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Bitsy Bat
Bitsy Bat, Team Star
Bitsy meets a new nonspeaking student at school and learns the importance of being a star teammate and friend in this sequel to the “darling” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) Bitsy Bat, School Star from Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor–winning author-illustrator Kaz Windness.
Bitsy Bat is a star student and the only fantastic flier at Crittercrawl Elementary…until a new nonspeaking student named Enzo Owl arrives and outflies her during recess. Bitsy worries her friends won’t think she’s special anymore, so she’s determined to beat Enzo in the upcoming Critter Games and prove she’s the better flier.
But when her friend Mo needs help during the race, Bitsy must choose between winning and being a star teammate. And while she’s at it, she just might discover that making a new friend is more special than any trophy.
This sequel to Bitsy Bat, School Star is told from an autistic perspective and celebrates how our differences make each of us shine brightly on our own and as part of a team.
Bitsy Bat is a star student and the only fantastic flier at Crittercrawl Elementary…until a new nonspeaking student named Enzo Owl arrives and outflies her during recess. Bitsy worries her friends won’t think she’s special anymore, so she’s determined to beat Enzo in the upcoming Critter Games and prove she’s the better flier.
But when her friend Mo needs help during the race, Bitsy must choose between winning and being a star teammate. And while she’s at it, she just might discover that making a new friend is more special than any trophy.
This sequel to Bitsy Bat, School Star is told from an autistic perspective and celebrates how our differences make each of us shine brightly on our own and as part of a team.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published February 4, 2025
2 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
December 31, 2024
BITSY BAT is such a heartwarming story and a great addition to the series! It has great messages about friendship, acceptance, and celebrating our differences that I think will resonate well with children. I just loved the story and the colorful and cute illustrations.
October 30, 2025
Bitsy Bat is excited to return to Crittercrawl Elementary and see all her friends. Her mom checks to make sure she has everything she needs: sunglasses, headphones, a snack, and she’s wearing her favorite sweater. Bitsy Bat needs her headphones because sometimes her classmates are too loud, and her sunglasses when it’s too bright.
At school, Bitsy finds out there will be a competition called the Critter Games where two teams will compete to see who is the best fliers. Bitsy has always been a fast flier. But this year, there is a new student, Enzo Owl, who speaks through a tablet or sign language and also flies really fast. Bitsy is worried she will no longer be the fantastic flier at Crittercrawl Elementary.
Bitsy and Enzo both have brains that are wired differently. They are neurodivergent, with Bitsy having trouble with loud noises and loss of control, while Enzo is nonspeaking and uses a communication tablet to speak along with sign language. In the story, Bitsy needs to spend some time in the sensory room because she has a meltdown. The sensory room helps to calm her down so she can move on to the next thing.
It’s likely that a child you know shares a classroom with a child who may identify as neurodivergent. This story helps kids understand what their autistic friend might be feeling and how to help them when they are close to having a meltdown or shutting down. It also shows there are a variety of issues facing neurodivergent students, and each one might need something different from their friends.
The illustrations and use of specific font sizes help the reader understand Bitsy and Enzo’s struggles as well as their excitement. The end of the book includes a glossary of terms about autism, along with definitions and examples such as stimming, shutdown, and parallel play. The author shares that she is autistic. In this second book in the Bitsy Bat series, the author shares another part of autism, including miscommunication and making/keeping friends, both things which are difficult for autistic children.
Overall, this story helps readers acknowledge that we all have differences that make us unique, and our various skills help us stand out and be part of a winning team.
Access activity pages and lesson plans at the link:
https://www.sincerelystacie.com/2025/...
At school, Bitsy finds out there will be a competition called the Critter Games where two teams will compete to see who is the best fliers. Bitsy has always been a fast flier. But this year, there is a new student, Enzo Owl, who speaks through a tablet or sign language and also flies really fast. Bitsy is worried she will no longer be the fantastic flier at Crittercrawl Elementary.
