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A Boy Called Bat
(OverDrive MP3 Audiobook, OverDrive Listen)

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Series:
Boy called BAT volume 1.
Published:
Walden Pond Press 2017
Accelerated Reader:
IL: LG - BL: 4.6 - AR Pts: 3
Lexile measure:
760L
Status:
Checked Out
Description

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).

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Format:
OverDrive MP3 Audiobook, OverDrive Listen
Edition:
Unabridged
Street Date:
03/14/2017
Language:
English
ISBN:
9780062661647
Accelerated Reader:
LG
Level 4.6, 3 Points
Lexile measure:
760
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Citations
APA Citation (style guide)

Elana K. Arnold. (2017). A Boy Called Bat. Unabridged Walden Pond Press.

Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation (style guide)

Elana K. Arnold. 2017. A Boy Called Bat. Walden Pond Press.

Chicago / Turabian - Humanities Citation (style guide)

Elana K. Arnold, A Boy Called Bat. Walden Pond Press, 2017.

MLA Citation (style guide)

Elana K. Arnold. A Boy Called Bat. Unabridged Walden Pond Press, 2017.

Note! Citation formats are based on standards as of July 2022. Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy.
Copy Details
LibraryOwnedAvailable
Shared Digital Collection10
Staff View
Grouped Work ID:
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Go To Grouped Work
Needs Update?:
No
Date Added:
Jun 12, 2018 16:19:44
Date Updated:
Feb 02, 2023 21:56:03
Last Metadata Check:
Mar 24, 2024 07:43:17
Last Metadata Change:
Feb 08, 2024 17:42:02
Last Availability Check:
Mar 24, 2024 07:43:20
Last Availability Change:
Mar 24, 2024 00:04:38
Last Grouped Work Modification Time:
Mar 29, 2024 02:17:20

OverDrive Product Record

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        Elana K. Arnold is the award-winning author of many books for children and teens, including The House That Wasn't There, the Printz Honor winner Damsel, the National Book Award finalist What Girls Are Made Of, and the Global Read Aloud selection A Boy Called Bat. She is a member of the faculty at Hamline University's MFA in writing for children and young adults program and lives in Long Beach, California, with her husband, two children, and a menagerie of animals. You can find her online at elanakarnold.com.

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imprint
Walden Pond Press
publishDate
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edition
Unabridged
isOwnedByCollections
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title
A Boy Called Bat
fullDescription

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).

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      • value: Grade 4
reviews
      • premium: True
      • source: AudioFile Magazine
      • content: 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. M.F.T. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine
      • premium: True
      • source: Publisher's Weekly
      • content:

        Starred review from January 23, 2017
        When Bat’s veterinarian mother brings home an infant skunk to foster for a month, Bat—a third grader on the autism spectrum—hopes to prove that he’s responsible enough to keep the skunk, Thor, as a pet. Written in third person, this engaging and insightful story makes readers intimately aware of what Bat is thinking and how he perceives the events and people in his life. With empathy and humor, Arnold (Far from Fair) delves into Bat’s relationships with his divorced parents, older sister, teachers, and classmates. In one tender scene, Bat braids his sister’s hair: “Getting along with people was hard for Bat. Figuring out what they meant when they said something, or when they made certain faces at him... People were complicated. But braiding was easy.” Bat’s supportive family and school encourage his strategies for navigating a confusing world, and Santoso’s b&w spot illustrations quietly speak to his isolation, as well as the way he takes to Thor. A budding friendship and open-ended questions about Thor’s future will spark anticipation for the next book in this planned series. Ages 6–10. Author’s agent: Rubin Pfeffer, Rubin Pfeffer Content. Illustrator’s agency: Shannon Associates.

