A Boy Called Bat: Heartwarming Story of a Boy and his Pet Skunk (The Bat Series, 1)

Elana K. Arnold has written a delightful book that I really enjoyed reading. But I also found it an important book because the main character is what many would call neurodiverse or to be more specific: autistic. While that is not stated specifically, it becomes clear in Bat's behavior that communicating with others is difficult for him. One thing that I especially appreciated is that Bat's difficulties are portrayed as just a natural part of him that he and his family live and work with. Bat's challenges aren't made out to be all there is to him. Bat's love for and fascination with animals shines through loud and clear as Bat tries to persuade his mom to let him care for an orphaned baby skunk until it's time to return it to the wild. The interactions between Bat and his classmates (he does go to a private school) and Bat and his sister Janie feel natural and real both the good and the bad. In addition to having realistic characters and believable situations in regard to Bat, there is also the fact that Bat's parents are divorced and he spends every other weekend with his Dad. I loved how real this whole story felt and the way the animal facts and Bat's challenges are so beautifully woven together. This is a book that I think ALL elementary libraries should have and a great one for personal collections as well. Definitely going on my shelf of favorites.

My niece was sooo happy to get this book. She loves the whole series

Omg! So I am neurodivergent and I work with neurodivergent kids and this book made me so incredibly happy! It’s so well written and the way the author lets us step into Bats head is one of a kind!

My 10 year old daughter LOVES this book and has read & listened to the audiobook several times now.

I recently read this book aloud to my son (an 8-year-old affected by ASD) as a bedtime story. At a pace of a few chapters each night, it took us about a week. This is a book that my son could have easily read independently; I'd guess that this story would be accessible to most kids reading around a third grade level. From my perspective, this was a sweet (though not especially exciting or gripping) peek into the mind and life of a child with "high-functioning" autism. The author never explicitly states that the main character, Bat, is on the spectrum, but she devotes a lot of time to implying that he is by describing symptomatic behaviors and characteristics. To me, the thin plot made the story feel a bit flat, but I think that was one reason why my son loved it; the relative lack of conflict and tension makes the story feel comforting and stable. My son really identified with Bat and frequently became excited by all of their commonalities: a love for animals and facts about animals, divorced parents and the disruptions caused by shared custody, anxiety and sensory sensitivities, difficulty connecting with peers...even the sibling relationship between Bat and his neurotypical older sister. It was as if Bat had become the friend that my son has yet to make, and I know that reading about him made my child feel less isolated in the world. For that reason alone, this book was well worth the purchase. I really love seeing a kiddo like Bat (and my own son) represented in children's literature, and I feel that the author did a wonderful job of portraying his quirks and needs in a fair, compassionate, and affirming manner. I'd definitely recommend this story to animal-loving kids who are (or know/love someone who is) affected by Aspergers-like ASD. Readers who do not fall within that specific category may have a little trouble feeling engaged by this particular book, but it was perfect for us.

This is a fabulous book. My third graders love it!

Great book to read aloud at night time. Great storyline, good discussion points and able to relate topics for both 9 and 5 year olds. We will start the next book in the series!

I read this book with my 8-year old third grader who has ASD --very verbal, loves and excels at math and science, but has trouble with social skills. The author does such a good job of capturing in detail the behaviors of the protagonist in this book--the 3rd grader named Bat whose mom is a vet and they raise a baby skunk. The book prompted so many discussions with my kid and captured all the challenges he has making friends and understanding idioms, etc. The next 2 books in the series are really great too.