Bitsy and Enzo both have brains that are wired differently. They are neurodivergent, with Bitsy having trouble with loud noises and loss of control, while Enzo is nonspeaking and uses a communication tablet to speak along with sign language. In the story, Bitsy needs to spend some time in the sensory room because she has a meltdown. The sensory room helps to calm her down so she can move on to the next thing.
It’s likely that a child you know shares a classroom with a child who may identify as neurodivergent. This story helps kids understand what their autistic friend might be feeling and how to help them when they are close to having a meltdown or shutting down. It also shows there are a variety of issues facing neurodivergent students, and each one might need something different from their friends.
The illustrations and use of specific font sizes help the reader understand Bitsy and Enzo’s struggles as well as their excitement. The end of the book includes a glossary of terms about autism, along with definitions and examples such as stimming, shutdown, and parallel play. The author shares that she is autistic. In this second book in the Bitsy Bat series, the author shares another part of autism, including miscommunication and making/keeping friends, both things which are difficult for autistic children.
Overall, this story helps readers acknowledge that we all have differences that make us unique, and our various skills help us stand out and be part of a winning team.
Access activity pages and lesson plans at the link:
https://www.sincerelystacie.com/2025/...
August 12, 2025
A nonspeaking owl who uses AAC!!!! This is so cute and cool. I love that these books exist.
March 13, 2025
Bitsy Bat loves school, but is a little worried when new kid Enzo Owl threatens to take the Fastest Flier title away from her. Concerned that her friends will no longer think she's special, she hyperfocuses on proving that she's the best. But when race day comes and one of her classmates winds up in trouble, will she be able to sacrifice her ego and remember the importance of being a good friend?
Fairly standard description of any kids' book trying to teach its readers the importance of being a good team player. What makes Bitsy Bat, Team Star stand out, however, is the fact that both Bitsy and Enzo are neurodivergent in ways that present differently, with classmates who may also have different learning challenges. I never really realized until reading this how few kids' books feature multiple children with special needs. At best, you can find just one such child navigating everyday life, but that's definitely not the case in the real world. I'm not even the most involved parent when it comes to my kids' school life, but I do know that there are entire classes of sweet, hard-working kids who just need some extra support in getting through the school day.
So it's super refreshing to read this picture book and find such excellent representation of autistic kids and kids with disabilities. The challenges they face are pretty universal -- in this case, fighting insecurity, jealousy and selfishness -- but with care taken to show how neurodivergency makes it harder for some kids to self-regulate their involuntary responses. More importantly, it models the sensible way to help kids learn how to cope with their big feelings, so that they can grow up to be better adjusted friends and adults.
Kaz Windness' art throughout is charming, from the textured and kinetic cuteness of the main illustrations, to the cleaner and even more adorable pictograms of Enzo's speech tablet. The emotions are also really well-evoked: I can feel everything Bitsy feels, especially since some of her reactions are a very close mirror to how my youngest responds to stress. Most of all, I love so much how this book encourages readers to lead with kindness and compassion, and to remember most of all that while winning is nice, being a person of good character is more important.
I also appreciated the inclusion of a glossary of terms at the end, tho I do have a quibble with the way that the concept of hyperfocus is presented. Bitsy hyperfocusing on her training and telling her friends she can't help them is a statement of opinion and not, actually, a statement of capacity. Yes, breaking hyperfocus can stress out anyone with autism or ADHD, but learning to manage stress is a key skill for autistic people. Hyperfocus is not an excuse for selfishness, in much the same way that being autistic is not an excuse for being an asshole. I'm sure that the people behind this book didn't intend to have the glossary seem like it was excusing selfishness instead of explaining why autistic people can have difficulty switching focus, but it still didn't hit quite right -- in stark contrast to the excellence of the narrative itself! Bitsy might need a few extra steps to learn an important life skill that everyone needs, but she absolutely still learns it, and we're all the better for seeing that modeled.
Bitsy Bat, Team Star by Kaz Windness was published February 4 2025 by Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
This review originally appeared at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.
