Reviews and Endorsements

ForeWord Book Reviews-February/March 2012
All things nocturnal and furry come alive in this unusual story of a baby bat learning about his surroundings.  After a fall from his customary perch, and with Pluribus the rat as his guide, the little bat encounters all of the other critters—many are eyeless insects—that rely on bats for their survival.  The baby bat welcomes his mother’s eventual return from foraging, but he also prizes his newfound independence.  Fascinating scientific tidbits are made palatable and entertaining.  Ages four to nine. (February, p. 77)

School Library Journal-April 2012
PreS-Gr 2—Halfmann reveals factual details about bats through an eventful story line. When Baby Bat's mother goes out to search for food, her baby falls into the messy nest of Pluribus Packrat. With the aid of a flashlight, friendly Pluribus takes the little creature on a tour of the cave, and readers learn not only about cave bats but also about the cave environment, why cave bats are important to it, and how these bats impact other cave-dwelling creatures. Halfmann adeptly defines terms such as "stalactites," "stalagmites," and "guano" in context, and the factual material is nicely integrated into the story. At the end of their explorations, Pluribus returns Baby Bat to his nursery. Bersani's mixed-media artwork, predominately spreads, appears to be a combination of paint and pencil. Shades of brown, gray, and black create a realistic-looking interior. Light emitted from Pluribus's flashlight draws attention to the other critters, while emotions can be seen in the facial expressions of Pluribus and Baby Bat. Four pages of additional information for classroom lessons and activities are included. Children fascinated by bats and who grasp information better through a plotline rather than through straightforward nonfiction should find this an intriguing read. Readers eager for more information can turn to J. Angelique Johnson's Bats (Capstone, 2011) and Cindy Rodriguez's Bats (Rourke, 2010); both of these titles are organized topically and feature color photos.—Lynn Vanca, Freelance Librarian, Akron, OH

Growing Up Wild
“The smelly guano swarmed with thousands of critters—springtails, mites, beetles, flies, crickets, millipedes, centipedes, daddy longlegs, spiders and more. Many snacked on bacteria and fungi growing on the guano. Others snacked on the guano itself, and still others ate the snackers.”

As scientists race to investigate the increasing threats to bats and cave habitats, so should our programming reflect these real, place-based topics in an age-appropriate way to our youngest readers and listeners.

In Home in the Cave, just released this March, Janet Halfmann once again offers accurate natural history and biology while not forgetting her Pre-K to middle elementary audience and maintaining an interesting storyline to keep them engaged.

Follow the baby bat as he explores his cave ecosystem and encounters packrats, rattlesnakes, cave crickets, and more. Halfmann skillfully weaves a story that shows the interconnectedness of cave inhabitants and their ultimate dependency on the bat as the keystone species. Readers vicariously learn through a bat pup about sightless cave-mates, flying among stalactites, and the threat of certain predators that lurk just past this maternal colony exit.

As is so important in environmental education, Halfmann has found a way to deliver complex ecosystem relationships through an entertaining and engaging presentation that greatly increases information-retention in our students.

Home in the Cave adds to Halfmann’s other works including another personal favorite, Little Skink’s Tail.
-Sarah Livesay, EEAI Growing Up Wild/Project Learning Tree Coordinato

Wrapped in Foil-May 2012
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.
Go to review online

Beach Bound Books-May 2012
The book is very educational and provides facts about cave dwelling animals as well as teaches new vocabulary to young readers.
Shennen Bersani's illustrations visually engage readers's and enhance learning.
Home in the Cave can be used by teachers as a fun learning tool.
Go to review online

Kids Book Review - April 2012
I liked this story because it is about animals and also because it actually teaches you about what bats eat and give their babies to eat. It also explains what the cave dwelling fish and bugs eat, including the blind salamander, spiders, termites, crayfish, millipedes, centipedes, and lots of other creepy crawlers. I enjoyed learning what the babies do when their mothers are hunting for food. My most favorite part is when baby bat and packrat go exploring and they see all the insects and water animals. Then they hug and become best friends. I think you should read it and you should because it helps you learn about bats and it’s so good I would read it a thousand times. That’s how much I liked this book!The illustrations were really good also; it shows the cave from all different views.
Go to review online

Feathered Quill Book Reviews-February 2012
The tale of Baby Bat and life in his cave is a fun, vibrant look at critters whose lives depend on having the bat in their habitat.
Go to review online

