Bat and the End of Everything Blog Tour

*sigh* Endings. I don't like 'em.

I've always been teary over the last day of school at the end of the year.
I dread having to leave some place at the end of a trip.
I often struggle with goodbyes at the end of  a visit. (I'm getting better...with practice.)
I wish my favorite books would go on and on and on.

I just really don't like endings. Maybe it's the feeling of finality, or the void left by something that grew comfortable, or the uncertainty of what comes next. Maybe you relate?

I can't help but think that all these feelings are true for Bixby Alexander Tam--lovingly referred to as Bat--in Bat and the End of Everything. (I mean, consider that: the end of EVERYTHING?) The uncertainty of summer and all the change it brings are overwhelming to think about. As third grade ends, Bat will say goodbye to his teacher and Babycakes (the class pet) and wish Israel (his best and closest friend) a happy summer spent in Canada. And, perhaps the biggest anticipation of all is that Bat is quickly nearing the day when he'll have to return his temporary pet skunk Thor to the wild.

How will Bat part with Thor?

How will we part with Bat?

Bat and the End of Everything wraps up this chapter book trilogy in a way that assures the end can turn out to be ok. Elana K. Arnold continues to craft Bat's story in a way that illustrates the complexities of processing natural, big, mixed up emotions that come with change and transitions--both those that are anticipated and some that come by surprise--while still maintaining humor and sincerity in her portrayal of Bat's reality. Bat builds trust that even through uncertainty, the presence and support of loved ones can steady those feelings and help Bat (and our readers...and us) bravely face what's next.

Bat and the End of Everything is a satisfying end to readers' journey with Bat. What a gift Elana K. Arnold has given readers with Bat's story and friendship.


Summary, from Walden Pond Press:

Bixby Alexander Tam (nicknamed Bat) has been the caretaker for Thor, the best skunk kit int he world...but the last day of third grade is quickly approaching, and Thor is almost ready to be released into the wild. The end of school also means that Bat has to say good-bye to his favorite teacher, and he worries about the summer care of Babycakes, their adorable class pet. Not only that, but his best friend is leaving for a long vacation in Candad. Summer promises good things, too, like working with his mom at the vet clinic and hanging out with his sister, Janie, but Bat can’t help but feel that everything is coming to an end. National Book Award finalist Elana K. Arnold returns with the third story starring an unforgettable boy on the autism spectrum.

BAT AND THE END OF EVERYTHING

By Elana K. Arnold

Published by Walden Pond Press, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

ISBN: 9780062798442

About the Author:
Elana K. Arnold grew up in Southern California, where she was lucky enough to have her own perfect pet—a gorgeous mare named Rainbow—and a family who let her read as many books as she wanted. She is the author of picture books, middle grade novels, and books for teens, including Damsel a Michael Printz Honor Book, and What Girls are Made of, a finalist for the National Book Award. She lives in Huntington Beach, California, with her husband, two children, and a menagerie of animals. You can find her online at www.elanakarnold.com

Visit more stops on the Bat and the End of Everything Blog Tour:

March 26             Nerdy Book Club @nerdybookclub

March 27             Kirsti Call @kirsticall

March 30             Read Now Sleep Later @frootjoos

April 1                   Bluestocking Thinking @bluesockgirl

April 2                   The Book Monsters @thebookmonster

April 3                   Educate*Empower*Inspire…Teach @melissaguerrette

April 4                   Librarian’s Quest @loveofxena

April 5                   Novel Novice  @novelnovice

                               Unleashing Readers @unleashreaders

                               Lit Coach Lou @litcoachlou

Announcing: The Can We Talk About This? Podcast

Among the many reasons I consider it a privilege to work with middle grade kiddos is the opportunity it is to be present in their journey of self-discovery as they seek understanding about themselves and the world around them. That I can offer them stories to climb inside of and characters to walk alongside, all the while sharing in their thinking and reasoning and wondering is a most important position that I do not take for granted. And, listening to their thinking as they process what they have read and what it means for themselves and the world they are living (and leading) in...is perhaps the most fulfilling part of the work.

The session I presented at NCTE this fall (with Sabina Khan, Kate Messner, Jewell Parker Rhodes, Jen Petro-Roy, and Renée Watson) was entitled Brave Conversations: Sharing Stories that Empower Student Voices in the Real World. As I prepared to share my perspective on teaching with books that invite students to ponder

and explore big themes and topics, I called upon a small group of students from the previous year to join me in conversation after school one day so that I could interview them about these kinds of books and their experiences reading--and talking about--the books' themes and issues.

We were only partway through the questions I wanted to ask when a student first asked, "Can we do this more often? I miss having these kinds of conversations."

Little did she know that her appeal fit like a puzzle piece to an idea that had been smoldering in my head for months. It was time to take a chance.

In the next few weeks I would: share the idea with my principal (and get her blessing), purchase the equipment, approach the students' parents, and eventually, invite the four students themselves to this brand-new project. Would they like to make a podcast with me where we would read books like a book club would and then record our thinking to share?

Their yeses led to today's release of the first-ever episode of the Can We Talk About This? Podcast.

A quick selfie before recording S1, E1: The Seventh Wish. The readers felt
strongly that a Kate Messner title should be their first, and this one
narrowly edged out Breakout because of our community-wide read.

These four readers have helped make this podcast exactly what it is. They determined books featuring social issues and related themes would be the focus of the podcast. They selected the podcast name--which came directly from part of their interview with me--and designed the podcast's image. (Oh, the thoughtful conversations and debate that involved!) They nominated books and agreed upon the first book to be featured (and the next two after that, too, but those episodes aren't ready yet). I wrote the introduction and the closing--the parts that are in my voice on the recording--but otherwise, they have been responsible for preparing questions, responding, and otherwise scripting the podcast. For now, I do the editing, but they inform me about what to keep and what to cut. I guide them, sometimes slowing them down and offering feedback about the wording of their questions or what they may not realize they are saying or implying, which has led to fruitful conversation, too.

They are really excited about the way this first episode of the Can We Talk About This? Podcast has turned out. I am proud of them, and I also know this is just the beginning. Their work will continue to develop with more episodes and the feedback we receive. You can listen to our first episode on anchor.fm now, and we hope you'll let us know what you think.




After the opportunity to engage with my students a few years ago, a friend asked me, "How can you amplify your students' voices?" I still think about that challenge, often. I hope the Can We Talk About This? Podcast will be one answer to that challenge. Though this is only the first episode of the first season, it is my hope that these young people will inspire other young people and that the podcast will grow. More reading and more talk would be very good things.