Eat, Read, and Be Mommy

Please? Because I totally spaced my post of the 17th until after I was in bed, and blaming it on the pandemic sounds so much better than blaming it on my current ‘Merge Dragons’ addiction…

Anyway. It’s later than I intended it to be as I write this, but I was legitimately delayed in my evening by a call from my parents, and people are the most important thing, right? At least Bat and the Waiting Game is a second-in-series, and those are a bit quicker to review. If you haven’t read A Boy Called Bat, you should start with that; its sequel follows Bat, his family, his friend Israel, and Thor the skunk kit, with Israel’s parents playing a visible role as well. Bat’s autism makes relationships harder for him than for the average person, but he keeps trying, with the help of his family and friends. Experiencing life through Bat’s eyes is moving, and yet Elana Arnold balances that poignancy with humor and a kid-friendly sense of normalcy. This is a worthwhile book for younger elementary readers in general, but it should especially appeal to animal lovers; it’s also an excellent choice for a reader who would benefit from understanding more of what it’s like to live with autism. And honestly, isn’t that everyone?