Today's read is the third in the series, and it's the first one I've read. I find the little bat on the front so cute and love how it looks snuggled up in all that winter wear. It might also be the snowflakes and snow angles winning me over, though. I do love my snow. Either way, I'm ready to see what this sweet bat is up to and can't wait to join in on its little adventure.
So, off we go!
BITSY BAT, SNOW STAR
by Kaz Windness
Beach Lane Books
Picture Book
48 pages
ages 4 to 8
COMING OCTOBER 27th!!!
Bitsy Bat experiences her first snow and discovers it’s okay for friends to not always like the same things in another charming follow-up to Bitsy Bat, School Star from Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor–winning author-illustrator Kaz Windness.
When Bitsy wakes up to see her first-ever snowfall, she’s excited to try out wintry activities with her friends at school. But sledding turns out to be harder than she thought, and making snow angels and snowmen leaves her feeling cold and wet. Bitsy tries to pretend she’s having fun…until a friendly snowball fight pushes her over the edge.
She retreats inside the school, worried her friends won’t like her anymore once they find out she doesn’t love the snow like they do. But a surprise is waiting for her—Enzo Owl and Mo are inside too! They don’t like snow either and would rather read in the cozy nook. Bitsy comes up with an indoor activity for a snowy day—making paper snowflakes—that just might give her the courage to be honest with her friends.
This third story in the Bitsy Bat series is told from an autistic perspective and celebrates how our differences make each of us shine brightly on our own and among friends.
When Bitsy wakes up to see her first-ever snowfall, she’s excited to try out wintry activities with her friends at school. But sledding turns out to be harder than she thought, and making snow angels and snowmen leaves her feeling cold and wet. Bitsy tries to pretend she’s having fun…until a friendly snowball fight pushes her over the edge.
She retreats inside the school, worried her friends won’t like her anymore once they find out she doesn’t love the snow like they do. But a surprise is waiting for her—Enzo Owl and Mo are inside too! They don’t like snow either and would rather read in the cozy nook. Bitsy comes up with an indoor activity for a snowy day—making paper snowflakes—that just might give her the courage to be honest with her friends.
This third story in the Bitsy Bat series is told from an autistic perspective and celebrates how our differences make each of us shine brightly on our own and among friends.
MY TIDBITS
Bitsy's adorableness hooks readers in while the situations she faces carry a familiarity to touch the heart.
Bitsy wakes up to find snow outside...the first snow she's ever seen! Her friends are heading outdoors to play, but Bitsy's family is getting ready to hibernate instead. With a little help from her friends, Bitsy gains permission to play for this last day in the snow. She's bundled up and ready to join in on sledding, snowballs, and more. But things are harder than she expected, and she's losing layers of cosy warmth on the way. Finally, she's simply freezing and wants to go inside, but doing so might hurt her friends' feelings.
Bitsy's friendly and kind personality grabs right away and makes her easy to like from the very first page. Her family and friends are also enjoyable to meet and have only the best for her in mind. It's fun to watch her friends do their best to get her ready for the snow...the excitement radiates from the page. The snow scenes lure in with familiar fun, and it's hard not to want to join in. Many readers will also understand Bitsy's hesitation to admit that she doesn't want to play outside anymore as she's afraid it might disappoint her friends. The desire to keep friends happy is one that many readers can identify with. But this group of friends makes even these struggles solvable and creates a warm story through and through.
The text flows very smoothly to make a lovely read-aloud. It balances nicely with the illustrations to let the story come to life on both fronts. Each scene comes to life with plenty of details to have readers coming back to gaze at them on their own. There's a sense of warmth in each scene, which matches the wholesome atmosphere of the tale, too.
At the end of the book, there are a few pages with terms and explanations to help raise awareness for those with autism and make various aspects more understandable. This aspect is also done with care and comes across nicely.
And here she is...
Kaz Windness is the author-illustrator of picture books Swim, Jim!; Bitsy Bat, School Star; Bitsy Bat, Team Star; and Bitsy Bat, Snow Star. She created the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Level 1 Ready-to-Read Graphics book Worm and Caterpillar Are Friends, and its sequel, Worm and Butterfly Are Friends, Always; the Star Chapter Book Time Traveling Chickens series; and the Level 1 Ready-to-Reads Cat vs. Vac; Go! Go! Dino!; and Squid in Pants. Kaz is also the illustrator of Ollie, the Acorn, and the Mighty Idea by Andrew Hacket and the author of When You Love a Book, illustrated by Heather Brockman Lee. Kaz lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband, two children, and Boston terrier. Visit her at WindnessBooks.com.
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