A Boy Called Bat Educator's Resource
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A BOY CALLED BAT EDUCATOR’S RESOURCE About the Book About the Author For Bixby Alexander Tam (nicknamed Bat), life Elana K. Arnold grew up in California, tends to be full of surprises—some of them good, where she was lucky enough to some of them not so good. Today, though, is a good have her own perfect pet—a surprise day. Bat’s mom, a veterinarian, has brought gorgeous mare named Rainbow— The lie I most often tell myself home a stray baby skunk, which she needs to take and a family who let her read when I am working is that I a writing fiction. It’s all made upm care of until she can hand him over to a wild- as many books as she wanted. I whisper; it’s just pretend , animal shelter. She is the author of picture . books, middle grade novels, and But the truth is, it is all truth But the minute Bat meets the kit, he knows they books for teens. She lives in . belong together. And he’s got one month to show The truth is, I love an autistic kid. The truth is, I know the Huntington Beach, California, his mom that a baby skunk just might make a pain of sibling rivalry. The truth is, I understand how it feels with her husband, two pretty terrific pet. to want something so much, so fiercely, that I become children, and a menagerie consumed by it, the way this boy called Bat wants to keep an Written by acclaimed author Elana K. Arnold of animals. This is her first care for a baby skunk kit. Writers like to talk about “the boo and filled with drawings by Charles Santoso, book with Walden Pond Press. of their heart.” This book, this smallish story about a boy an d A Boy Called Bat is a story of first the skunk he loves, is that book for me. k Here is what Elana has friendship—the d to say about the A Boy Called Bat first book in a is a story about an autistic kid. It’s also a creation of A Boy book that says what I truly believe about people: that we ca new series Called Bat: learn to see things from one another’s points of view. That it starring an is worthwhile to speak clearly about what you need, and to n by Elana K. Arnold, published by Walden Pond Press, an imprint of HarperCollins. ISBN 97800-06-244582-7 authentic, ask for what you want. That we can help one another, and tha unforgettable we are made better by doing so. That children are whol autistic character. people already, and that autistic kids are not broken. t e A Boy Called Bat I love Bat, and I love this book. I hope you will love it, too, an I hope you will help me share it with young readers and thei families. I want to thank you in advance for holding my book d for turning its pages to see Charles Santoso’s wonderful r illustrations, and for passing , of kids. A Boy Called Bat into the hand s With a Grateful Heart, 1 © Walden Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Activities for A Note to Educators: to accommodate a wide range of student needs. BAT VISITS HIS MOM’S CLINIC The principle of UDL is that many gateways should Answers to the A Boy Called Bat features as its main character be provided to students in order for them to question “Why Bixby Alexander Tam (Bat for short), an autistic access lesson goals. The classroom activities that you think it is boy. Author Elana K. Arnold presents Bat’s accompany A Boy Called Bat are designed according easier for Bat to neurodiversity through his actions and perceptions, to the principles of UDL. be at the clinic set within the context of an engaging and tender than at school?” plot. This book will be a welcome addition to will vary. middle grade classrooms thanks to its broad appeal, Some additional notes for specific activities that Some possible EDUCATOR’S RESOURCE EDUCATOR’S its seamless fit with inclusive educational practices, educators might find useful: responses: he and its potential as a tool for Universal Design for doesn’t have to deal with other kids there; being Learning (UDL). The lessons Bat learns about “THE FIVE SENSES” ACTIVITY around animals is comforting for him; he doesn’t empathy and divergent perspectives are beneficial Some readers may have sensory sensitivities, like have to pay attention to teachers there; even if the for all students, whether neurodiverse Bat. Whether or not senses are too intense can sounds and smells are as loud and strong as the or neurotypical. depend on the specific sense. Bat only has the ones at school, the clinic is a more comfortable A BOY CALLED BAT oversensitivities mentioned in the activity, but As every classroom teacher knows, each student is place for him. some readers might have oversensitivities for an individual with a unique set of needs—whether POINTS