Fairly standard description of any kids' book trying to teach its readers the importance of being a good team player. What makes Bitsy Bat, Team Star stand out, however, is the fact that both Bitsy and Enzo are neurodivergent in ways that present differently, with classmates who may also have different learning challenges. I never really realized until reading this how few kids' books feature multiple children with special needs. At best, you can find just one such child navigating everyday life, but that's definitely not the case in the real world. I'm not even the most involved parent when it comes to my kids' school life, but I do know that there are entire classes of sweet, hard-working kids who just need some extra support in getting through the school day.
So it's super refreshing to read this picture book and find such excellent representation of autistic kids and kids with disabilities. The challenges they face are pretty universal -- in this case, fighting insecurity, jealousy and selfishness -- but with care taken to show how neurodivergency makes it harder for some kids to self-regulate their involuntary responses. More importantly, it models the sensible way to help kids learn how to cope with their big feelings, so that they can grow up to be better adjusted friends and adults.
Kaz Windness' art throughout is charming, from the textured and kinetic cuteness of the main illustrations, to the cleaner and even more adorable pictograms of Enzo's speech tablet. The emotions are also really well-evoked: I can feel everything Bitsy feels, especially since some of her reactions are a very close mirror to how my youngest responds to stress. Most of all, I love so much how this book encourages readers to lead with kindness and compassion, and to remember most of all that while winning is nice, being a person of good character is more important.
I also appreciated the inclusion of a glossary of terms at the end, tho I do have a quibble with the way that the concept of hyperfocus is presented. Bitsy hyperfocusing on her training and telling her friends she can't help them is a statement of opinion and not, actually, a statement of capacity. Yes, breaking hyperfocus can stress out anyone with autism or ADHD, but learning to manage stress is a key skill for autistic people. Hyperfocus is not an excuse for selfishness, in much the same way that being autistic is not an excuse for being an asshole. I'm sure that the people behind this book didn't intend to have the glossary seem like it was excusing selfishness instead of explaining why autistic people can have difficulty switching focus, but it still didn't hit quite right -- in stark contrast to the excellence of the narrative itself! Bitsy might need a few extra steps to learn an important life skill that everyone needs, but she absolutely still learns it, and we're all the better for seeing that modeled.
Bitsy Bat, Team Star by Kaz Windness was published February 4 2025 by Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
This review originally appeared at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.
February 2, 2025
What did you like about the book? Bitsy Bat attends Crittercrawl Elementary School for nocturnal animals; she is an enthusiastic “star student” and has learned lots of strategies to cope with the unexpected. One evening her teacher, Mr. Nibbles, introduces a new student named Enzo - a nonspeaking owl who uses a tablet to communicate - and Bitsy worries that she will not be the only fantastic flier in the upcoming Critter Games. Enzo challenges Bitsy to a race at recess, and her fears are realized when Enzo wins and the other students cheer for him. To overcome her disappointment, Bitsy takes a break in the sensory room, where Mr. Nibbles reminds her about the importance of being a good friend and a good sport. When the time comes for Bitsy and Enzo to race the next day, the stakes are high because the winner will decide which team will get the Critter Games trophy. Bitsy is so focused that she doesn’t have time to help her friends set up the events or practice their own skills. But just as she and Enzo take to the sky, she notices that Mo the porcupine has gotten his quills stuck inside a hollow log, and has to choose between flying to the finish line or helping a friend.
