A BOY CALLED BAT

A BOY CALLED BAT by Elana K. Arnold. Illustrated by Charles Santoso

Recently I read aloud A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold to my 10-year-old. I had picked it up at the bookstore with her in mind because it involved the rescue of a sweet, skunk kit. (Yes it is possible for skunks to be sweet.) She loved it! While I knew loving the skunk was a given I didn't know how much we would enjoy the character of Bat, short for Bixby Alexander Tam. Bat is on the autism spectrum. He likes his room a certain way. He likes his life a certain way. He tends to be blunt with his words and struggles with making friends. Enter Thor the skunk. Bat's mom is a vet, so when an expecting skunk is hit by a car, she is able to save one kit. The little kit requires around the clock care and Bat is all in. What Bat doesn't know is how much this little animal is going to change his world! This is Book 1 in a series that I know my 10-year-old is chomping at the bit to continue.

HEADS UP- Just a couple minor notes: Bat's parents are divorced. Everything is very peaceful between them and there are no stepparents. Bat and his sister struggle in their relationship a little. Bat's tendencies can be annoying to her and she loses her patience at times with him.