Discussion Questions

• What did we learn about Bat in this chapter?

• What are some of his favorite things?

• What is Bat's full name?

• Why do people call Bixby "Bat"?

• Name some of the things Bat doesn't like to eat.

• What days does Janie watch Bat after school?

• What is Bat's favorite place to hang out?

• Describe Bat's room.

• What is your favorite place to hang out?

• If you could design your dream room, what would you include? Perhaps you can draw a picture to share.

• What are the three baskets Bat's mom and sister use to return things to his room? Do you have something similar to help keep you organized?

• What does Bat want to be when he grows up?

• What book does Bat like to look through after school?

• Why does Bat become so angry with his mother?

• What makes you angry or upset?

• Is is possible that he is worried about his mom?

• How far away is Bat supposed to stay away from Janie when he's talking to her?

• Do you have any rules that you have created for your siblings or friends? Name them.

• What is a baby skunk called?

• What street does Bat live on?

• How long does Bat's mom plan to keep the kit?

• How old does the kit have to be before it's released into the wild?

• What is an omnivore?

• What type of formula does Bat feed the kit?

• What is the name of Janie's friend she has known since before Bat was born?

• Bat says, "It wasn't worth it to try to explain to Janie what he'd meant. She usually misunderstood Bat. Most everyone did (p. 27)." Have you ever felt misunderstood? Why? Were you able to explain how you felt?

• How does Bat feed the baby kit?

• What promise does Bat make to the kit?

• Have you ever made a promise that was really hard to keep?

• How much earlier does Bat get out of school than Janie?

• Who is Bat's favorite vet technician?

• What seat does Bat like to sit in while riding in a car? Why?

• What kind of car does Bat's dad have?

• How far is it from Bat's house to Bat's school? Do you know exactly how far it is from your home to Sexton Mountain? How would you find out?

• Bat likes patterns. Every-other-Fridays break the pattern. How do you feel about patterns? Is there a pattern you like or dislike?

• What does the Saw Whet school not allow in classrooms or hallways? Do you agree with that decision? Why do you think they have that rule?

• How does Bat avoid Mrs. Martinez? Why?

• Is there something you try to avoid?

• How does Bat embarrass Lucca? Do you think he does?

• Why does Bat think Mr Grayson is a good teacher? Do you agree?

• Who is Babycakes?

• If your class could have any pet, what would you want? What do you think would be the best class pet?

• Who visits Babycakes the most?

• Bat talks about unspoken rules like not doing his schoolwork so he could hold Babycakes. Can you think of other unspoken rules?

• Why doesn't Bat like rain?

• How long does a monarch butterfly live if it's born in the summer? How long does it live if it's born in the winter? Can you think of any other interesting animal or insect facts?

• Why doesn't Bat like collaboration projects? How do you feel about group projects?

• Do you agree with how Bat works with his group on their project? Why or why not?

• Where did Bat get the name "Bixby"?

• What does Bat like to add to his hot chocolate? Does that sound good to you?

• Why doesn't Bat like being called "Sport"? Has anyone ever called you a name you didn't like? Did you tell them?

• Bat prefers taking the stairs instead of riding an elevator? Why do you think he does? What would you choose: stairs or elevator?

• Bat doesn't like mushy food. Name some examples of "mushy food." Do you like them?

• Bat thinks that Mr. Grayson's mustache looks like what insect?

• What role is Janie trying out for in her school play? Have you ever been in a play? What role did you have?

• What does Bat's mom use to make a nest for the kit? Bat isn't upset about this and thinks that it will help the kit "bond" with him. What does it mean to "bond"?

• Why does Bat's mom not want him to name the skunk kit? Do YOU think he should name it? Why or why not?

• Why do you think Bat doesn't want Janie to know that she hurt his feelings?

• Janie suggested they name the kit "Thor" after what? Do you like that name? Do you think it fits?

• Bat describes Janie as "annoying" and "brilliant." Feelings are complex. Have you ever had mixed feelings about someone?

• What is on Janie's favorite pajamas?

• Bat tells her that a herd of unicorns is called what?

• How does bat help Thor learn to go to the bathroom? Would you be patient enough to do that for a pet?

• How far away can a human smell skunk spray?

• According to Dr. Dragoo, what makes a good pet? Do you agree?

• Would you be a good pet owner? Explain why or why not.

• What game does Israel ask Bat if he'd like to play at recess? What do you like to do at recess?

• Bat wants to talk to his teacher in private, but doesn't know how to get Israel to leave. Bat goes through his "list of things that he was supposed to remember to say to people" (p. 96). Give an example of one of the things he says. Is there anything you would add to his list?

• "I'm all ears" (p. 98) is a funny expression. Can you think of a similar one?

• Bat thinks that Mr. Grayson is a good teacher because he didn't ask "annoying questions." What qualities do you think make a good teacher?

