Bitsy Bat, Snow Star by Kaz Windness

Bitsy Bat is back for another charming adventure in a picture book that centers the autistic experience!

Bitsy wakes up one day to a new and exciting sight outside her family’s window. Snow has arrived in their forest! Her parents think this means that they should go into hibernation a little earlier than expected, but Bitsy begs to be allowed to attend the last day of school before winter break. After some of her classmates arrive with winter gear for her to head to school in, her parents allow her to go with them so long as she’s wrapped up warmly. Bitsy loves the snuggly clothes that her friends have brought her, and is excited to participate in all the other fun wintry activities that her friends are raring to get into.

And at first, everything seems awesome. Their teacher Mr Nibbles tells them to go ahead and spend the day having fun instead of doing lessons. Bitsy races outside… only to discover that she doesn’t actually like playing in the snow. It’s cold and wet, and the more outdoor activities she and her friends attempt together, the more overwhelmed and upset she becomes. She wants to take a break, but how does she let her friends know that she doesn’t like doing these things that they so obviously love? Worse, will they think less of her because she doesn’t love playing in the snow as much as they do?

As someone who also feels that snow is highly over-rated, I high key sympathized with Bitsy as she tries to figure out what to do. While this book looks at the issue from an autistic perspective, it’s just as valuable for the neurotypical in navigating what can feel like — and often is! — a fraught social situation. And while Kaz Windness shows readers how to navigate this situation, she also underscores the fact that real friends won’t make you feel bad because you don’t like all the same exact things they do. Real friends will honor your different hobbies and not get possessive and weird. That’s a very valuable lesson for all young people (and some older people) to learn.

I also appreciated the glossary in the back, and especially the expansion to fear responses, from the most well-known two to the four included here. Most people know fight or flight. Less well-known but just as significant are the freeze and fawn responses, which are excellently described alongside other terms that young people and their caretakers may not yet know.

Ms Windness continues her extraordinary illustrative work in this third book of the series, showcasing diverse anthropomorphized characters, many of them with disabilities. The illustrations are expressive and adorable, with an especial artistic fillip in the upside down nature of Bitsy’s home life. I especially loved the little pictures from Enzo’s communication tablet. Between the cute pictures and the very necessary message, this book is a terrific addition to any children’s library, no matter how neurodivergent or otherwise your young readers may be.

Bitsy Bat, Snow Star by Kaz Windness will be published tomorrow October 27 2026 by Beach Lane Press and is available from all good booksellers, including