Bat and the waiting game by Elana K Arnold illustrated by Charles Santoso

Bat has a pet baby skunk called Thor. It is hard for Bat to leave little Thor at home or with his mother at her veterinary practice when he goes to school. Luckily at school Bat does have one very good friend. A boy who does not mind Bat has some quirky or strange mannerisms due to his autism. The teacher sets a group assignment and Bat and Israel decide to make a container vegetable garden to grow the food Thor will enjoy as he develops into a full grown skunk. Bat knows that one day, fairly soon, he will have to release Thor back into the wild but for now he just wants his little friend to be happy.

While Israel and Bat work on their project and enjoy time together, Bat's sister Janie is preparing for her school play. Are you guess there will be a disaster? On the night of the big performance Bat smuggles his little friend into the show under his coat. Yes this is not going to turn out well especially when you know that skunks spray when they are frightened.

Bat tries so hard to manage chance and new situations. I loved the way his mother has given him some really good strategies which he luckily can remember most of the time. 

In 2018 I talked about the first book from this series - A Boy Called Bat. Someone mentioned on a Facebook post that their son really enjoyed this book. I had forgotten there was a sequel and in fact now there are three books in the series.

I really enjoyed meeting young Bat  (Bixby Alexander Tam) all over again.

Here is the blurb: For Bixby Alexander Tam (nicknamed Bat), life is pretty great. He’s the caretaker of the best baby skunk in the world—even Janie, his older sister, is warming up to Thor. When Janie gets a part in the school play and can’t watch Bat after school, it means some pretty big changes. Someone else has to take care of the skunk kit in the afternoons, Janie is having sleepovers with her new friends, and Bat wants everything to go back to normal. He just has to make it to the night of Janie’s performance. . . .

IBBY collect books about and for children with disabilities. This collection has two purposes:

Category 1: Accessible Books includes all the formats that wherever possible can help a child or teen to read independently. For those who need to read with a partner, we have chosen formats that allow for as much participation as possible. The easy-to read books for young people, who are neurodivergent, or have developmental and learning disabilities, have been moved into this category. These readers should have access to simplified books with content appropriate to their age and maturity level.

Category 2: Portrayals of Disability is the larger group and provides examples of respectful representations of disabilities. This section includes fiction and nonfiction books that depict people who are d/Deaf or disabled. These subjects do not include physical health issues, such as common childhood illnesses and injuries, unless they lead to chronic disability. Mental health issues such as OCD ... 

The Bat series fit into both categories but most especially into category two allowing children who have no experience of autism to gain a little understanding of this disability and the challenges a kid like Bat faces. 

I read one reviewer who suggested The Year of Billy Miller as a companion read to the Bat series and I agree. Billy does not have autism but these books by Kevin Henkes have the same honesty and direct manner which gives the reader an insight into the mind of  a young boy navigating family life, relationships, school, friendships and growing up.

The Year of Billy Miller

Billy Miller makes a Wish

Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlake illustrated by Jon Klassen

Exceptionally sweet. Kirkus star review

Badger has his life under control. He enjoys his routines and he has his passion for rocks and minerals. He is lucky to be able to live alone, rent free, in Aunt Lula's brownstone row house. Aunt Lula is a pine marten. She never visits. She writes letters.  Badger does not always open these letters. Today there is a knock on his front door. Looking outside, Badger sees Skunk. He tries to ignore the knocking but Skunk is persistent.

When Skunk comes into the house (Aunt Lula had informed Badger he was coming! It's in an unread letter) life for Badger is turned upside down. This pair are truly an odd couple and it does seem almost impossible that they could ever be friends but I so wanted that to happen.

This book is due for publication on 15th September, 2020.  I suggest you add it to your 'to buy' list RIGHT NOW.  You will want to add this book to your school library and to your home library collection. This book will be perfect to read aloud to your child or to a Grade 2 or 3 class.

The food in this book is especially delicious:

"A few minutes later, Skunk laid a plate of scrambled eggs with fire-roasted peppers in front of Badger. ... Thereafter followed the promised breakfast hot chocolate - yes! - and a basket of strawberry cinnamon muffins. (A basket!) After everything else came roasted fingerling potatoes."

An exploration of friendship, tolerance of difference, individuality and forgiveness are themes in this book but so is the power of words and they way they can hurt others. Spoiler alert but the words used are nuisance and  vermin.

You can read a story extract and see some illustrations by Jon Klassen here. This is the first book in a series and I am excited to keep reading these terrific books by Amy Timberlake.  Here is a special interview by Elizabeth Bird where she talks to Amy about her book. I also found some teachers notes which look very useful if you were sharing this book with a class. I'd recommend Grade 4 or 5.

Summing up this relationship:

Badger is Curmudgeonly but also able to see his own faults

Skunk is Impetuous but has a heart of gold

Oh and you might learn the names of some chicken varieties too.

Ko Shamos; Orpington; Dominicker; Jersey Giant; Orloff.  The Orpingon is the purple chicken that Badger mentions when he is marveling at all the different chickens in his kitchen.

There are some terrific books about odd couples.  I have been collecting picture books on this theme. Here are a few favourites.

Wolf and Dog

Rabbit and Bear

Books by Jory John