Graphic with the cover of BITSY BAT, TEAM STAR. Shows Bitsy Bat racing Enzo Owl in flight over a night scene of animal characters racing below. Enzo Owl standing alone on right with an AAC "talker" saying "Hello." “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! -- Steve Asbell, author-illustrator of "Flap Your Hands: A Celebration of Stimming"
Thank you SO much to @steveasbell.com for this AMAZING 5-Star review! Please share "Bitsy Bat, Team Star" with someone who needs a warm, comforting hug for the autistic soul. #autistic #kidsbooks #bitsybat #kidlit #autism
