Book Birthday at the Longmont Library with Kaz Windness

Saturday, June 10, 2023
 • 
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Celebrate the launch of Kaz Windness' new picture book, Bitsy Bat, School Star with The Wandering Jellyfish Bookshop at the Longmont Public Library! Festivities will include a storytime, bat-themed activities, a Shine and Share celebration, book signing, and cookies!

Please note this event will be held at the Longmont Public Library with Kaz's books available to purchase on-site through The Wandering Jellyfish Bookshop. Attendees must bring proof of registration for admittance. To preorder a copy to pick up at the event, click here.


A little bat struggles to fit in only to learn to celebrate differences in this “darling book for all children but especially those with autism” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) about starting school, making friends, and seeing what makes each person special.

Bitsy is a little bat with big star dreams of making friends at her new school. But when she arrives, Bitsy doesn’t feel like she fits in. The other kids sit on their chairs, but sitting upright makes Bitsy dizzy. The other kids paint with their fingers, but Bitsy would rather use her toes. Everyone tells Bitsy she’s doing things wrong-wrong-wrong, so she tries harder…and ends up having a five-star meltdown.

Now Bitsy feels like a very small star and doesn’t want to go back to school. But with help from her family, Bitsy musters her courage, comes up with a new plan, and discovers that being a good friend is just one of the ways she shines bright!

Kaz Windness loves to make her readers laugh. Kaz is an award-winning, genre-crossing illustrator and author of heart-warming books for young readers. Proudly autistic, Kaz specializes in character-driven books celebrating inclusivity, grit, and kindness. Her fifteen books include Swim, Jim! (Paula Wiseman Books/Simon & Schuster, May 2022), Worm and Caterpillar are Friends (Simon Spotlight, January 2023), and Bitsy Bat, School Star (Paula Wiseman Books/Simon & Schuster, June 2023).


Kaz is a professor of illustration and curriculum author at her alma mater, the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (RMCAD, 2013-present) and founder of The Cuddlefish Academy where she inspires students to tell stories with pictures.

Kaz loves squishy-faced dogs, waffles, thrifting, and all things Halloween. Her favorite art mediums are pen and ink, watercolor, gouache, acrylic, collage, and pencil, but mostly Photoshop. There's not much she won't turn into an art supply.

Kaz lives in Colorado with her English teacher husband, two children, and a bunny-obsessed Boston Terrier named Remy.