Rockstar Book Tours presents... BITSY BAT, SCHOOL STAR by Kaz Windness - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY!

I am simply BATTY with excitement about my spot the latest book tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours.  It features a darling Picture Book that's not only cute, but spirited, and with a great takeaway message for all ages. Check out my review below, make sure to enter the giveaway, and click on over to the other sites participating for more bookish fun!

BITSY BAT, SCHOOL STAR

by Kaz Windness

Pub. Date: June 6, 2023

Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 48

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/BITSY-BAT-SCHOOL-STAR 

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!

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

💙

Bitsy is the most adorable little bat I ever did read about, and I love how she tries her hardest to shine her brightest.  True, she struggles at first because she does some things differently than the her other school mates, but different doesn't mean wrong.  Different means a new way of looking at things, processing things, and seeing the world for all its beauty in another way.  It means opening our minds AND hearts to others, and remembering to always lead with kindness.

Our little friend Bitsy has a lot to learn, but so does everyone else.  THAT'S what life is!  Whether you're a bat or a human, or something in-between it all, there's always something new to learn, take in, and share with others to grow ourselves and our world!  It was heartbreaking when Bitsy was so sad because she felt everything she did was wrong-wrong-wrong, but with a little help from her biggest supporters, some time away from the situation to reassess, and a little Bitsy ingenuity, she's back on her feet in no time, AND she not only becomes a star of her little school, but helps others reach those lofty heights too!

From cover to cover, story to illustrations, and the heart shared in the mix, this is a charming story that little ones will enjoy as well as those well above the age of wearing that moniker.  It's too cute to pass up, and who couldn't use a reminder to celebrate the differences in all of us?!

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

About the author...

Kaz Windness is an author-illustrator who loves to make her readers laugh. Kaz specializes in cute (and sometimes spooky!) characters with lots of humor and heart for kids and teens.

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 and curriculum author at RMCAD (2013-present) and illustrator mentor.

Kaz is obsessed with squishy-faced dogs, waffles, and all things spooky. She loves working in watercolor, acrylic, collage, pencil, but mostly Photoshop. There's not much she won't turn into an art supply.

Kaz lives in Colorado with her English teacher husband, two children, and a bunny-obsessed Boston Terrier named Remy.

 

Website | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

~~~   GIVEAWAY   ~~~   

1 winner will receive a finished copy of BITSY BAT, SCHOOL STAR, US Only. 

Ends June 6th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

Special thanks to the Rockstar Book Tours team for the chance to bring this tour to you and to the publisher for the copy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, the publisher, this tour, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is COMING SOON (June 6th, 2023), so click on over to your favorite online store to preorder, or plan a trip to your local brick and mortar! Catch the rest of the tour for more!

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

5/22/2023	A Dream Within A Dream	Excerpt
5/22/2023	The Momma Spot	Excerpt
5/23/2023	yabookscentral.com	Excerpt
5/23/2023	Little Red Reads	Excerpt
5/24/2023	Just Another Teen Reading Books	Review/IG Post
5/24/2023	Nerdophiles	Review
5/25/2023	Confessions of the Perfect Mom	Review/IG Post
5/25/2023	thealylifestyle	Review/IG Post
5/26/2023	Country Mamas With Kids	Review/IG Post
5/26/2023	OneMoreExclamation	Review/IG Post

 Week Two:

5/29/2023	@enjoyingbooksagain	IG Review
5/29/2023	nolareads504	IG Review
5/30/2023	@stargirls.magical.tale	IG Review
5/30/2023	@get.outside.and.read	IG Review
5/31/2023	Carly Sunshine Books	IG Review
5/31/2023	A Blue Box Full of Books	IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post
6/1/2023	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	Review/IG Post
6/1/2023	@froggyreadteach	IG Review
6/2/2023	@read.with.mama	IG Review
6/2/2023	@katherinebichler	TikTok Post

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Happy BOOK BIRTHDAY to THE AMELIA SIX by Kristin L. Gray - REVIEW!

Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we've a special BOOK BIRTHDAY review featuring a NEW Middle Grade Fiction Mystery in stores now via Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing!  It stars six fabulous young ladies that are smart, inquisitive, creative, and not afraid to get their hands a little dirty in the name of good...and trust me, they have to in this tale because the game afoot is SO not a game!  Ready or not, here comes today's book birthday celebrant in the spotlight...

The Amelia Six

by

Kristin L. Gray

9781534418851

Paula Wiseman Books

About the book...

Amelia Earhart’s famous aviator goggles go missing and eleven-year-old Millie has to find them before the night is over in this girl-powered middle grade whodunit.

Eleven-year-old Amelia Ashford—Millie to her friends (if she had any, that is)—doesn’t realize just how much adventure awaits her when she’s given the opportunity of a lifetime: to spend the night in Amelia Earhart’s childhood home with five other girls. Make that five strangers. But Millie’s mom is a pilot like the famous Amelia, and Millie would love to have something to write to her about…if only she had her address.

Once at Amelia’s house in Atchison, Kansas, Millie stumbles upon a display of Amelia’s famous flight goggles. She can’t believe her good luck, since they’re about to be relocated to a fancy museum in Washington, DC. But her luck changes quickly when the goggles disappear, and Millie was the last to see them. Soon, fingers are pointing in all directions, and someone falls strangely ill. Suddenly, a fun night of scavenger hunts and sweets takes a nosedive and the girls aren’t sure who to trust. With a blizzard raging outside and a house full of suspects, the girls have no choice but to band together. It’s up to the Amelia Six to find the culprit and return the goggles to their rightful place. Or the next body to collapse could be one of theirs.

🛩     🛩     🛩     🛩     🛩

This is a classic whodunit wrapped in kid friendly packaging and served up with a healthy dose of girl power!  I loved the fact that the mostly female cast showed the roles women have in society and how even now, there are differences sometimes in how they are treated, respected, and/or looked to, while reinforcing that the JUST BE YOU philosophy is truly the only way to go.  If you like cubing, like cubing.  If you like scientific exploration, then like it.  If you want to breach the new frontier, grow the most beautiful flowers, tinker with gizmos and gadgets, do it!  The world is your oyster and no one can tell you what you can or cannot be.  It's a great message for any age, but especially the youngsters this Middle Grade release is intended for, and quite honestly, it's done rather well!

Really...it sneaks in while you're busy getting to know the characters, for better or worse.  It makes itself at home as the mystery starts to unfold and skills are put to the test from problem solving to engineering.  It reveals itself slowly as all the clues start to come together and the moment of truth arrives...even as the BIG TWIST happens and it looks like lights out (again!) for the whole crew...keeping you on your toes and those brain cells firing!  It's a great combination of story, skills, and heart that'll leave you with the warm fuzzies, but also a curiosity that might need to be slaked about SO MANY things, and that invitation to explore more, never hurt anyone.

🛩     🛩     🛩     🛩     🛩

About the author...

Brooke Robinson Photography
via publisher's website

Kristin L. Gray is the author of Vilonia Beebe Takes Charge (which Publishers Weekly called a “sensitive and uplifting coming-of-age journey”) and The Amelia Six. Kristin loves to read, walk her dogs, and eat cake for breakfast. Her fourth-grade self would never believe she has five children, two dogs, one fish, a bearded dragon, and a shy gecko. She lives in northwest Arkansas. To learn more about Kristin, or to send her a cake, visit her online at KristinLGray.com

🛩     🛩     🛩     🛩     🛩

Special thanks to Jenny at Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for the eARC for review (and the print edition too!) as well as the chance to bring this title to you. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title celebrates its BOOK BIRTHDAY TODAY (woot woot!) via Paula Wiseman Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!