Belfry Bat the Scaredy Cat

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

Belfry Bat is gumption-challenged. Because she is frightened of just
about everything, all the other bats tease her mercilessly and call her
a scaredy cat. Belfry’s hero, Mildred the Witch, is just the opposite.
She is the fastest, bravest witch alive. Mildred wants to race the
Thunder Monster, the fastest, loudest roller coaster in the world. She
needs a bat to provide radar guidance during the race, so she goes
looking for a brave one to help her face her greatest challenge. She
just happens to meet Belfry first and mistakes her for a brave bat.
Suddenly all the other bats are watching as Mildred invites Belfry
aboard her super-fast broom. Now they are off to face the Thunder
Monster and Belfry is too terrified to quit.

This hilarious tale is a classic story of how someone can become a hero
in spite of him- or herself. Tremblay deftly exploits the comedic
possibilities of a scaredy bat along for a ride on a daredevil witch’s
souped-up racing broom. A good deal of credit also goes to Chum McLeod,
whose zany drawings perfectly capture Belfry’s terror and Mildred’s
exhilaration in the face of danger. This is Tremblay’s first book, and
it’s going to be a tough act to follow. Highly recommended.