First Impressions How do you feel about bats? Do you find them scary or weird? What about spiders? Do they give you the “creepy crawlies”? People often have misconceptions about wildlife based on inaccurate stereotypes. While bats, spiders and other “scary” wildlife may not be cute and cuddly, they are important contributors to healthy ecosystems. Use Project WILD’s “First Impressions” to learn more about wildlife that is often feared and misunderstood.

Young Child Extension
Follow the listed activity by showing children pictures of different “scary” animals. Ask them how the animals make them feel. Why? As a class pick one of the animals to explore further. Read books, take a walk to find them in nature, or even have a County Conservation Board Naturalist bring an animal or activity to your class. Learn all you can about the animal and how it contributes to a healthy ecosystem. Scary doesn’t mean bad!

Book List
Grades PreK-2
Arnosky, J. 2009. Slither and Crawl: Eye to Eye with Reptiles.
Boutiller, J. 2005. Pigs Aren't Dirty, Bears Aren't Slow: And Other Truths about Misunderstood Animals. Annick Press, Limited.
Burns, D. and L. Garrow. Frogs, Toads, and Turtles (Take-Along Guide). NorthWord Books for Young Readers.
Cannon, J. 1993. Stellaluna. Harcourt Children's Books.
Cronin, D. and H. Bliss. 2005. Diary of a Spider. HarperCollins Publishers.
DK Publishing. 2007. Backyard Bugs. DK Publishing, Inc.
Dorros, A. 1988. Ant Cities (Let's Read and Find Out Science2). HarperCollins Publishers.
Earle, A. 1995. Zipping, Zapping, Zooming Bats. HarperTrophy.
Fredericks, A.D. 2001. Under One Rock: Bugs, Slugs and Other Ughs. Dawn Publications.
Fredericks, A.D. 2006. On One Flower: Butterflies, Ticks and a Few More Icks. Dawn Publications.
Graham, M. B. 1967. Be Nice to Spiders. HarperCollins Publishers.
Gibbons, G. 2000. Bats. Holiday House.
McDermott, G. 1987. Anansi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti. Henry Holt & Company, Inc.
Milton, J. 1994. Bats and Other Animals of the Night. Random House, Incorporated.
Monks, L. 2007. Aaaarrgghh! Spider! Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Pallotta, J. and R. Masiello. 1990. The Icky Bug Alphabet. Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc.
Pallotta, J. and R. Massiello. 1989. The Yucky Reptile Alphabet Book. Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc.
Priddy, R. and J. Rigg. 2004. I Love Animals: Wild, Scary, Cute or Cuddly, We Love Them All. St. Martin's Press.
Pringle, L., and M. Henderson. 2000.0Bats!: Strange and Wonderful. Boyd Mills Press.
Sill, C. 2003. About Arachnids: A Guide for Children. Peachtree Publishers.
Simon, S. 1987. Animal Fact, Animal Fable. Random House Children's Books.
Simon, S. 1994. Snakes. HarperCollins Publishers.
Waldrop, V.H., D. Anker, and E.B. Blizard. 1988. Unhuggables: The Truth about Snakes, Slugs, Skunks, Spiders, and Other Animals That Are Hard to Love. National Wildlife Federation.

Grades 3-5
Baraclough, S. 2005. Bugs: The World's Most Terrifying Insects. Backpack Books.
Behler, J.L. 1999. Reptiles (Audubon Society First Field Guide Series). Scholastic, Inc.
Bernard, R. 2001. Insects. National Geographic Society.
Boutiller, J. 2005. Pigs Aren't Dirty, Bears Aren't Slow: And Other Truths about Misunderstood Animals. Annick Press, Limited.
Cronin, D. and H. Bliss. 2005. Diary of a Spider. HarperCollins Publishers.
Fredericks, A.D. 2001. Under One Rock: Bugs, Slugs and Other Ughs. Dawn Publications.
Fredericks, A.D. 2006. On One Flower: Butterflies, Ticks and a Few More Icks. Dawn Publications.
Gibbons, T. 1997. Mosquitoes. Gareth Stevens Publishing.
Gilpin, D., B. Hersey, and D. Salariya. 2004. Bats (Scary Creatures Series). Scholastic Library Publishing.
Graham, M. B. 1967. Be Nice to Spiders. HarperCollins Publishers.
McDermott, G. 1987. Anansi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti. Henry Holt & Company, Inc.
Monks, L. 2007. Aaaarrgghh! Spider! Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Murawski, D. 2004. Spiders and Their Webs. National Geographic Society.
Pallotta, J. and R. Masiello. 1990. The Icky Bug Alphabet. Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc.
Patent, D. 2003. Slinky, Scaley, Slithering Snakes. Walker.
Pringle, L., and M. Henderson. 2000.0Bats!: Strange and Wonderful. Boyd Mills Press.
Pringle, L. 2004. Snakes! Strange and Wonderful. Boyds Mills Press.
Sussman, S. 1987. Lies (people believe) About Animals. Albert Whitman.
Waldrop, V.H., D. Anker, and E.B. Blizard. 1988. Unhuggables: The Truth about Snakes, Slugs, Skunks, Spiders, and Other Animals That Are Hard to Love. National Wildlife Federation.
Winner, C. 2004. Everything Bug: What Kids Really Want to Know About Insects and Spiders. T&N Children’s Publishing.

Grades 6-8
Carson, M. K., and T. Uhlman. 2010. The Bat Scientists. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Cronin, D. and H. Bliss. 2005. Diary of a Spider. HarperCollins Publishers.
Fredericks, A.D. 2001. Under One Rock: Bugs, Slugs and Other Ughs. Dawn Publications.
Fredericks, A.D. 2006. On One Flower: Butterflies, Ticks and a Few More Icks. Dawn Publications.
McDermott, G. 1987. Anansi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti. Henry Holt & Company, Inc.
Monks, L. 2007. Aaaarrgghh! Spider! Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Pallotta, J. and R. Masiello. 1990. The Icky Bug Alphabet. Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc.
Patent, D. 2003. Slinky, Scaley, Slithering Snakes. Walker.
Pringle, L. 2004. Snakes! Strange and Wonderful. Boyds Mills Press.
Sussman, S. 1987. Lies (people believe) About Animals. Albert Whitman.
Sway, M. 1999. Bats: Mammals That Fly. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Waldrop, V.H., D. Anker, and E.B. Blizard. 1988. Unhuggables: The Truth about Snakes, Slugs, Skunks, Spiders, and Other Animals That Are Hard to Love. National Wildlife Federation.

Grades 9-12
Carson, M. K., and T. Uhlman. 2010. The Bat Scientists. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Shedd, W. 2001. Owls Aren't Wise & Bats Aren't Blind: A Naturalist Debunks Our Favorite Fallacies About Wildlife. Crown Publishing Group.
Tait, M. 2006. Animal Tragic: Popular Misconceptions of Wildlife Through the Centuries. Think Books.

Links
Bats Live: A Distance Learning Adventure
http://batslive.pwnet.org./

10 scary animals that are totally harmless
http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/photos/10-scary-animals-that-are-totally-harmless/dont-judge-a-book-by-its-cov

Top 10 Misunderstood Creatures
http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-misunderstood-creatures.php