Lottie and Walter

Lottie and Walter by Anna Walker (Puffin Books) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9780143787181

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

Lottie’s with her mum and baby brother at the swimming pool. She has a secret from them that even her instructor doesn’t know – and that is she knows that a shark is hiding in the pool. It doesn’t want to eat anyone, but her, Lottie!

At the pool Lottie goes to classes but never goes into the pool. There, one day, she meets Walter, a walrus who befriends her, follows her home, even hops in the bath with her! He’s a great friend – even helps her overcome her fear of the dark.

At the pool party, Lottie suddenly plunges into the water. Is she eaten by the shark? That’s the question the parent reading to their child is likely to ask: the end of the book will reveal the answer.

The illustrations in this picture book suit the text perfectly with lots of black and white space around coloured pictures of Lottie, Walter and others in the story. The picture of Walter and Lottie in the bubble bath is lovely. 

This is a quirky, book that can help to empower any young child aged 4 to 6 years who is overcome with fear. It’s also about a unique friendship between a little girl and her secret companion.