• When Mr. Grayson reads the letter to Dr. Jerry Dragoo, Bat thinks Mr. Grayson looks like he might cry or laugh. What do you think? Could he want to do BOTH?

• Bat is overwhelmed by smells and sounds as he enters his mom's vet clinic. Name some of them.

• Are there any smells or sounds that are overwhelming to you?

• What's your favorite smell? Least favorite?

• What's your favorite sound? Least favorite?

• Bat thinks his mom in her white coat is "better than a superhero." Do you agree?

• Bat explains that Bat is a marsupial. Name another marsupial.

• Bat gets to wear Thor in a pouch around his neck. Have you ever carried a baby or small animal like that? How does it make Bat feel?

• Bat's mom makes him take Thor's sling off during two times. When are they?

• Bat explains that Thor is an omnivore. What does "omni" mean? What does "vore" mean?

• What does Janie think is more interesting than animals?

• Bat realizes that it's unkind to say that Janie's interest is "stupid," but he remembers to apologize. Why doesn't he like theater?

• Bat gets confused when Janie says that her math teacher doesn't think anything is funny, but she thinks Ezra is funny. Explain why that's confusing to bat.

• Why does Janie think that Bat is insulting her when he says that she would be a good Alice in Wonderland because she's good at whining? Bat insists that it was a compliment. What do you think?

• What does Bat use to introduce Thor to Janie?

• Why is Janie upset that Bat put her pajama top in Thor's enclosure? Why does Bat think he's done a nice thing?

• Why does Bat say "Baby skunks are easier than sisters" (p. 130)? Do you agree?

• What does Bat do to the laundry so that Janie forgives him and isn't so angry?

• What is the difference Bat's dad's garage and his mom's garage? Is your garage more like his dad's or his mom's?

• Why do you think Bat prefers his dad's garage?

• What is Bat's favorite candy store? What is your favorite?

• Who does Bat meet outside the Sugar Shack?

• Why does Bat guess that Israel had been for brunch? Would you have pointed out that Israel had something in his teeth? Do you think Bat was purposefully being unkind or just factual? Why do you think that?

• Janie says that Bat doesn't have friends, "not in a mean voice, just a matter-of-fact voice" (p. 144). Explain what she means.

• Why does Bat buy one gummy sea star even though he doesn't like to eat gummy candies?

• When Dad says that Bat "inherited [his] sweet tooth," what did he mean? (p. 146)

• Why does Bat drop his bag of candy in the Sugar Shack? Are there any sounds that bother your ears?

• What does Bat's dad wear when he watches a baseball game?

• Why does Bat enjoy braiding Janie's hair? Do you like to braid hair? Why or why not?

• Explain this: "People were complicated. But braiding was easy."

• How does Thor know that Bat is warming his formula?

• What color are Thor's eyes?

• Bat says, "Most eyes are boring," but he describes Thor's eyes as the color of what? (p. 159)

• How does Bat describe his mother's eyes?

• Why do you think that Bat didn't know the color of his mom's eyes?

• Bat's mom says, "You can tell a lot about a person by looking into their eyes" (p. 161). Do you agree? Why or why not?

• Bat says "You can tell more about people from what they say than from their eyes" (p.161). Do you agree with Bat or his mom?

• How does Bat describe the color hazel?

• Bat is frustrated because Mr. Grayson won't let him read Dr. Dragoo's email right away. Mr. Grayson says, "It's good practice to delay gratification (p. 166)." What does that mean?

• How does Bat feel about Israel wanting to be his friend?

• When Bat feels overwhelmed in this chapter, what does he put on his ears?

• What does Dr. Dragoo say in the email?

• Do you agree that "a good caretaker makes a good pet" (p. 174)?

• If you could have any pet, what would you want? How would you care for it?

• What does Janie say about Bat keeping Thor? Are you surprised by her reaction?

• Bat says he will never get tired of Thor: "That would be like you getting tired of me and Janie" (p. 181). Do you agree? What do you think will happen?

• What does Bat's mom decide? Are you surprised by her decision?

• How does Bat feel about Israel's visit? Why do you think he feels this way?

• What does Bat's mom suggest they do together?

• How does Bat feel at first when Israel asks to hold Thor?

• Why is it so important that Bat looks into Israel's eyes to see how serious he was about being careful with Thor?

• After Bat looks in Israel's eyes, he looks at his hands. What does he see? What does he decide?

• Explain this quote: "Bat didn't know much about eyes. But he knew about hands (p. 188)." What hands does he understand?

• How does Bat feel at the end of our story? How would YOU feel?

What do you think is going to happen next to Thor, Bat, and his family? Any predictions?

A Boy Called Bat is part of a series. To see what happens next, check out Bat and the Waiting Game and Bat and the End of Everything.