Bat and the Waiting Game

In the tradition of Clementine and Ramona Quimby, meet Bat. Author Elana K. Arnold returns with another irresistible story of friendship in this widely acclaimed series starring an unforgettable boy on the autism spectrum.

For Bixby Alexander Tam (nicknamed Bat), life is pretty great. He’s the caretaker of the best baby skunk in the world—even Janie, his older sister, is warming up to Thor.

When Janie gets a part in the school play and can’t watch Bat after school, it means some pretty big changes. Someone else has to take care of the skunk kit in the afternoons, Janie is having sleepovers with her new friends, and Bat wants everything to go back to normal.

He just has to make it to the night of Janie’s performance. . . .

• A Neurodivergent Hero: Meet Bat, a kid on the autism spectrum who loves logic, routine, and his baby skunk, Thor.
• Relatable Sibling Conflict: When his older sister Janie gets a role in the school play, Bat’s entire after-school routine is turned upside down.
• Making a New Friend: With his routine in chaos, Bat finds an unexpected ally and friend in his classmate, Israel.
• Social Emotional Learning: A gentle and heartwarming story that explores empathy, understanding, and how to make things right after a big mistake.

A winsome blend of humor and heart, vibrant characters, and laugh-out-loud dialogue. Arnold’s narrative also gracefully explores life through the eyes of a boy on the autism spectrum.  The ever-lovable Bat is sure to resonate with readers of all ages. - Booklist Online

“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 delves into Bat’s relationships with his divorced parents, older sister, teachers, and classmates.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“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.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Brimming with quietly tender moments, 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.” - ALA Booklist

“A Boy Called Bat is sensitive, sweet, and super fun. I read this book with the biggest smile on my face.” - Corinne Duyvis, author of Otherbound

“Delightful. This humorous follow-up is even stronger than its predecessor and will leave readers hoping for a third book featuring Bat and his family.” - School Library Journal

“A gentle tale of shared similarities rather than differences that divide and a fine read-aloud with a useful but not didactic message of acceptance.”  - Kirkus Reviews

Praise for A Boy Called Bat: “A Boy Called Bat will help children understand autism and that everybody loves animals.” - Temple Grandin, author of Animals In Translation

“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