Walter the Baker [Paperback]

Eric Carle (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Walter the Baker is famous for his breads, rolls, cookies, tarts, and pies. The Duke and Duchess especially love his warm sweet rolls, delivered fresh to their castle every morning. But one day the cat spills the milk, and Walter is forced to serve the Duke and Duchess rolls made with water. After one bite the Duke throws down his roll in disgust and summons Walter to the castle. He threatens to banish the baker unless he can take the same dough and make a good-tasting roll that the rising sun can shine through three times. Will Walter succeed in his task, or will he have to leave his town forever?

With good humor and the vibrantly colored paper collages that are known and loved the world over, Eric Carle has concocted a delicious book that kids will savor as much as they love eating...shhh...pretzels!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

From the author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar comes the story of a baker who invents the pretzel. Carle's whimsical, frenetic collages seem fresh from the oven, even though they were first published 25 years ago. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Eric Carle well-known creator of many beloved picture books for small readers and listeners, including such classics as Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me, The Tiny Seed, Rooster's Off to See the World, A House for Hermit Crab, and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. He is especially celebrated for his unique ability to combine learning with pleasure. Children delight in the distinctive beauty of his illustrations -- richly layered collages in glowing colors -- and they love his entertaining stories, which invite them to make their own discoveries in a natural, joyful way.

Born in Syracuse, New York, Eric Carle received much of his education in Germany. He is a graduate of the Akademie der bildenden KÜnste in Stuttgart, where he learned about Goethe's color theory and complementary colors. Eric Carle has two grown children. He and his wife live in western Massachusetts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin (April 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689820887
• ISBN-13: 978-0689820885
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #517,367 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #70 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( C ) > Carle, Eric

More About the Author

Eric Carle is acclaimed and beloved as the creator of brilliantly illustrated and innovatively designed picture books for young children.


Eric was born in Syracuse, New York, in 1929, and moved with his parents to Germany when he was six years old. After graduating from art school, he returned to America, the land of his happiest childhood memories, and found work as a graphic designer.


After seeing an advertisement designed by Eric, respected educator and author, Bill Martin Jr, called to ask him to illustrate a story he had written. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, with its distinctive collage style, was the result of their collaboration. This favorite was the beginning of Eric Carle's true career. Soon Eric was writing his own stories, developing a close bond with Ann Beneduce, the founder of Philomel Books, who would be his editor for nearly 40 years. In 1969 they published the celebrated classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which has eaten its way into the hearts of literally millions of children all over the world and has been translated into more than 30 languages. Since this beginning, Eric Carle has illustrated more than seventy books, many best sellers, most of which he also wrote.


The secret of Eric Carle's books' appeal lies in his intuitive understanding of and respect for children, who sense in him instinctively someone who shares their most cherished thoughts and emotions. He says "I believe the passage from home to school is the second biggest trauma of childhood; the first is, of course, being born.
Indeed, in both cases we leave a place of warmth and protection for one that is unknown. The unknown often brings fear with it. In my books I try to counteract this fear, to replace it with a positive message. I believe that children are naturally creative and eager to learn. I want to show them that learning is really both fascinating and fun."


Eric Carle has two grown-up children, a son and a daughter. He and his wife Barbara divide their time between Massachusetts and Florida.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I rarely say it, however to me Walter Jr. seemed like one..., December 1, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Walter the Baker (World of Eric Carle) (Hardcover)

of the most fascinating tales I've read! Have you ever been in a disaster, so great you didn't know what to do? If so Walter Jr. had the same problem after upsetting the Duke and Ducthess of his home town. Walter, a baker, made delicious sweet rolls for the Duke and Ducthess of his home town. However one day Walter's cat tipped over a can of milk. Walter witnessed the incident and became desperate. "What shall I do?," he thought. He had no fresh milk and without that his rolls tasted awful! Thinking that the Duke and Ducthess wouldn't notice, Walter substituted the milk with water. As soon as the Duke and Ducthess tasted the inferior rolls they called Walter over. The Duke almost banished Walter but quickly thought about how much he'd miss the sweet rolls. He considered giving Walter the ultimate challenge, invent a roll which the rising sun can shine through three times, use one piece of dough, and it must taste good. What will Walter do and what will he make? Read this spectacular book to find out how and what Walter creates!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Walter the Baker, November 14, 2005

By 

Laura K, NYU - See all my reviews

This review is from: Walter the Baker (Paperback)

Walter the Baker by Eric Carle is an excellent resource to have in your classroom for all elementary students. It is the story of a well-liked baker, Walter, who makes amazing sweet rolls that the Duke and Duchess love to eat every morning. Except one night, Walter's cat spilled all of the milk he needed to make the sweet rolls and had to use water instead! Needless to say, the Duke and Duchess were not happy, and threatened to banish him from their land forever. Walter's only chance of staying was to make a great-tasting pastry through which the sun could shine 3 times. At the last minute, Walter did it...the pretzel! The Duke and Duchess loved it and let him stay in their land. This book can be used in many different ways in the classroom. It can be used as a fun story to tell young children, a lesson on cooking/pretzels for 2nd-3rd graders, and even a social studies lesson on the caste system of the rulers and the workers for older ementary grades. I recommend this book to any teacher to have in their classroom!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Walter The Baker, October 2, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Walter The Baker (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (School & Library Binding)

Walter the Baker is good book.It's about a baker and his wife.They make the best food in the whole village.Everyone rushes in the morning to buy their goods.Even the prince.Till one day the cat accidently runs into the milk.So the prince gets very angry with his bread.So he has to come up with something before time runs out.Something the prince will be happy with.So he trys so hard to make something.It teaches your mistakes can turn out good. That change isn't always bad.This book is probaly for children between the ages of 6 and 8.