Like other volumes in the We Both Read series, this book invites parents and children to share the experience, each reading the text on one side of a double-page spread. Here the text introduces a little brown bat named Brownie, tells about her life, and mentions a few other species as well. While each parent's page includes several sentences of information, the facing child's page carries a brief phrase or a short sentence in very large print. Almost every spread includes one or two large illustrations, either photos, paintings, or both. In one painting with people, the figure drawing is awkward, but Smith's illustrations of bats, insects, and landscapes are more assured and attractive. The book opens with a note explaining the series' concept to parents and suggesting ways to help children engage with the text and learn to read more fluently. A useful addition to collections for beginning readers.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2014 Booklist