This follow-up to Bitsy Bat, School Star will be a welcome addition for fans of the first book and new readers alike with its focus on friendship, sportsmanship, and inclusivity. It is great to see Bitsy using the coping mechanisms she developed in School Star when dealing with the jealousy she feels toward Enzo as well as the disappointment she feels about her own performance. Kids will be able to relate her worries and her competitive nature and will celebrate when she makes the right decision. The cheerful, positive tone of the text is matched by the active, busy nature of the illustrations. The nocturnal color palette with blue and purple backgrounds allows the characters’ facial expressions and body language to stand out; young readers will love looking at the details of the classroom and forest settings, particularly the set up for the various activities in the Critter Games. The introduction of Enzo, another neurodivergent student in the class whose autism manifests differently than Bitsy’s, opens the door to meaningful discussions about inclusion and accommodation, and Windness provides a comprehensive list of terms to help in those discussions and an author’s note that conveys her own personal connection to the core values of the story. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
This follow-up to Bitsy Bat, School Star will be a welcome addition for fans of the first book and new readers alike with its focus on friendship, sportsmanship, and inclusivity. It is great to see Bitsy using the coping mechanisms she developed in School Star when dealing with the jealousy she feels toward Enzo as well as the disappointment she feels about her own performance. Kids will be able to relate her worries and her competitive nature and will celebrate when she makes the right decision. The cheerful, positive tone of the text is matched by the active, busy nature of the illustrations. The nocturnal color palette with blue and purple backgrounds allows the characters’ facial expressions and body language to stand out; young readers will love looking at the details of the classroom and forest settings, particularly the set up for the various activities in the Critter Games. The introduction of Enzo, another neurodivergent student in the class whose autism manifests differently than Bitsy’s, opens the door to meaningful discussions about inclusion and accommodation, and Windness provides a comprehensive list of terms to help in those discussions and an author’s note that conveys her own personal connection to the core values of the story. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
March 4, 2025
Bitsy Bat: Team Star is NOT just another book about jealousy and teamwork, and thank goodness for that. With each beautifully illustrated page, Kaz Windness reassures kids that Bitsy gets what they’re going through.
Flying is Bitsy’s special interest, but as any autistic can tell you, a special interest is so much more than a hobby; it can feel like your whole identity. While an allistic (non-autistic) reader might see this as a story about jealousy and teamwork, autistic readers might take away something entirely different. Bitsy Bat: Team Star is about feeling so defined by your special interest that sharing it with another feels like nothing short of an identity crisis. When autistic children learn to associate their interest and talents with their self-worth, it’s only natural to take ownership to the exclusion of everything else, including friends.
Speaking of friends, let’s talk about Enzo. Many nonspeaking characters are presented as either someone we should pity or as a virtuoso with superhuman talents. But here, we get to admire Enzo as an owl who is just as nuanced and relatable as bitsy herself. Enzo speaks for himself through a tablet, sign language, and just as crucially, his emotions. As a late diagnosed autistic adult, I wish that I had Bitsy and Enzo as a kid to help me deal with my own insecurities and internalized ableism.
Bitsy Bat: Team Star is an absolute delight to read; it’s like a warm, comforting hug for the autistic soul. 5 Stars!
Flying is Bitsy’s special interest, but as any autistic can tell you, a special interest is so much more than a hobby; it can feel like your whole identity. While an allistic (non-autistic) reader might see this as a story about jealousy and teamwork, autistic readers might take away something entirely different. Bitsy Bat: Team Star is about feeling so defined by your special interest that sharing it with another feels like nothing short of an identity crisis. When autistic children learn to associate their interest and talents with their self-worth, it’s only natural to take ownership to the exclusion of everything else, including friends.
Speaking of friends, let’s talk about Enzo. Many nonspeaking characters are presented as either someone we should pity or as a virtuoso with superhuman talents. But here, we get to admire Enzo as an owl who is just as nuanced and relatable as bitsy herself. Enzo speaks for himself through a tablet, sign language, and just as crucially, his emotions. As a late diagnosed autistic adult, I wish that I had Bitsy and Enzo as a kid to help me deal with my own insecurities and internalized ableism.
Bitsy Bat: Team Star is an absolute delight to read; it’s like a warm, comforting hug for the autistic soul. 5 Stars!
January 30, 2025
Bitsy Bat is a star student and is ready to excel at the flying portion of the team challenge. She loves showing off her star and the attention she receives from it. But when her class gets a new student, Enzo the Owl, Bitsy fears being replaced as the star student because Enzo is a fantastic flier. Bitsy spends all her time training so she'll be at her best for the flying challenge. But what happens when her friends need her help?
BITSY BAT, TEAM STAR is a cute children's picture book that teaches children winning isn't always the most important thing. The illustrations are adorable and my daughter loves how cute Bitsy is. I love how the main focus is friendship while also bringing awareness to how different children process things. Enzo uses a tool to help talk instead of speaking, which teaches one way children can be unique. In the back of the book, there's a section that teaches more about Autism to spread awareness about it.
