“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
Thousands of children have passed through my classrooms over the years. I have a soft spot in my heart for those in this particular situation:
“Autism is considered a lifelong developmental disorder, but its diagnosis is based on a constellation of behavioral symptoms — social difficulties, fixated interests, obsessive or repetitive actions and unusually intense or dulled reactions to sensory stimulation — because no reliable bio-markers exist,” according to New York Times Magazine.
The Autism spectrum impacts the nervous system. The range and severity of symptoms can vary widely. Its conditions are characterized by challenges as well as by unique strengths and differences.
A Boy Called Bat by by Elana K. Arnold is the first book in a funny, heartfelt, and irresistible young middle grade series starring an unforgettable young boy on the autism spectrum.
For Bixby Alexander Tam (nicknamed Bat), life tends to be full of surprises—some of them good, some not so good. Today, though, is a good-surprise day. Bat’s mom, a veterinarian, has brought home a baby skunk, which she needs to take care of until she can hand him over to a wild-animal shelter.
But the minute Bat meets the kit, he knows they belong together. And he’s got one month to show his mom that a baby skunk might just make a pretty terrific pet.
“Brimming with quietly tender moments, subtle humor, and authentically rendered family dynamics,” wrote ALA Booklist, “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.”
There are many types of autism, caused by different combinations of genetic and environmental influences. The term “spectrum” reflects this wide variation in challenges and strengths possessed by each person with autism.
“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
This sweet story is easy to relate to. While it is very realistic, it doesn't come off like a lecture or a "how-not-to." The book just endearingly tells the story of a boy, his family, his teacher, and a most unlikely pet.
“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
A Boy Called Bat will help children understand autism and that everybody loves animals. This is a story about discovering what you want and proving you can go after it. It is about working things out with family and making friends.