Genre or Category
Disability & Differences
Target Age Group
PreK – 2nd Grade
Summary
The day has come for Bitsy Bat to start school and even though she practiced with her parents she quickly learns that certain things can be challenging when you’re autistic and need to do things a little different than neurotypical brains. With the help of her supportive family, she finds ways to accommodate her needs and becomes a shining star.
Justification
I selected this book because I felt it was accurate in its representation of autism. The author includes a note to the reader about her struggles with autism as well. Young children will be able to see through Bitsy Bat’s eyes what it’s like to go to school when you’re on the spectrum. Autism might be difficult for children this age to understand but seeing Bitsy Bat struggle with lights and sounds to the point of a meltdown can help them experience empathy, and autistic children can identify with her and her story.
Evaluation
For this review, I will be evaluating character, theme, and illustrations.
This story is about Bitsy Bat, an autistic bat who is struggling to adapt to school. I always love animal friends as the main characters in children’s books, and this sweet little bat has won my heart. Bitsy Bat is such a unique and believable character. I fell in love with her from page one. It’s heartbreaking to watch her struggle through her first day of school when she’s just being herself. It was so annoying when one of her classmates kept telling her she was doing everything wrong—I could feel her frustration. And when she did not want to go back to school because she didn’t fit it? It broke my heart. It was such a win to see her find support and accommodation and become the shining school star in the end!
I adore the theme of this book—we all have something that makes us special. Some people might see autism as negative but Bitsy Bat shows us that those are the things that make her unique. She is a Big Star meant for Big Star things! Stars are her special interest, and they are woven throughout the story from her dream of being a star to the stars she brings to class, until she finally becomes the school star. It can be so impactful for a young child on the spectrum to see representation in Bitsy Bat. Others can experience empathy with Bity’s story and everything she must overcome. The back of the book includes a note from the author and a page about autism that explains what it means to be neurodivergent, and things like meltdowns and stimming.
The illustrations do a good job of enhancing the story. Showing Bitsy Bat’s despair when she tries to sit upright, paint with her hands, and even eat her lunch but is told it’s all wrong, you can see the defeat and sadness on her face. It’s in her eyes, her wings, and her stature—she’s given up. The illustrations show the sticky paint on her wings that overstimulate her and I felt it too. The different color paint splotches are drawn like little irritating blobs that she can certainly feel. The next day she looks so much happier with her glasses and headphones. The joy is all over her face, which brings joy to reader—seeing her shine.
References
Windness, K. (2023). Bitsy bat school star. Simon & Schuster.