Final Verdict: I would recommend this to children aged four and older who love animals and it's also a great way to bring awareness to Autism in elementary schools.
BITSY BAT, TEAM STAR is a cute children's picture book that teaches children winning isn't always the most important thing. The illustrations are adorable and my daughter loves how cute Bitsy is. I love how the main focus is friendship while also bringing awareness to how different children process things. Enzo uses a tool to help talk instead of speaking, which teaches one way children can be unique. In the back of the book, there's a section that teaches more about Autism to spread awareness about it.
Final Verdict: I would recommend this to children aged four and older who love animals and it's also a great way to bring awareness to Autism in elementary schools.
March 11, 2025
The addition of a new classmate who can fly better than she can throws Bitsy into a swirl of worry. She's afraid that the other's won't like her as much if she can't fly better than everyone else. Her efforts to prove herself cause her to overlook her friends a bit. But when it matters most she chooses to put her friends first. Bitsy and her new classmate, Enzo, an owl, are both neurodivergent. The accommodations they both require are a natural part of the story as is the importance of inclusion. Windness's gorgeous art wonderfully highlights the characters, setting, and story line. The author's note and autism glossary help explain the character's behaviors and the reasons for them. The support that Bitsy receives from her family, friends, and teachers shows the importance of loving others and empathizing with their struggles. A great book for sharing and highlighting relationships as well as learning to get along with all our differences. The bright colors and appealing illustrations will catch the eye of many a young reader.
February 24, 2025
This is the second Bitsy book about a bat who is on the autism spectrum at a relatively high functioning level. She LOVES to fly and is the fantastic flyer in her class until... Enzo Owl joins their school. Bitsy feels overwhelmed and a bit threatened by Enzo's flying abilities. He beats her in a race at recess and Bitsy is crushed. She is determined to up her flying game for the Critter Games competition by practicing all the time - and ignoring her friends.
She is ready to race! But during the race, Bitsy notices that her friend Mo (a little hedgehog) is in trouble. She has to decide which is more important - winning the race or rescuing Mo.
All the critters are adorable and Bitsy (and Enzo) are surrounded by compassionate classmates, teachers, and family. The book highlights a wide variety of physical and neurological diversities that kids (and adults) face.
She is ready to race! But during the race, Bitsy notices that her friend Mo (a little hedgehog) is in trouble. She has to decide which is more important - winning the race or rescuing Mo.
All the critters are adorable and Bitsy (and Enzo) are surrounded by compassionate classmates, teachers, and family. The book highlights a wide variety of physical and neurological diversities that kids (and adults) face.
March 28, 2025
Bitsy is back with another school adventure. The class is gearing up for their Critter Games and Bitsy is excited to win the fastest flyer award. However, a new student arrives and may offer a challenge. Enzo Owl is nonverbal and speaks through a device. He is excited to fly with Bitsy but she struggles with having competition. Readers see her need space in the sensory area and struggle to be a good friend on competition day. We also see her make the choice to leave the race and rescue a friend. Windness provides a valuable lesson about friendship mattering more than a race. I love the introduction to a different communication method. Her characters with autism are realistic and relatable.
March 31, 2025
Our favorite neurodivergent bat, Bitsy, is back - feeling a little more confident in school, but less confident when it comes to competing in the Critter Games. When Bitsy loses a practice flying race to her owl friend Enzo, she's not sure what to do with her overwhelming feelings and a renewed lack of self-esteem. Eventually, Bitsy realizes there are some things more important than winning, and saves the day even when she loses the contest. A great book for the neurodivergent kids out there, but just as enjoyable and important for the neurotypical reader who might not always understand their "spectrum friends!"
June 14, 2025
It's different from other children's books. I went into this blind and expected a certain outcome and moral of the story, but the ending was different from what I predicted. Learning that the book and series is about exploring different aspects of autism elucidated why the book has a different structure than other books. I liked the book a lot more upon learning the purpose of the story. Bitsy is super cute, and I am so glad new children's books exploring other perspectives have entered the mainstream.