      • premium: True
      • source: School Library Journal
      • content:

        November 1, 2016

        Gr 3-6-Bixby Alexander Tam, or Bat, has autism. He has a high need for structure; anything out of the ordinary causes him anxiety. When his mother, a vet, is late coming home from work one day, Bat is panicked. His mother explains she has a good reason, and tells him about the baby skunk she has brought home. The mother skunk did not survive a car accident, but Bat's mom was able to save the kit, and they will raise him at home for a month until he is old enough to be released to a wild animal shelter. Bat, who wants to be a vet himself someday, is fascinated by the kit, named Thor by his sister. Feeling that no one will be able to care for Thor as well as he can, Bat tries to find a way to convince his mother to keep the kit as a pet. This tender novel starts out slowly, focusing on Bat's frequent frustration. Arnold shows more than tells, crafting a nuanced character. Readers learn that Bat goes to a school that values his uniqueness and works with him on interpersonal dynamics like developing an awareness of other people's feelings, empathy, and friendship. Midway through the book, the pacing picks up. Bat's relationships with his teacher and a vet at his mother's clinic are particularly enjoyable and add humor to the novel. Santoso's illustrations, appearing about once a chapter, add warmth. Short chapters and a straightforward plot make this a good candidate for reluctant readers. VERDICT The challenges facedby kids like Bat are often underrepresented in children's literature; this is a refreshing depiction. Readers will appreciate this funny and thoughtful novel.-Juliet Morefield, Multnomah CountyLibrary, OR

        Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

      • premium: True
      • source: Kirkus
      • content:

        December 15, 2016
        A third-grader becomes fascinated with an orphaned skunk kit and wages a campaign to convince his veterinarian mom that their family should care for the animal until it can be released to the wild. Bixby Alexander Tam is known as Bat. In many ways his experiences are quite ordinary. He squabbles with his older sister and navigates the complications of his parents' divorce. He doesn't always like following school rules, and he loves animals. Arnold's sensitive but matter-of-fact description of some of Bat's behaviors, however, make it clear that he isn't entirely neurotypical. When he's nervous he repeats certain actions, like sucking on his shirt or flapping his hands. His mom notes that he has difficulty with eye contact, and a prospective friend has to work hard to connect with him. These details, along with others about family members and his multicultural classmates, bring the characters to life and contribute to the lively and engaging plot. The decision not to use labels to classify any of the characters (except the skunk, which Bat notes belongs to the family Mephitidae) encourages all readers to enjoy and connect with the events and emotions that ring true for them. In Santoso's appealing illustrations, Bat and his sister share their dad's dark, straight hair; the whole family has fair skin. Comfortably familiar and quietly groundbreaking, this introduction to Bat should charm readers, who will likely look forward to more opportunities to explore life from Bat's particular point of view. (Fiction. 7-10)

        COPYRIGHT(2016) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

      • premium: True
      • source: Booklist
      • content:

        February 15, 2017
        Grades 1-4 This charming tale of newfound friendship in a pint-size package introduces third-grader Bixby Alexander Tam. Bat, nicknamed for his sensitivity to sound, sometimes fluttery hands, and, of course, initials, covets two things above all else: order (crustless sandwiches, freshly stocked vanilla yogurts, expertly organized dresser drawers) and animals. So when Bat's veterinarian mom returns home with an orphaned skunk kit, it becomes Bat's mission to not only meticulously care for it but also keep itfor good. With a rescue center willing to rehabilitate the skunk in four weeks' time, Bat must hustle to prove himself a worthy caretaker. Brimming with quietly tender moments (Bat braiding his sister's hair or examining the kit's black eyes), subtle humor, and authentically rendered family dynamics, Arnold's story, the first in a new series, offers a nonprescriptive and deeply heartfelt glimpse into the life of a boy on the autism spectrum. Youngsters will empathize with Bat's adventures and revel in the endearing illustrations that accompany them. As Bat would say, this one's all the way great. Final art not seen.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)

      • premium: True
      • source: The Horn Book
      • content:

        January 1, 2018
        Third grader Bixby Alexander Tam (a.k.a. "Bat") loves animals, so when his veterinarian mother brings home an injured skunk, he's in heaven. Bat's love for the skunk, Thor, allows the boy to shine and connect with others in a world that often feels inaccessible to him because of his (implied) autism. A warm pet story starring a compassionately depicted atypical child. Sweet halftone illustrations are included.

        (Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

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shortDescription

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...

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series
Bat
publisher
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      • description: JUVENILE FICTION / Disabilities