Bat and the business of ferrets

On his first day of school as a fourth-grader, autistic Bat goes directly to his third-grade classroom to visit his wonderful former teacher and the class pet, a rabbit whose snuggling had often comforted Bat when he was out of sorts. Redirected to his new classroom, Bat learns that his new teacher, Mr. Peña, doesn't want a class pet. Determined to change his mind, Bat and his best friend circulate a petition for their classmates to sign, and they hope for the best. From Bat's viewpoint, Mr. Peña should adopt the albino ferret recently born in Bat's mother's animal clinic. Meanwhile, Bat struggles with learning to listen to other people, rather than repeatedly, dogmatically explaining his own views. Offering insights into Bat's ways of thinking and reacting to challenges, the fourth book in the Bat series portrays this lovable, well-developed character, his problems, and his successes, with empathy and elements of humor. Illustrated in expressive line drawings, this well-paced third-person narrative is a great choice for kids seeking transitional chapter books.