November 22, 2025
I loved this cute little book. It shows a bat with autism and it shows some of his accommodations, it shows him have a melt down when thi8ngs don't go their way, and it shows how they handle stressful situations. I love the artwork and the author's batty portrait is adorable. I also love the attention to detail, like the bats wearing their backpacks upside down because they hand upside down. I love the cute little owl who has a text to speech device. This is just a great book that teaches you to work as a team and that we can't always be the winner but that it's okay.
February 11, 2025
Kaz's books are so fun, but they all seem to have important messages too. Bitsy Bat: School Star set the bar really high for this sequel, but Bitsy Bat: Team Star rises to the occasion with a really timely message about winning, not being the most important thing. I think a lot of adults could stand to learn this lesson.
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February 23, 2025
Told from the perspective as someone with autism, alongside a great guide in the back, Bitsy must make the choice between winning and being a good friend. Learning the power of friendship is hard, especially for children with autism so I loved how the author modeled the desired behavior in these types of situations.
Thank you Simon Kids for the gifted copy.
Thank you Simon Kids for the gifted copy.
April 26, 2025
My friend recommended this book to me; I was game to read it because I love bats and owls. Then Enzo's introduction surprised me because the owl uses a communication device. Then I saw illustrations including an animal in a wheelchair, too. I like how they were all depicted. I like that there was a sensory room and big star dreams.
September 13, 2025
bitsy wants to continue being the best flier and be the winner of the critters game, but behold, we have a new classmate who enjoys flying too, owl! i like the inclusion of owl who’s unable to speak and uses his tablet to communicate. diversity of children. bitsy then goes through the motion of anxiety of wanting to be the winner, but learns to realise that winning is not everything.
November 15, 2025
Wow! Bitsy Bat is super competitive. She learns that winning isn’t everything. Being a good teammate is more important.
Boy, this book ticks all the boxes for school these days. Really well done. I think all elementary schools need this book in their libraries, but especially in ASD centers.
Bitsy is neurodivergent. The new student Enzo uses a tablet to communicate.
Boy, this book ticks all the boxes for school these days. Really well done. I think all elementary schools need this book in their libraries, but especially in ASD centers.
Bitsy is neurodivergent. The new student Enzo uses a tablet to communicate.
December 6, 2024
Our. Kids. Need. This. Book.
It's absolutely fabulous, and I hope that by the time the Bitsy Bat series is completed, ALL of our kids will feel seen. (AKA I hope this series goes on forever.) =)
Thank you, Kaz. <3
It's absolutely fabulous, and I hope that by the time the Bitsy Bat series is completed, ALL of our kids will feel seen. (AKA I hope this series goes on forever.) =)
Thank you, Kaz. <3
April 11, 2025
Wonderful story showing that winning isn’t everything and good friends are the best prize of all. During a fiercely competitive race, Bitsy has to choose between saving a friend or winning the race. If she doesn’t win, will she still be special?
June 2, 2025
Bitsy Bat, Team Star: nice! With this picture book, Windness continues to educate kids (and their adults) about various aspects of autism/neurodivergence, this time as Bitsy learns about how to handle competition.
August 31, 2025
In Bitsy Bat, Team Star, you learn about new friendships, sportsmanship, autism, talking tablets, sign language, wheel chairs, sensory rooms, fidgets and other neurodivergent topics. Cute story and good coverage of differences and helping each other.
November 18, 2024
Cute follow-up to the fabulous series starter, but a little heavy handed on the messaging?
December 31, 2024
Stellar title, notes at the end
January 9, 2025
So sweet. The art is amazing and so beautiful. It is a gorgeous book that helps kids understand how different brains work. Highly recommend!!
February 16, 2025
too much for storytime, otherwise amazing!!
February 26, 2025
A great book about friendship and also very inclusive.
August 1, 2025
It's really important to learn that not all kids are the same.
Read
September 21, 2025a very sweet friend story about what makes someone special
October 10, 2025
I love the way Windness portrays Autism in this series. Genuine and relatable characters I adore!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews