and so do my 5 year old son and 7 year old daughter. It is filled with great pictures of bats and all kinds of bat facts. It lets you know that bats are nothing to fear and even shows you how to make a bat house in the back of the book. Did you know that bats are the only flying animals that nurse their young? Bat "pups" hang together in large groups called nurseries and each mother returns at least twice during the night to feed her little pup. Did you know that there is a bat in Australia that has a six foot wing span? I didn't until I read this book...don't worry they eat fruit! I liked bats before...now I like them even more.

Have you ever wanted to learn about bats? Well, I did. So after reading Anne Earle's fabulous book, Zipping, Zapping, Zooming Bats, I learned that bats are innocuous, useful and interesting mammals. Let me tell you what I have assimilated.
Bats are considered nefarious by many people but they are actually very timid and friendly. Bats are also considered good luck in China. Many emperors like to have illustrations of bats on their possessions in order to bring them serendipity. Some kids in Midfield, Alabama even formed a club called B.A.T. which is an acronym for Bats Are Terrific. The purpose of the club is to inform people how harmless and useful bats are to people.
Speaking of usefulness, let me illustrate how bats are helpful to humans. Since bats are insectivores (eat only insects), they prey on bugs that bother humans like the menacing mosquito. Bats at Bracken Cave, near San Antonio, Texas, eat approximately 500,000 lbs. of insects a night! That is equal to 250 tons!! That is useful because those insects could have obliterated farmers' crops and people's plants. Also, bats help humans by pollinating flowers and allowing the fruit to grow.
Bats are interesting too! Most bats use echolocation. This is when the bat finds the location of an object or prey by sending out sound waves and listening for the echo. There is at least one bat that does not use echolocation. It is the California Leaf-nosed bat. This bat listens for the insect's footsteps or wing beats to find its meal. Another interesting detail about bats is that they are expert fliers. These mammals also use their wings to catch a scrumptious refection. The prey gets caught in the bat's wing membrane and the bat flips it onto its stomach and then gobbles it up. Next, bats hang upside down in caves, under viaducts, and some attics. They use their talons to get a grip of the ceiling. While hanging upside down, they may choose to sleep or groom themselves. Bats keep themselves as clean as cats by using their tongues to keep themselves immaculate. The last interesting detail that you may want to know is that some spelunkers accidentally kill bats by waking them during their hibernation. When the cave explores wake up the bats, the bats have to use a copious amount of fat to find a new resting spot. Now they won't have enough stored up food (or fat) to make it until spring.
Now that you have read my report about Anne Earle's fabulous book, Zipping, Zapping, Zooming Bats, I hope you have learned that bats are innocuous, useful and interesting.