Bitsy Bat, School Star (The Bitsy Bat Series) (Hardcover)
July/August 2023 Kids Indie Next List
“This is a wonderful story about embracing our differences and teaching others that they can be okay. While it’s got an important message, it’s also an adorable, sweet story, with illustrations that will keep your young readers engaged.”
— Anna Brown, Katy Budget Books, Houston, TX
Staff Reviews
Such a cute story about embracing your uniqueness. Sweet neurodivergent character. *First time at school/ Back to school *neurodivergent
— From Dani's Picks
Three starred reviews!
A little bat struggles to fit in only to learn to celebrate differences in this “darling book for all children but especially those with autism” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) about starting school, making friends, and seeing what makes each person special.
Bitsy is a little bat with big star dreams of making friends at her new school. But when she arrives, Bitsy doesn’t feel like she fits in. The other kids sit on their chairs, but sitting upright makes Bitsy dizzy. The other kids paint with their fingers, but Bitsy would rather use her toes. Everyone tells Bitsy she’s doing things wrong-wrong-wrong, so she tries harder…and ends up having a five-star meltdown.
Now Bitsy feels like a very small star and doesn’t want to go back to school. But with help from her family, Bitsy musters her courage, comes up with a new plan, and discovers that being a good friend is just one of the ways she shines bright!
Backmatter includes a More About Autism facts page, making this “a particularly helpful resource for all kids” (BookPage, starred review).
A little bat struggles to fit in only to learn to celebrate differences in this “darling book for all children but especially those with autism” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) about starting school, making friends, and seeing what makes each person special.
Bitsy is a little bat with big star dreams of making friends at her new school. But when she arrives, Bitsy doesn’t feel like she fits in. The other kids sit on their chairs, but sitting upright makes Bitsy dizzy. The other kids paint with their fingers, but Bitsy would rather use her toes. Everyone tells Bitsy she’s doing things wrong-wrong-wrong, so she tries harder…and ends up having a five-star meltdown.
Now Bitsy feels like a very small star and doesn’t want to go back to school. But with help from her family, Bitsy musters her courage, comes up with a new plan, and discovers that being a good friend is just one of the ways she shines bright!
Backmatter includes a More About Autism facts page, making this “a particularly helpful resource for all kids” (BookPage, starred review).
Kaz Windness is an author-illustrator who loves to make her readers laugh. When she’s not writing or illustrating books, Kaz teaches illustration at the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design and enjoys making deep-dish pizza. Kaz lives in Denver, Colorado, with her husband, two children, and Boston terrier. She’s the author of picture books Swim, Jim! and Bitsy Bat, School Star. She also created the Level 1 Ready-to-Read Graphics Worm and Caterpillar Are Friends and the Level 1 Ready-to-Reads Cat vs. Vac and Go! Go! Dino!. Visit her at WindnessBooks.com.
Kaz Windness is an author-illustrator who loves to make her readers laugh. When she’s not writing or illustrating books, Kaz teaches illustration at the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design and enjoys making deep-dish pizza. Kaz lives in Denver, Colorado, with her husband, two children, and Boston terrier. She’s the author of picture books Swim, Jim! and Bitsy Bat, School Star. She also created the Level 1 Ready-to-Read Graphics Worm and Caterpillar Are Friends and the Level 1 Ready-to-Reads Cat vs. Vac and Go! Go! Dino!. Visit her at WindnessBooks.com.
Kaz Windness is an author-illustrator who loves to make her readers laugh. When she’s not writing or illustrating books, Kaz teaches illustration at the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design and enjoys making deep-dish pizza. Kaz lives in Denver, Colorado, with her husband, two children, and Boston terrier. She’s the author of picture books Swim, Jim! and Bitsy Bat, School Star. She also created the Level 1 Ready-to-Read Graphics Worm and Caterpillar Are Friends and the Level 1 Ready-to-Reads Cat vs. Vac and Go! Go! Dino!. Visit her at WindnessBooks.com.
* "Every young reader, autistic or not, will likely identify with many of Bitsy’s feelings....Windness’ dusk-toned art plays up Bitsy’s batlike behavior in clever ways, and the author-illustrator’s personal note, as well as a footnote containing additional facts about autism, make Bitsy Bat, School Star a particularly helpful resource for all kids."
— BookPage, STARRED REVIEW
* "A thought-provoking story of inclusion to share beyond the first day of school; every library will want to purchase this book."
— School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
"A winningly inclusive conclusion."
— Publishers Weekly
* "A darling book for all children but especially those with autism."
— Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
— BookPage, STARRED REVIEW
* "A thought-provoking story of inclusion to share beyond the first day of school; every library will want to purchase this book."
— School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
"A winningly inclusive conclusion."
— Publishers Weekly
* "A darling book for all children but especially those with autism."
— Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW