A Boy Called Bat
by Elana K. Arnold
Age Range: 6 -
10 years
Grade Level: 1 -
5
Series: A Boy
Called Bat
Hardcover: 208
pages
Publisher:
Walden Pond Press (March 14, 2017)
Language:
English
ISBN-10:
0062445820
ISBN-13:
978-0062445827
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.
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A Boy Called Bat is a delightful chapter
book for children ranging in age from 6-10 that is about a young boy named
Bixby Alexander Tam (Bat for short) who is on the autism spectrum. He is super smart, loves animals, and is very
kind, but his mind works differently than other kids and people around
him. From loud noises to ‘every other
weekend’, Bat is challenged daily, but thankfully he has his family and other people
to help him.
One day,
his mother (a veterinarian) brings home a newborn baby skunk that she helped
saved after the mother skunk got hit by a car. She only plans to take care of it until she
can get the baby to a rescue organization and she is counting on Bat to help
her. Bat is over the moon excited about
this baby skunk and wants to love it, and pet it, and name it Thor. Although
Bat’s mother has told him that they will not be able to keep the skunk, Bat is
a determined little boy and tries to enlist the help of Dr. Jerry Dragoo who
runs the Dragoo Institute for the Betterment of Skunks and Skunk Reputations. (And
yes, this is a real place. You can visit
the website at www.dragoo.org to find out
all about skunks!) Anywho…. Bat is certain that if he gets Dr. Dragoo’s letter
of endorsement, his mother will surely let him keep baby Thor. Will his plan work? Well, you will just have to pick up this adorable
book and find out!
A Boy Called Bat is an excellent
story for children as well as adults that will keep the reader engaged
throughout – not only to find out if Bat gets to keep the skunk, but also witnessing
him tip-toe out of his comfort zone to make new friends. There are super cute
illustrations throughout and the writing is simplistic enough for any young
child to read. I’m glad that I got to
spend some time with Bat, and I assure you that you will as well.
4 stars
Sometimes Bat wished that Janie went to
his school, because it would be kind of neat to see her in the hallways and at
lunchtime, but most of the time he was glad that his school was something he
didn’t have to share with her. Janie attended the Robert E. Willett Elementary
School, but this was her last year. Next fall she would be going to junior high
school.
Bat
went to a private school. It had smaller classes than the public school, and
his parents thought it was a “better fit for him,” which was fine with Bat. Mr.
Grayson was a good teacher who never yelled and who usually let Bat wear his
earmuffs if things got too loud. Also, his school—the Saw Whet School—was named
after a type of owl.
The
main hallway of the Saw Whet School was a busy place until 8:35 a.m., when
class officially started. Until then, it was full of parents walking the
younger kids (those in kindergarten and first grade) to their classrooms and
older kids walking themselves, all while the principal, Mrs. Martinez, stood
outside of the administration office, smiling and being friendly.
“Bat!”
called Mrs. Martinez, waving and smiling.
Bat
didn’t feel like talking to Mrs. Martinez, so he pretended he didn’t see her
and slid to the far side of the hallway as he passed. That way she couldn’t
reach out and rumple his hair.
Bat
hated it when people rumpled his hair, and Mrs. Martinez loved to rumple hair.
She had never yet rumpled his hair,
and Bat wanted to keep it that way.
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Photo Credit Melissa Hockenberger
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