Iris and Walter [Paperback]

Elissa Haden Guest (Author), Christine Davenier (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2006 | Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up | Series: Iris And Walter

Together Iris and Walter discover that anything—from adjusting to a new home to facing the first day of school—is easier when you have a best friend to help you.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Four gracefully paced chapters, stylish illustrations and a design that allows plenty of breathing room add up to a knockout kickoff to a beginning reader series. Guest (Girl Stuff) lays out the central conflict in the first sentence ("When Iris and Iris's family moved from the big city to the country, Iris was sad"). Davenier's (Leon and Albertine) corresponding pen-and-ink and watercolor-wash illustration takes up most of the spread: a car on a rural road drives into the sunset, as a crestfallen Iris gazes out the rear window, back toward the city. The rest of the first chapter evocatively recounts in just how many ways the girl pines for her former home (e.g., "the long hallway where she roller-skated on rainy days"; in the illustration she appears like Alice in Wonderland bursting out of the corridor). Iris's parents try to cheer her up, but only Grandpa knows what she needs. He helps Iris discover a new friend, Walter, and soon she is savoring country life. Guest forswears a pat resolutionDthe city still occupies Iris's thoughts, conveyed with a skillful and unobtrusive use of repetition ("She dreamed of her noisy street and her wide front stoop. She dreamed of tango music and of roller skating down long hallways"). Guest's economic eloquence is in perfect sync with Davenier's elegant watercolor and ink drawings; the illustrator's urbane graphic sensibility and lush palette of blue and purple hues bring to mind vintage New Yorker covers. Ages 6-9. (Sept.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-In this beginning chapter book, Iris has moved from the city to the country, and she is not impressed. There are no noises, no stoops to sit on, and seemingly, no children. Her parents encourage her to play in her new yard to no avail; it is her grandfather who finally takes her for a walk and she meets Walter in his tree house. The two become fast friends and Iris learns to appreciate country life. She rides the boy's pony, plays hide-and-seek, and rolls in the grass. The only flaw in the story is that when her pal asks her about life in the big city, all she has to say is, "there are lots and lots and lots of people." Walter replies that in the country "there are lots and lots and lots of stars," and the discussion abruptly ends there. The exchange seems stilted and preachy, and Walter appears to be either very wise or very boring. The pen-and-ink illustrations are a bit sloppy and have a limited palette of primarily greens, blues, and pinks. Overall, though, the story does work, showing the positive qualities of different lifestyles and that friends can be found anywhere.
Holly Belli, Bergen County Cooperative Library System, West Caldwell, NJ
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Paperback: 44 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (March 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152056440
• ISBN-13: 978-0152056445
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.3 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #389,158 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #68 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Issues > Moving
  • #76 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Where We Live > Country Life

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Getting to Know the Country, December 20, 2011

By 

Ohioan - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Iris and Walter (Hardcover)

This collection of four early-reader stories is warm and sweet. When Iris's family moves from the big city to the country, Iris is sad. She misses the noise and bustle of the city. There is nothing to do in the country. Her parents tell her to "cheer up," but Iris can't. And maybe doesn't want to. Then Grandpa takes Iris for a walk and they explore the country. What Iris really wants is to find another kid. Amazingly (or did Grandpa have it planned all along?) she does. His name is Walter. The two become friends and Iris learns that there are wonderful things to do in the countryside, too.

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally a simple chapter book!, October 19, 2011

By 

avidreader123 (Mesa, AZ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Iris and Walter (Paperback)

My daughter feels the need to be just like all of her friends and read "chapter books"...this one is *right* at her level. She is an emerging 2nd grade reader. The characters are sweet and the illustrations are beautiful. Best of all....this is the 1st book my daughter has WANTED to read. :)

5.0 out of 5 stars Long live Iris and Walter, December 31, 2010

By 

Georgia Brown "Wise Buy" (Santa Rosa, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Iris and Walter (Paperback)

This is the first book in the Iris and Walter series. My daughter loves the characters, and we have since bought nearly all of them. This one is sweet, has gentle and patient parents (and a grandpa), a strong main character who is a girl, a compassionate and engaging secondary character who is a boy and a kind and mutually supportive friendship between the two of them. It has maintained its position in my daughter's Top Ten for two years now.