Home School Book Review-March 2012
A lot of people are afraid of bats and hate them.  However, these unique animals have some very important functions in the ecosystems in which they live.  Janet Halfmann’s informative text and Shennen Bersani’s eye-catching illustrations combine to give a very sympathetic portrayal of life in the cave.  The “For Creative Minds” section contains information about cave zones and rock formations, a quiz on cave habitats, a bat echolocation hands on activity, and a page comparing and contrasting bats, birds, and humans along with answers to the question, “Are Bats Good or Bad?”    When our boys were younger, we toured several caves where we noticed bats in their natural habitat and attended programs on bat ecology.  This book is a great way to study about these amazing creatures.
Go to review online

Jean Little Library - April 2012
This title will work best for kids who like stories with nonfiction components mixed in and in schools.The fictional components are probably going to put it in a picture book section, where most parents are looking for shorter titles. An additional purchase, primarily for schools.
Go to review online

Books 4 Learning-April 2012
Using the point of view of a child, Home in the Cave creates a narrative framework for youngster to explore the unknown on two levels.  First, he is venturing into and learning about his physical environment in a calm and simple manner.  Second, he is learning a valuable lesson about growing up and conquering fear.  Both of these lessons are beneficial to children.  Next, the book broadens a child’s experience with nature and expands his science vocabulary/background knowledge by fluidly revealing the wonders of the cave habitat.   Also, there are some excellent opportunities to discuss literary elements with examples of similes, hyperbole, and alliteration sprinkled within the text.  Finally, Shennen Bersani does an amazing job with light and color.   he maintains the dark atmosphere while illuminating the creatures and other elements in there (stalactites, stalagmites, nests, watering holes).  This book is recommended for children ages 4-9.  
Go to review online

Book Loons-March 2012
This simple story does a good job of presenting bats as beneficial to the world. It is illustrated by Shennen Bersani.

The Creative Minds educational section in the back of the book provides facts, puzzles, and hands on activities that enhance the story. Quizzes are available on the book's home page
Go to review online

Over a Steaming Cup of Tea-April 2012
I wish I had had books like these when I was younger. The way the author weaves scientific facts into a fun story about a baby bat show clearly that she did her research before writing. The dialogue between Baby Bat and Pluribus does at times feel a little stilted, jam-packed as it is with facts, but overall the facts compliment the story, rather than hindering it. The illustrations are soft, yet accurate, educational as well as entertaining! All of Bersani’s traveling to different caves around the U.S. paid off, as is evident in these illustrations! I can imagine any child wanting to read and re-read the story of Baby Bat.
Go to review online

epinions.com-April 2012
Author Janet Halfmann tells the story with careful attention to factual content. She introduces readers to three cave zones, entrance, twilight and dark zone, as well as several animals found in those zones. We also learn about adaptations, especially those associated with animals in the dark zone where light doesn’t exist and vision and protective coloration aren’t required. She draws readers into the story but skillfully introduces factual information.

Halfmann helps guide young readers toward accepting growing up and responsibilities that they, along with the baby bat, will face.  Illustrator Shennen Bersani creates the charm in the form of a loving young bat, not a nasty creature. Using mixed media with colored pencils and crayons she allows us to visually explore the cave, although she doesn’t provide too much. Young eyes will search for details but they will not be distracted by a cluttered cave-scape. Bersani cleverly uses the collecting habits of the packrat to make dark zone critters visible -  Pluribus carries a flashlight to expose cave fish and blind salamanders in bright ovals of light.

While this is an old and familiar story about an animal who isn’t comfortable in its skin and doesn’t learn to appreciate being a bat until after a second animal guides it to a new understanding, the approach is refreshing and charming. Janet Halfmann’s Home In the Cave is a sweet read-aloud story, but it’s also an informative book on both bats and cave habitats and a good resource for launching early science lessons.  

