Murcielita

Bats are our friends, and we shouldn’t be afraid of them. They eat insects and pollinate plants, too, just like the birds, the bees and other animals and insects. There are millions of bats on Earth, over a thousand species, but here you will meet just three of them: Murcielita, Fred and Joe. Read their story to find out what happens when these three friends go exploring. Bilingual story in English and Spanish. Promotes environmental awareness.

Author Biography

RALPH DESSAU (1928-2016) was born in Copenhagen, Denmark. In 1953, he graduated with a Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from the Technical University of Copenhagen and received a Fulbright Fellowship, which enabled him to spend a year at Stanford University and another year at the California Institute of Technology. Upon his return to Denmark in 1955, he married Carmen, his wife of more than 58 years, and started his career in the International Petroleum Industry, which lasted for 30 years. During this time, he also wrote The Hummingbirds of Caracas and produced a movie, In Defense of the Sea. In 2005, Ralph moved to Boquete, Panama, where he wrote Flying Jewels, about the hummingbirds of Panama; Rubilito, the Traveling Hummingbird; Monarquita the Migratory Butterfly; and Murcielita, his fifth book. As an avid photographer, over the years, Ralph devoted his spare time to his favorite hobby: photographing hummingbirds, butterflies and when he was lucky, a few bats. ANDREA SAROYA (AKA Andrea E. Alvarado) has been drawing since she was three years old. At first, a normal thing for any kid, the difference is, she never stopped. The beautiful jungles and beaches of her home country Panama and the clear star-lit nights she encountered in Taos, New Mexico, USA, many years ago, inspire her. She became a Children’s Book Illustrator because it gives her the freedom to imagine, to use colors in many ways and be humorous as well. You can checkout her work at www.andreasaroya.com.