A Boy Called Bat

Cover for A Boy Called Bat
An adorable middle-grade novel about an autistic boy bound and determined to keep a skunk pet.

A Boy Called Bat

The first book in a funny, heartfelt, and irresistible young middle grade series starring an unforgettable young boy on the autism spectrum, from acclaimed author Elana K. Arnold and with illustrations by Charles Santoso. This chapter book is an excellent choice to share during homeschooling, in particular for children ages 6 to 8 who are ready to read independently. It’s a fun way to keep your child engaged and as a supplement for activity books for children.

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.

Practical information

Author: Elana K. Arnold
Publisher: HarperCollins (Walden Pond Press)
Publication year: 2017
ISBN: 9780062445827
Age category: middle grade
Disability portrayed: autism
Genre: contemporary

Accessible formats


audiobook available

Author

Elana K. Arnold

Elana K. Arnold is the author of critically acclaimed and award-winning young adult novels and children’s books, including the Printz Honor winner Damsel, the National Book Award finalist What Girls Are Made Of, and Global Read Aloud selection A Boy Called Bat and its sequels. Several of her books are Junior Library Guild selections and have appeared on many best book lists, including the Amelia Bloomer Project, a catalog of feminist titles for young readers. Elana teaches in Hamline University’s MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program and lives in Southern California with her family and menagerie of pets.

Bat’s autism is part of who he is, as intrinsic as his love of animals, his role as a younger brother, his affection for smooth yogurt — especially vanilla. In this way, his autism infuses the book.
(A Novel Mind, July 2019)