Book Nook: Batty Betty

It can be hard to feel different. I know I was often left out, and so is one of my daughters. It's hard to encourage kids to follow their own paths and embrace being quirky, and it's really helpful to see it in action in stories. 

I recently had a chance to review Batty Betty from LuJu Books by Kathryn Hast. It's a cute story with unexpected characters (a tuba, a banana, a giant, and a pack of beavers). It has a lilting storytelling style, and a gentle lesson about standing up to bullies and being a friend, even to people who are a bit odd. 

This book opens up discussion for which role kids see themselves in - are they the banana who hates being different and sees themselves as bruised and broken, the tuba who tries to help others feel better, the giant who happily beats to her own drum, the in-crowd who shuts others out, or the one who is brave enough to go against the pack of friends to welcome someone else in?

“I’m really committed to the notion that kids can read, think, and discuss ideas that might initially seem difficult,” Hast says. “My hope is that Batty Betty offers both entertainment and depth and can serve as a springboard for conversations between parents and children.”  

Kathryn Hast has a Master’s of Fine Arts degree in writing and a Master’s degree in Education. She is from York, Pennsylvania, and currently lives in Asheville, North Carolina with her husband and two children. She has one dog named after a Beatles song, and one that barks at the television. Batty Betty is her second published children’s book, following her previous title Otis Grows.

Learn more at www.lujubooks.com, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Batty Betty can be purchased from www.lujubooks.com and Amazon.