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.

EJ Spy School: Deep Water

EJ Spy School: Deep Water by Susannah McFarlane, illustration by Dyani Stagg (Scholastic Australia)

PB RRP $7.99
ISBN 978-1-92193-164-2
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Swimming day at school is coming up and 8 year old Emma Jacks does not want to go. She is scared of deep water. Luckily for her she gets a call from SHINE, the top secret agency where she is training to be a spy. As EJ10, she takes the mission tube and zips off to another spy class - at the beach. If she wants to earn her underwater spy badge she is going to have to face her fears of the deep water after all.

EJ10 is trained in underwater spy work with the help of Bubbles the dolphin. Then they set off to clean rubbish which is polluting the sea. But when Bubbles is trapped, is EJ10 ready to dive deep to save her new friend?

The EJ Spy School series is written for beginner readers. The text has large font, basic words and short chapters. The content is exciting, mission based and mostly focusses on overcoming fears, environmental concerns and rescuing animals. There are plenty of fun spy gadgets too.

The pictures are sweet and often used in the place of text – to illustrate what is worn underwater or to show EJ’s spy profile. Young girls will love this series.