September Grades 3-4 Book Club: A Boy Called Bat

For September's Book Club, we read A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold. Gavin, Hunter, Isaac, Mark, Mira and Will were present. This is some of what we discussed, based on suggestions from the author's publisher. We filled out worksheets with pictures and words for answers and talked about our favorite things quite a bit. 

A Favorite Room                                               

Bat’s room was his favorite place in the whole world. In his room, Bat felt completely comfortable. (PAGE 6)

Write about or draw a room where you are completely comfortable.

-"A room with a bunk bed and a dresser are ideal."
-"My bedroom is my favorite room."
-Someone drew a picture of their favorite room.
-"My bedroom: dressers, drawers, beds"
-A room with yellow walls, a tie-dye rug and a beanbag chair are what I hope for in a room

What are your six favorite things in your favorite room? Make a list or draw pictures of your favorite things.

[Bat’s room had] a roll-down bamboo window shade and a fine closet full of shelves and a pullout trundle in case someday a friend came to spend the night. It had a ceiling fan and a reading lamp and a rug with a picture of a train track printed on it. (PAGE 9)

-A 4K TV
-TV, XBox, toys, chairs, blankets
-Tarantula, Lego Death Star, Lego Executor, Lego Star Destroyer, Lego AT-AT, ATTE

A Classroom Pal                                                               

Bat’s teacher Mr. Grayson has an “open-door Babycakes policy” in his classroom. What does that mean? How does Bat feel about Babycakes?

-That the kids can go to Babycakes to hug and get comforted by the rabbit.
-Bat loves Babycakes because he often needs to get away from the other kids and be by himself.

Bat’s Five Senses 

We talked about things that Bat liked and didn't like, including his intolerance of loud noises. This brought about a discussion of Asperger's and experiences that the kids have had with it. 

Figures of Speech and What They Mean

People sometimes use expressions that they do not mean to be taken literally. These are called “figures of speech.” Because Bat takes most things people say literally, he can have trouble understanding the meaning of figures of speech. For example, in the passage below, Mr. Grayson says “I’m all ears,” when what he means is “I’m paying all my attention to you.”

“Mr. Grayson,” Bat said. “I need your help.” Mr. Grayson put the cap on his pen and set it down. “I’m all ears,” he said. That was a funny expression, and for a second Bat pictured Mr. Grayson made entirely of ears, with ears for eyes and an ear for a nose and two tiny rows of little ears for teeth. (PAGE 98)

This brought about a trading of other funny figures of speech, such as "letting the cat out of the bag" and "I've got my eyes on you."

Exploring Interests                                                             

An old lady, old like a grandmother, sat on the bench in the waiting room. She held a box on her lap. Bat stopped in front of her. “What kind of animal do you have in that box?” “It’s my cat, Pickles,” the lady said. “He’s not feeling one hundred percent.” “What are his symptoms?” Bat asked. “Are you the veterinarian?” the lady asked. “No,” said Bat. “Not yet.” (PAGE 106)

What is Bat’s main interest and his career goal?

-To become a veterinarian. 
-He reads lots of animal encyclopedias in order to learn more.

Describe your main interest and a career that you might pursue. What's the name of a book or a genre that you might read in order to help you attain this goal?

-Sniper: I once interviewed a sniper. I'd read more books about it.

-Military Pilot: WWII books.

-Baker or artist: Cookbooks!

-Chef or miner: Cookbooks and science books.

-Navy Pilot: WWI and WWII books.

Invent a new car/start a car company: I'd read books about people who started companies.

Please rate this book from 1-5, with 1 being a book you did not like at all and 5 being one of the best books you read:

Three 3s

Two 4s

One 5

For October's Book Club, we will be reading the sequel to A Boy Called Bat, Bat and the Waiting Game by Elana K. Arnold.

"When Bat's older sister Janie gets a part in the school play, and can't watch him after school, it means some pretty big changes. For one, someone else will have to take care of the skunk kit in the afternoons."

We will meet on Wednesday, October 10 at 3:00 p.m. Please be sure to pick up a library copy of the book at the Circulation Desk (and to register for Book Club). 

October Grades 3-4 Book Club Suggestions

Bat and the Waiting Game by Elana K. Arnold

"For Bixby Alexander Tam (nicknamed Bat), life is pretty great. He’s the caretaker of the best baby skunk in the world—even Janie, his older sister, is warming up to Thor.

When Janie gets a part in the school play and can’t watch Bat after school, it means some pretty big changes. Someone else has to take care of the skunk kit in the afternoons, Janie is having sleepovers with her new friends, and Bat wants everything to go back to normal.

He just has to make it to the night of Janie’s performance. . . ."-amazon.com

Bob by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead

It's been five years since Livy and her family have visited Livy's grandmother in Australia. Now that she's back, Livy has the feeling she's forgotten something really, really important about Gran's house.

It turns out she's right.

Bob, a short, greenish creature dressed in a chicken suit, didn't forget Livy, or her promise. He's been waiting five years for her to come back, hiding in a closet like she told him to. He can't remember who--or what--he is, where he came from, or if he even has a family. But five years ago Livy promised she would help him find his way back home. Now it's time to keep that promise.

Clue by clue, Livy and Bob will unravel the mystery of where Bob comes from, and discover the kind of magic that lasts forever.-catalog summary

Grump by Leisl Shurtliff

Ever since he was a dwarfling, Borlen (nicknamed "Grump") has dreamed of visiting The Surface, so when opportunity knocks, he leaves his cavern home behind.
     At first, life aboveground is a dream come true. Queen Elfrieda Veronika Ingrid Lenore (E.V.I.L.) is the best friend Grump always wanted, feeding him all the rubies he can eat and allowing him to rule at her side in exchange for magic and information. But as time goes on, Grump starts to suspect that Queen E.V.I.L. may not be as nice as she seems. . . .
     When the queen commands him to carry out a horrible task against her stepdaughter Snow White, Grump is in over his head. He's bound by magic to help the queen, but also to protect Snow White. As if that wasn't stressful enough, the queen keeps bugging him for updates through her magic mirror! He'll have to dig deep to find a way out of this pickle, and that's enough to make any dwarf Grumpy indeed.-catalog summary

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

This summer the Penderwick sisters have a wonderful surprise: a holiday on the grounds of a beautiful estate called Arundel. Soon they are busy discovering the summertime magic of Arundel’s sprawling gardens, treasure-filled attic, tame rabbits, and the cook who makes the best gingerbread in Massachusetts. But the best discovery of all is Jeffrey Tifton, son of Arundel’s owner, who quickly proves to be the perfect companion for their adventures.

The icy-hearted Mrs. Tifton is not as pleased with the Penderwicks as Jeffrey is, though, and warns the new friends to stay out of trouble. Which, of course, they will—won’t they? One thing’s for sure: it will be a summer the Penderwicks will never forget.-amazon.com