Book description from Goodreads: “A little bat struggles to fit in only to learn to celebrate differences in this heartfelt picture book from an autistic perspective 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 being right-​side-​up 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!”

Enjoy this interview with Kaz about her book at The Children’s Book Review.

Educational Activities inspired by Bitsy Bat, School Star:

• Before Reading–From looking at the front cover: 
  • Can you predict what the story might be about based on the cover?
  • Does this seem like it’s going to be a scary story? Why/​why not?
  • What emotion does the bat seem to be feeling?
  • What do you know about bats? How do they live? What do they eat? How do they see at night?
  • What does it mean be a “star”? How might that be different from a “school star”?
• After Reading–Now that you’ve read the story: 
  • Would you recommend this book to your friends? Why/​why not?
  • How did Bitsy Bat feel at school? Why do you think she felt that way?
  • What were some of the things that Bitsy found difficult to do? How did she manage these difficulties?
  • How did Bitsy’s friends and family help her when things got tough?
  • How did Bitsy feel when her father told her she was a special star? How do you think this helped her?
  • What is something new you learned about autism from reading this book?
  • How did the other animals in the story react to Bitsy’s differences?
  • How do you think Bitsy’s experiences might be similar to those of a child with autism?
  • What can we learn from Bitsy about embracing our differences and those of others?
• Create Your Own Cave: Like Bitsy Bat, you can create your own cozy and calm space. Find a quiet corner in your room and build a fort with pillows and blankets. Make it a place where you can retreat when you need some quiet time. This can be your “Bat Cave,” just like Bitsy’s! How do you feel when you’re in your quiet space?
• Sound and Light Exploration: Bitsy sometimes finds things too bright or too loud. Explore your surroundings to find places or things that are too bright or too loud for you. What could you do to make those situations more comfortable? Discuss these findings with your friends or family members.
• What Makes You a Star: Bitsy is a special star because of her uniqueness. What makes you a star? Draw a picture or write a story about what makes you special. Remember, everyone has unique strengths, and it’s our differences that make us shine brighter!
• Design a Squishmallow: Bitsy has stuffies that help comfort her. If you could design your own comfort toy or “Squishmallow,” what would it look like? Draw a picture or describe it in writing. Remember, it’s okay to seek comfort in the things we love, just like Bitsy does!
• Further Reading–As the author explains in the back matter, the main character in this story has autism. Let’s look at some other picture books that include characters with autism to compare and contrast with Bitsy Bat, School Star. Which of these have you already read? Which of the others would you want to read first? (Click on any book cover for more information on these titles!)