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.
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.
This sweet and thoughtful novel chronicles Bat's experiences and challenges at school with friends and teachers and at home with his sister and divorced parents. Approachable for younger or reluctant readers while still delivering a powerful and thoughtful story (from the review by Brightly.com, which named A Boy Called Bat a best book of 2017).
About the Author :
Elana K Arnold is the author of many books for and about children and teens, including Printz Honor winner Damsel, National Book Award finalist and Golden Kite winner 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. You can visit her online at elanakarnold.com.
Patrick Lawlor, an award-winning narrator, is also an accomplished stage actor, director, and combat choreographer. He has worked extensively off Broadway and has been an actor and stuntman in both film and television. He has been an Audie Award finalist multiple times and has garnered several AudioFile Earphones Awards, a Publishers Weekly Listen-Up Award, and many starred audio reviews from Library Journal and Kirkus Reviews.
Review :
Delightful, endearing, and utterly relatable, Bat Tam is destined to be a dear and necessary friend for young readers. I adore him and his story.
-- "Anne Ursu, author of The Real Boy"
Patrick Lawlor charmingly narrates this heartwarming story of Bixby Alexander Tam-otherwise known as Bat-an autistic third grader who bonds with an orphan skunk brought home by his mom, a veterinarian. Lawlor skillfully navigates the family dynamics, raising the pitch and speed of Bat's voice to show his frustration when his sister eats the last vanilla yogurt, then slowing to a soothing calm as his mother explains why she's late getting home. Lawlor captures Bat's emotional range perfectly-from his raw enthusiasm at caring for a real animal to the affection he shows in his conversations with the skunk's kit. The more Bat learns about skunk care, the less anxious his voice becomes, showing his maturity in dealing with this new situation.
-- "AudioFile"
