Description

In the tradition of Clementine and Ramona Quimby, meet Bat. Author Elana K. Arnold returns with another irresistible story of friendship in this Schneider Award Honor-winning series starring an unforgettable boy on the autism spectrum.

For Bixby Alexander Tam (nicknamed Bat), life is pretty great. He’s the caretaker of the best baby skunk in the world—even Janie, his older sister, is warming up to Thor.

When Janie gets a part in the school play and can’t watch Bat after school, it means some pretty big changes. Someone else has to take care of the skunk kit in the afternoons, Janie is having sleepovers with her new friends, and Bat wants everything to go back to normal.

He just has to make it to the night of Janie’s performance. . . .

Elana K. Arnold's Bat series is a proven winner in the home and classroom—kids love these short illustrated young middle grade books. Other books include A Boy Called Bat, Bat and the End of Everything, and Bat and the Business of Ferrets.


  • Sibling Relationships: Janie’s big moment is Bat’s biggest challenge. He loves his sister, but he loves his routine even more.
  • A Neurodivergent Hero: Experience the world through the eyes of Bat, a thoughtful and caring boy on the autism spectrum who is learning to adapt to a changing world.
  • Making New Friends: When his life is disrupted, Bat spends more time with his classmate Israel, discovering what it means to be a best friend.
  • Empathy and Understanding: A gentle and heartwarming story that helps young readers understand different perspectives and the importance of saying you’re sorry.

About the author(s)

Elana K. Arnold is the award-winning author of many books for children and teens, including the Sydney Taylor and National Jewish Book Award winner The Blood Years, the Printz Honor winner Damsel, the National Book Award finalist What Girls Are Made Of, and the Global Read Aloud selection A Boy Called Bat. She lives in Long Beach, California, with her husband, two children, and a menagerie of animals. You can find her online at elanakarnold.com.

Charles Santoso loves drawing little things in his little journal and dreams about funny, wondrous stories. He moves around between different countries to live and work. Charles is always on the lookout for bookstores and cats whenever he explores a new place. He is the illustrator of several picture books, including Ida, Always, I Will Read to You, and Dear Unicorn. You can visit him at charlessantoso.com.

Reviews

A winsome blend of humor and heart, vibrant characters, and laugh-out-loud dialogue. Arnold’s narrative also gracefully explores life through the eyes of a boy on the autism spectrum.  The ever-lovable Bat is sure to resonate with readers of all ages. - Booklist Online

“Written in third person, this engaging and insightful story makes readers intimately aware of what Bat is thinking and how he perceives the events and people in his life. With empathy and humor, Arnold delves into Bat’s relationships with his divorced parents, older sister, teachers, and classmates.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Comfortably familiar and quietly groundbreaking, this introduction to Bat should charm readers, who will likely look forward to more opportunities to explore life from Bat’s particular point of view.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Brimming with quietly tender moments, subtle humor, and authentically rendered family dynamics, Arnold’s story, the first in a new series, offers a nonprescriptive and deeply heartfelt glimpse into the life of a boy on the autism spectrum.” - ALA Booklist

“A Boy Called Bat is sensitive, sweet, and super fun. I read this book with the biggest smile on my face.” - Corinne Duyvis, author of Otherbound

“Delightful. This humorous follow-up is even stronger than its predecessor and will leave readers hoping for a third book featuring Bat and his family.” - School Library Journal

“A gentle tale of shared similarities rather than differences that divide and a fine read-aloud with a useful but not didactic message of acceptance.”  - Kirkus Reviews

Praise for A Boy Called Bat: “A Boy Called Bat will help children understand autism and that everybody loves animals.” - Temple Grandin, author of Animals In Translation

“Delightful, endearing, and utterly relatable, Bat Tam is destined to be a dear and necessary friend for young readers. I adore him and his story.” - Anne Ursu, author of The Real Boy

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