A BOY CALLED BAT by Elana K. Arnold
I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and Libro.fm, online retailers that support independent booksellers. If you make a purchase by clicking through the links in this post, I will receive a commission. For more information, see my “About” page.
Bat got his name because his initials are B. A. T. But it stuck because of the way Bat flaps his arms when he gets excited or overwhelmed. And because of his extra sensitive hearing, which sometimes requires him to wear earmuffs. It’s okay with him because a bat is an animal, and Bat loves animals. When he grows up, he is going to be a vet like his mom. When his mom brings home a newborn skunk kit, Bat is ecstatic. It will be a perfect pet! There are only two problems. First, Bat still has to spend Every Other Fridays at his dad’s house, which is bad both because it breaks up his normal routine and takes time away from the kit. And second, his mom says they have to turn the kit over to a skunk rescue in a month. Bat can’t change Every Other Fridays, but he embarks on a mission to change his mom’s mind about the skunk rescue. Step One: contact international skunk expert Dr. Jerry Dragoo.
A sweet story about a boy’s love for his pet and struggle to find a place in his community. This novel will be best for readers who have graduated from transitional to full-fledged chapter books (typically grades 3-4).
Susan the Librarian 