First published 2025
Bixby Alexander Tam starts fourth grade to find everything has changed. His new teacher Mr. Peña runs a different kind of classroom than Mr. Grayson did. Gone is Babycakes the rabbit, who provided Bat comfort whenever he needed a quiet moment. Mr. Peña does not believe in classroom animals at all. The change feels overwhelming for Bat, a boy on the autism spectrum who relies on routine and familiarity. Bat teams up with his best friend Israel to find a way to change Mr. Peña's mind about pets. When a group of ferrets arrives at the veterinary clinic where Bat's mother works, the boys see their chance. The friendly ferrets seem like the perfect solution. But their classmate Lucca opposes having animals in school, creating another obstacle. Bat begins to fear that his classroom will never feel safe and comfortable again. This fourth book in the series explores how Bat navigates unexpected changes while learning that some things can improve even when they feel different.
Genres: fiction, animals, family-life, school-stories, contemporary, 21st-century, disability
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
202 pages · Kindle Edition · Clarion Books