Bixby Alexander Tam, known to everyone as Bat, finds people to be quite complicated. He loves his mother and father and his older sister Janie, but he doesn't always understand them, and they don't always understand him.
Bat loves facts, especially facts about animals. He is easily upset when things don't go exactly according to plan. When he is upset or nervous, he flaps his arms and jiggles his foot. Some people think Bat is weird, but Bat just carries on being Bat since that is who he is.
One wonderful day Bat's mother, a veterinarian, brings home a baby skunk called a kit. The skunk's mother was killed and only he survived. Bat is immediately intrigued by the tiny animal. He decides to find out all he can about skunks so he can convince his mother that he should be able to keep the kit as a pet. He learns to feed and clean the little fellow, and he researches information written by a famous skunk expert, Dr. Jerry Dragoo. His teacher even helps him email Dr. Dragoo.
It isn't easy taking care of Thor, named by Bat's sister. Every other weekend Bat and Janie have to visit their father in his apartment, and Bat's mother won't allow him to take Thor along. It is difficult to leave him behind as Bat realizes he loves the little skunk, maybe as much as he loves his family. Can Bat convince his mother not to send the skunk kit to the wild animal rescue people? Can he be the best skunk caretaker in the world?
Author Elana K. Arnold's A BOY CALLED BAT is a wonderful, inspiring book about a special boy and his special pet. Readers will get a realistic glimpse into the world of autism as they get to know Bat and all his peculiarities. It would be a perfect read-aloud for elementary classrooms everywhere.
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