BITSY BAT, TEAM STAR
Bitsy Bat Series
By: Kaz Windness
Published: February 4, 2025
Publisher: Paula Wiseman Books/Simon & Schuster
Fiction
Bitsy Bat is excited to return to Crittercrawl Elementary and see all her friends. Her mom checks to make sure she has everything she needs: sunglasses, headphones, a snack, and she’s wearing her favorite sweater. Bitsy Bat needs her headphones because sometimes her classmates are too loud, and her sunglasses when it’s too bright.
At school, Bitsy finds out there will be a competition called the Critter Games where two teams will compete to see who is the best fliers. Bitsy has always been a fast flier. But this year, there is a new student, Enzo Owl, who speaks through a tablet or sign language and also flies really fast. Bitsy is worried she will no longer be the fantastic flier at Crittercrawl Elementary.
Bitsy and Enzo both have brains that are wired differently. They are neurodivergent, with Bitsy having trouble with loud noises and loss of control, while Enzo is nonspeaking and uses a communication tablet to speak along with sign language. In the story, Bitsy needs to spend some time in the sensory room because she has a meltdown. The sensory room helps to calm her down so she can move on to the next thing.
It’s likely that a child you know shares a classroom with a child who may identify as neurodivergent. This story helps kids understand what their autistic friend might be feeling and how to help them when they are close to having a meltdown or shutting down. It also shows there are a variety of issues facing neurodivergent students, and each one might need something different from their friends.
The illustrations and use of specific font sizes help the reader understand Bitsy and Enzo’s struggles as well as their excitement. The end of the book includes a glossary of terms about autism, along with definitions and examples such as stimming, shutdown, and parallel play. The author shares that she is autistic. In this second book in the Bitsy Bat series, the author shares another part of autism, including miscommunication and making/keeping friends, both things which are difficult for autistic children.
Overall, this story helps readers acknowledge that we all have differences that make us unique, and our various skills help us stand out and be part of a winning team.
Click HERE for various activity sheets and lesson plans
Kaz Windness is the Geisel award-winning, genre-crossing illustrator and author of funny and heart-warming books for young readers. Proudly neurodivergent (ASD/ADHD), Kaz specializes in character-driven books celebrating inclusivity, grit, and kindness. Kaz studied children’s book illustration at the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (RMCAD) where she was a valedictorian graduate in 2002. Kaz is passionate about helping artists succeed and believes education is key. She is a professor of illustration at RMCAD and founder of The Cuddlefish Academy, where she inspires students to tell stories with pictures. She lives in Colorado with her English teacher husband, two teen children, and a bunny-obsessed Boston Terrier named Remy. Kaz loves making deep-dish pizza from scratch and sketching animals at the zoo. Check out her website, HERE.
Click HERE to purchase a copy of BITSY BAT, TEAM STAR
Check out these Sensory Fidget Toys, perfect for calming your child and reducing stress and anxiety.
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Thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of this book for this review. This review is my honest opinion. If you choose to purchase through the above links, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase.
Posted Under Autism, Book Review, Children's books, Kaz Windness, fiction, neurodiversity