Book Review of Bitsy Bat, Snow Star
The Children’s Book Review
Bitsy Bat, Snow Star
Written and Illustrated by Kaz Windness
Ages 4-8 | 48 Pages
Publisher: Beach Lane Books (2026) | ISBN-13: 978-1665963664
What to Expect: Winter, snow, sensory sensitivity, autism, neurodiversity, friendship, honesty, self-acceptance, indoor activities.
When Bitsy Bat’s first-ever snowfall turns out to be more overwhelming than magical, she learns that true friends don’t need to love all the same things.
Bitsy wakes to a world blanketed in white and can hardly wait to get to school and play in the snow with her friends. But the reality of winter fun isn’t quite what she imagined. Sledding is trickier than it looks, and snow angels and snowmen leave her damp, chilly, and uncomfortable. Not wanting to disappoint anyone, Bitsy puts on a brave face and keeps playing along, but each new activity piles on a little more until a playful snowball fight becomes too much to bear. Will her friends still like her if they find out she doesn’t love the snow the way they do?
Winter is a full-body experience: the sharp sting of cold air, the wet chill of snow, and the bulk and scratch of all the layers needed just to step outside. Pair that with a character who can easily become overstimulated, and you have a story that Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor–winning author-illustrator Kaz Windness handles with relatability, care, and deep respect. Told from an autistic perspective, the narrative captures how excitement can build and build, much like a snowball rolling downhill, until it finally collides with something. Rather than asking Bitsy to push through her discomfort, Windness lets her discover that cozy indoor pursuits, like reading and making paper snowflakes, can be every bit as joyful. The result is a reassuring message for every child: it’s perfectly okay not to enjoy the same activities as everyone else, and honesty with friends can lead to wonderful surprises. As with the first two books in the series, the back matter offers more about autism along with an author’s note, continuing the series’ meaningful work of helping Autistic readers feel seen and helping others build understanding.
The charm of this story begins before Snow Star is even opened—an embossed book jacket invites little fingers to explore and adds a tactile, sensory moment fitting for a story so attuned to the senses. Inside, illustrator Windness’ soft, snowy palette sets a gentle winter scene, and Bitsy pops against it with her textured magenta nose and cozy wintery blues. Most striking is how the color shifts with Bitsy’s emotions: as her energy moves from excitement to overwhelm, the cool blues give way to reds, letting young readers feel the change right alongside her.
Longtime fans of Bitsy will be delighted with this third installment, and newcomers are sure to fall for her too. It’s an especially wonderful pick for sensory-sensitive and Autistic children, as well as for families, classrooms, and libraries looking to nurture empathy and acceptance during the snowy months.
Bitsy Bat, Snow Star is a cozy, compassionate winter read that celebrates finding your own way to enjoy the season.
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About the Author
Kaz Windness is the author-illustrator of picture books Swim, Jim! and Bitsy Bat, School Star, which received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, and BookPage. She created the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Level 1 Ready-to-Read Graphics book Worm and Caterpillar Are Friends, which received a starred review and is a Junior Library Guild selection, and the Level 1 Ready-to-Reads Cat vs. Vac and Go! Go! Dino!. Kaz is also the illustrator of Ollie, the Acorn, and the Mighty Idea by Andrew Hacket and the author of When You Love a Book, illustrated by Heather Brockman Lee.
When she’s not writing or illustrating books, Kaz teaches illustration at the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design and enjoys making deep-dish pizza. Kaz lives in Denver, Colorado, with her husband, two children, and a Boston terrier.
Visit her at WindnessBooks.com.
