Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers: BLOG TOUR: A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold

Hi there!

Welcome back to post number two for the day here at the most bookish place in the blogosphere (okay, ONE of the most bookish ^-^), Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're diving between the pages of a Children's Fiction release from Walden Pond Press. I've actually been waiting to talk about this book for a while now (way to keep the anticipation building guys! ^-^), as I had the honor of reading an ARC at the start of the year, but until the blog tour rolled around, I had to play mum...mostly. What? You can't tell me you haven't wanted to spill the beans or at least hint at the goodness that awaits a new reader when you've gotten your hands on a copy pre-release...because if you do, you'll be fibbing and Bat knows that's not a good thing to do, and so should you. Speaking of Bat, let's get back to stacks and discover my journey through the pages of today's blog tour guest and book of choice...

A Boy Called Bat

Elana K. Arnold

Illustrated by

Charles Santoso

9780062445827

About the book...
From acclaimed author Elana K. Arnold and with illustrations by Charles Santoso, A Boy Called Bat is the first book in a funny, heartfelt, and irresistible young middle grade series starring an unforgettable young boy on the autism spectrum.

For Bixby Alexander Tam (nicknamed Bat), life tends to be full of surprises—some of them good, some not so good. Today, though, is a good-surprise day. Bat’s mom, a veterinarian, has brought home a baby skunk, which she needs to take care of until she can hand him over to a wild-animal shelter.

But the minute Bat meets the kit, he knows they belong together. And he’s got one month to show his mom that a baby skunk might just make a pretty terrific pet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Is it any wonder why Bat thought the kit and he were a perfect fit? Just look how CUTE that little guy is up there! It's hard to imagine anyone not falling in love with him....but the kit's cuteness isn't in question here. The real question or lesson here is in learning that what's best for others, in this case the little kit, may not always be exactly what WE desire, but it doesn't make it any less of a good choice. That can be hard enough for the average adult to understand but when you're dealing with unsinkable youth and a type of learning impairment, it can turn even more challenging in a heartbeat. Especially when that someone has their heart set on a new little black and white pet...

That learning obstacle I mentioned, is autism and it is just that, an obstacle. I choose to see it as a different way of thinking, not a disability, because in truth, many autistic individuals are ridiculously intelligent to the point of sheer genius, they just relate to others differently. We all have our strengths and we all have our weaknesses, but in spite of those, we make connections through common interests, a friendly smile, or even a moment where we laughed at ourselves for the sheer audacity of it all. Bat connects with the world most easily through the animals he loves. His knowledge on the topic is astounding, and his desire to learn more equally awesome, which makes him the prime candidate to convince his veterinarian mother that THIS is the pet for him. Yeah...about that...

Before you get too attached, let me tell you this, they make the right choice for all in the end, allowing Bat to grow from the experience while still realizing that not everything can be the way we want simply because we desire it that way. I think the author does a great job of letting us behind the eyes of such a wonderful character and I for one feel THAT much richer having "met" him, as I believe you will too. It's a great story overall for young and old alike, but also a good way to help kids along the same lines as Bat know they are not alone, in this world or the fictitious one.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About the author...

Elana K. Arnold grew up in Southern California, where she was lucky enough to have her own perfect pet—a gorgeous mare named Rainbow—and a family who let her read as many books as she wanted. She is the author of picture books, middle grade novels, and books for teens. She lives in Huntington Beach, California, with her husband, two children, and a menagerie of animals. You can find her online at www.elanakarnold.com.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Special thanks to Danielle at Walden Pond Press for the ARC for review as well as the chance to bring this tour to you. (THANKS!) Fore more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title just celebrated its BOOK BIRTHDAY earlier this month via Walden Pond Press, an imprint of HarperCollins, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE OTHER SITES ON THIS TOUR FOR MORE GREAT POSTS, FEATURES, AND FUN!

March 1 Read, Write Reflect
March 2 A Foodie Bibliophile in Wanderlust

March 3 Bluestocking Thinking
March 6 The Official Tumblr of Walden Media