"Mr. and Mrs. Dullard move their family to a boring town to avoid any excitment in their lives"--

When his veterinarian mom brings home a stray baby skunk that needs rehabilitation before it can be placed in a wild animal shelter, Bat, who has austim, resolves to prove that he is up to the challenge of caring for the skunk permanently.

Polly loves words, writing, and telling stories, so when she finds a fancy book on her doorstep labeled "Special Delivery from the Writing and Spelling Department for Polly Diamond" she is thrilled; and when she finds that anything she writes in it actually happens she is really excited--but Polly soon realizes that she has to be very careful what she writes because that kind of power can be dangerous.

Bixby Alexander Tam (nicknamed Bat), is the caretaker of the best baby skunk in the world---even Janie, his older sister, is warming up to Thor. When Janie gets a part in the school play, and can't watch Bat after school, it means some pretty big changes.