Recommended: YES
Go to review online

Bless Their Hearts Mom-April 2012
This is an adorable book, as all Janet's are! Kiddo and I had fun talking about how Baby Bat was afraid to leave the cave, like she had been afraid about starting school 2 years ago. She loved finding out about all the different animals in a cave, and how they all depend on one another. She had quite alot of questions, so I was quite happy to have the last 4 pages of of info on cave habitats, rock formations, how bats hear, about bats and cave animals! It helped answer them all! The illustrations are adorable, as they always are with Janet's books. With Earth Day coming up, this would be an excellent book to read to your kids, or for their class! I know boys will definitely find it appealing, but so will inquisitive girls! We highly recommend it!
Go to review online

Mother Daughter Book Reviews-April 2012
I actually learned something about bats myself.  I knew about the benefits of guano but I learned about the variety of other cave-dwelling creatures which rely upon the bats’ dinner scraps as well as the bats’ other – ~ ahem~ – by-products.  At the end of the book, there is also a four-page spread outlining more information about caves, stalagmites and stalactites (I can never remember which one points which way!), cave creatures,  as well as more detailed information about bats.  I really like how Halfmann includes the debate around whether bats are good or bad, helping kids understand how every creature has its own place in our ecosystem.

Aside from the educational value of the book and the beautiful illustrations, the story itself covers important themes such as finding the courage to “take flight” and seeing the value and taking pride in who you are and how you contribute to the wider society as a whole.  Baby Bat teaches us all a lesson in this respect.
Go to review online

My bottom line:  I really, really liked this book because it has a strong story and it has educational value.  I would recommend this book (and other Janet Halfmann books) to boys and girls between the ages of 3 and 8.

Baby Brainstorm-March 2012
What I loved about the book was that through a simple story the author was able to introduce children to the science of caves.  New vocabulary such as stalactites and guano are easy to understand through the context of the story and the beautiful pictures.
Go to review online

Eclectic Homeschool Online-March 2012
Home in the Cave tells about different creatures found in caves. The author writes in an informal, conversational style, telling the story of a little bat that makes friends with a packrat. Together they explore the cave where they both live, discovering all sorts of land and water-based creatures. The little bat starts out the story rather timid, but grows bolder as he realizes how bats contribute to the cave's ecology.

Colored illustrations add to the simple story. The animals are portrayed in a very anthropomorphic way, with human-sounding thoughts and dialog which might appeal to young children.
Go to review online

Health, Beauty, Children, & Family-March 2012
Another great educational and entertaining book by Janet Halfmann is Home in the Cave.  I really like all the books I have read to date from Ms. Halfmann who has the ability to take typically perceived non-adorable characters such as snakes and bats and turns them into great stories to teach.  The stories all have a teaching component about the particular subject but it also has an entertaining aspect such as learning why bat shouldn't be afraid to leave his home in the cave.

Baby bat is so comfortable with his mom in the safety of the cave since it's all he has ever known.  He hears the stories told by other baby bats and becomes increasingly frightened at the prospects of ever leaving.  In an attempt to not disappoint his mom, he practices his flying ability and ends up meeting an unexpected partner who will teach him the importance of his existence with the others in the cave.  Baby bat soon understands his role and changes his mind about growing up and leaving the cave.  The story might also appeal to younger children first leaving for school given their fear of leaving their "cave" as well.  I found it entertaining with innocent little baby bat and the inclusion of bits of scientific information.

The back section includes something very familiar with Ms. Halfmann's other stories which is a creative minds extra.  Teachers, parents and those who homeschool will find it full of a wealth of information that surpasses it as only an entertaining story.  From life in a cave to rock formations to bats, the children will most likely enjoy the extra sections at the back.
Go to review online

Reading 2 Know-February 2012
Home in the Cave is the first book we read and quite possibly my favorite. This, despite the fact that I am not fond of the little buggars. (We have had a bat or two inside our home. Two of which we've discovered flying over us in our bed at 2 a.m. Not exactly my idea of a good time or a welcome houseguest!) This one though is by one of our favorite animal authors, Janet Halfmann. In this story, Baby Bat loves his cave home and thinks he never wants to leave it, despite the fact that his mother is telling him he needs to practice flying so that he can go out and hunt for his own food. He makes friends with another cave dweller, a packrat, who shows him around the cave and teaches him how necessary bats are when it comes to sustaining cave life for other animals. This book is informative and interesting.
Go to review online

Heck of a Bunch-February 2012
A book with delightful illustrations, Home in the Cave is a keen story for younger children to learn about bats and caves.  A baby bat doesn't want to leave the comforts of the cave but soon runs across a rat that explores the cave with him, showing why bats are important to other animals and the different animals that dwell in caves.  The baby bat learns that it's important to learn to hunt and leave the cave so it can be dependable to the other cave creatures.  In the "Creative Minds" section at the back of the book you can learn about life in cave zones, rock formations, cave habitats, bat ecolocation, and more.
Go to review online