Captivating Character Study: Bitsy Bat, School Star

Headphones? Check. Sunglasses? Check. Big Star Idea? Check. Bitsy Bat is this month's captivating character.

If you haven't read Bitsy Bat, School Star yet, then do yourself a favor and reserve a copy from your library right now! Kaz Windness, the author who brought us Swim, Jim! and Worm and Caterpillar are Friends, has created a touching book about acceptance and empathy, and Bitsy is the lovable star character. Windness draws on personal experience in creating Bitsy's character, which is shared in the author's note and backmatter about Autism.

Bitsy Bat is excited for her first day of school, but she soon discovers that she does things differently than the other kids. Trying to follow along doesn't work for Bitsy, and her overwhelming day ends in a meltdown. Encouraged by her supportive family, Bitsy comes up with a plan. Sharing stars with her classmates to highlight how their differences make them special, Bitsy finds a way to advocate for herself and make school a place where everyone is accepted just as they are.

Windness' inviting illustrations and details that reach beyond just the ABC's of characterization work together to create a truly captivating main character. Take a look at Bitsy's top three ABC's below, and join the conversation in the comments!

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Dialogue

At the start of the book, Bitsy practices for school using "I can" statements, like "I can paint FRIENDS!" and "I can share SNACKS!" We get to experience Bitsy's enthusiasm for school firsthand as we go through the routine right alongside her. Rather than telling us how Bitsy practices for school, Windness chose to have Bitsy use these "I can" statements to show the reader how she practices and how much she cares about school.

Had Windness chosen to tell us these details rather than show us, it might have read something like this:

"Bitsy Bat practiced for school one more time. She practiced raising her wing, painting friends, and sharing snacks."

BORING! Handing these details directly to the character makes Bitsy more relatable. We learn that she's excited, detail oriented, kind-hearted, and eager to fit in all on one page.

We also learn about Bitsy's character through the things she says to others. During her first day at school, Bitsy struggles to do things like everyone else:

"Welcome, Bitsy," said Mr. Nibbles. "Please take your seat."

"Take it where?" asked Bitsy.

The class laughed.

Perhaps her classmates think she's being funny on purpose, or perhaps they are laughing at her for not understanding. Either way, Bitsy's response to Mr. Nibbles shows the reader her genuine confusion, made all the more touching by the adorable innocence of her response. She's used to hanging by her toes! Surely Mr. Nibbles knows that bats don't sit! My mama heart ballooned for Bitsy in this moment.

At the end of the story, we see a variation of Bitsy's "I can" statements. Her affirmations give the reader a taste of her self-esteem: "I have great ideas" and "Terrific Toe-Hanger!" reveal that her sense of self worth is strong despite her rocky first day of school.

Through the words that Bitsy says both to herself and to others, the reader learns that Bitsy can advocate for herself and that she values what makes her different from her classmates. Windness' carefully written and intentional dialogue shows rather than tells, and pulls the reader closer to Bitsy's Big Star heart.

Effect on Others

Bitsy Bat has a profound impact on those around her, which Windness reveals through dialogue and her detailed illustrations. Here are a few things Bitsy's parents say to her throughout the story:

"Remember, you're our star student!" praised Mama. "Go shine!"

and later...

"Why in the heavens would you want to fit in?" asked Papa.

We can tell that Bitsy's parents love her, are proud of her, and seek to instill the idea that standing out from the crowd by being her amazing self is not only okay, but encouraged.

In the first few illustrations featuring Bitsy's parents, we see them looking at her with expressions of love and pride, helping her get ready for school, and flying with her to her first day. The narrator never says, "Bitsy's parents love her" or "Bitsy's parents are proud of her". The reader can sense the effect Bitsy has on her family by closely looking at the illustrations and making inferences from the things they say to her.

The effect she has on her classmates is very different. Her teacher and most of her classmates don't seem to take too much notice of Bitsy's differences at first. But one classmate, Winnie, has a very hard time accepting the way Bitsy does things. Windness uses dialogue and illustration to reveal the effect Bitsy has on Winnie, too.

"You're doing it wrong."

and...

"You're supposed to use your fingers."

and worst of all...

"Ewwwww! That's so WRONG!"

Winnie is frustrated with Bitsy and even grossed out at times. This is made even more clear when the reader looks closely at Winnie's facial expressions and body language: frowning, pointing, and waving her arms and squealing. Winnie doesn't understand Bitsy, nor does she try to, and expects Bitsy to conform to what is considered "normal".

This effect shifts later on through Bitsy's Big Star Idea. When Bitsy presents her class with stars, Winnie happily participates. She writes things like "I looked at things in a new way" and "I'm a leader". Her facial expressions change, too- no more frowning, no more scolding, no more acting all grossed out over one or two teeny-tiny bugs.

Bitsy's confidence and self-esteem radiate and positively impact her classmates, bringing them closer together and creating a class environment where everyone can thrive.

Choices

To quote my favorite Harry Potter character, "It is our choices that show what we truly are...far more than our abilities." Bitsy Bat makes choices that define who she is and set her apart, which is what makes her story so interesting.

Even though Bitsy practiced for school, it turns out to be very different from what she expected. When a classmate begins pointing out what Bitsy is doing wrong, Bitsy makes a seemingly small but very important choice: to try.

She could have argued, insisted, broken down, cried, ignored, sneered... but she chose to try. She doesn't snap back at her classmate. She doesn't tattle-tale. She tries! She sits on her bottom! She paints with her wings! Her willingness to try reveals Bitsy's inner strength and her deep desire to find her place within her class.

Yet even though she tries, it's clear that Bitsy needs some accommodations in order to have the classroom experience that her classmates are getting. With a gentle nudge from Mama and the rest of her family, Bitsy makes another choice: to advocate for herself.

I'm not going to spoil the book by pointing out all the amazing things Bitsy comes up with to level the playing field at school. All we need to know for the purpose of this character study is that it's Bitsy who recognizes what she needs to succeed, Bitsy who runs her idea by her teacher, and Bitsy who shares that idea with her classmates. She doesn't ask her parents to do it for her and she doesn't avoid her problems- she solves them herself.

It's not easy for any person- child or adult- to try something new or to stand up for oneself. Bitsy does both in one story, and in making those choices she solidifies herself as a great role model and a great friend.

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Check out my first Captivating Characters blog post for a more in-depth breakdown of the ABC's.

Discussion

Here are some questions to keep the conversation going. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments, ask questions, or share your own observations about the book!

1. Which element of characterization do you think is most effective in showing readers who Bitsy is, and why do you think Windness' use of that element is powerful?

2. If you've already read the book, what else did you notice about Bitsy that isn't addressed here? How do your observations impact your understanding of who Bitsy is?

3. Windness does a fantastic job of using dialogue to effectively "show" rather than "tell". What are some other examples of "show" in the book? What techniques do you use to "show" instead of "tell"?

4. In your own writing, do you tend to lean heavily on one element? If so, which one, and why do tend to rely on that element as a characterization technique?

5. In your own writing, is there an element of characterization you'd like to use more often? If so, which one?

If you haven't read Bitsy Bat, School Star, you can check it out from your local library or purchase from your favorite independent bookstore. It's available directly from Simon & Schuster, as well as Amazon, Target, Barnes & Noble, and other major retailers.

That's a wrap on August's Captivating Character Study! Check back next month for a deep dive into characterization with Mia, the main character of Kelly Swemba's Missing Violet.