OF VIEW: BAT AND JANIE documented and supported by an Individualized some senses and undersensitivities for others. This touches on Education Program (IEP) or not. For example, some The episode of Janie’s missing pajama tops on pp something really students may have sensory or physical disabilities, 127-128 shows two very different points of view. important and others may have emotional challenges, and still It might be helpful to point out to students that in common for others may have difficulty learning to read or write. this excerpt, Janie seems to win the argument by autistic people: Some needs are openly acknowledged by parents yelling at Bat. But with the final line, Bat asserts Sometimes, other and guardians. Some are not. Some students are that his own situational comfortable speaking openly about strengths, perspective is also demands may weaknesses, abilities, and disabilities. Others important. affect the autistic are not. by Elana K. Arnold, published by Walden Pond Press, an imprint of HarperCollins. ISBN 97800-06-244582-7 person’s ability to deal with sensory Besides being an engaging story, A Boy Called Bat input. People don’t always understand will be a valuable classroom resource because of the this, and sometimes pressure autistic sensitive way its literature-based lessons are people to function the same A Boy Called Bat inclusive of all students. Bat is an individual with way in different situations. identifiable strengths and weaknesses, as are other Possible answers for Part 1 of this kids and as is his older sister Janie. activity: a) Janie’s shampoo; b) To ensure inclusion for all, teachers adapt vanilla yogurt; c) Thor; d) animals; curriculum to meet the needs of every student. e) Mom’s car coming. In this atmosphere, the Universal Design for Possible answers for Part 2 of this Learning (UDL), co-founded by Dr. David Rose of activity: a) onions; b) chili; c) itchy the Harvard Graduate School of Education, has clothes; d) crowds; e) loud noises. flourished. UDL supports flexible learning methods 2 © Walden Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Activities for Books and Websites about UDL Resources National Geographic Animal Encyclopedia: 2,500 Animals with Photos, Maps, and More!, by Lucy Autism Spectrum Disorder Spelman. Featuring 2,500 species and packed BOOKS: with stunning color photographs, amazing animal BOOKS: Universal Design for Learning: Theory and Practice, facts, maps, and more. Published by National by Anne Meyer, David H. Rose, David Gordon. Why the Wild Things Are: Animals in the Lives of Geographic, 2012. CAST Professional Publishing, 2016. Children, by Gail F. Melson. Harvard University Curiositree: Natural World: A Visual Compendium of Press, 2005. Your UDL Lesson Planner: The Step-by-Step Guide for Wonders from Nature, by AJ Wood and Mike Jolley. Teaching All Learners, by Patti Ralabate. Brookes The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year- A first introduction to the natural world that looks EDUCATOR’S RESOURCE EDUCATOR’S Publishing, 2016. Old Boy with Autism, by Naoki Higashida and K.A. at the myriad ways in which plants and animals Yoshida, translated by David Mitchell. Random have adapted to give themselves the best chance of ONLINE: House, 2016. survival. Published by Wide Eyed Editions, 2016. CAST Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism, by Temple A non-profit company producing learning ONLINE: Grandin with an introduction by Oliver Sacks. tools with access points for all learning styles. “Is That Skunk?” (Documentary) A BOY CALLED BAT Vintage, 2006. Developers of the concept of Universal Design Dr. Jerry Dragoo is a real person, who is a real skunk for Learning (UDL). Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism expert. To find out what he has to say about skunk to Decode Animal Behavior, by Temple Grandin and Do-IT care, and to watch his documentary “Is That Catherine Johnson. Harcourt, 2006. The Center for Universal Design in Education at Skunk?” go to www.dragoo.org the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. ONLINE: Universal Design for Learning: Meeting the Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism This Educator’s Resource was created by Sara Hoagland Needs of All Students by Patti Ralabate. Published What you need to know: from autistic people, Hunter, Ed.D. She is the author of ten books for children, in the Journal of the American Speech-Language- professionals, and parents. including the award-winning Every Turtle Counts Hearing Association. about the rescue of a rare sea turtle by a seven-year-old Paginated Thoughts on the autism spectrum. Find her online at Autism resources.