Walter The Farting Dog: Banned From the Beach (Hardcover)

by William Kotzwinkle (Author), Glenn Murray (Author), Elizabeth Gundy (Author), Audrey Colman (Illustrator) "Mr. and Mrs. Crabbe were having a ton of fun..." (more)
Key Phrases: The Crabbes

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Mr. and Mrs. Crabbe are enjoying their seaside vacation . . . until a certain dog blows away their umbrella with an enormous fart. Before long, Walter is banned from the beach. While stuck inside the beach house, Walter snacks on a sack of strange-looking tropical fruit labeled Cook Thoroughly. Meanwhile, Betty and Billy hunt for treasure out on a sandbar. As soon as they find a nickel, Mr. and Mrs. Crabbe elbow their way in. All four get marooned during high tide. Will Walter hear their cries for help? And why did that tropical fruit have to be thoroughly cooked?

About the Author
William Kotzwinkle is the author of such enduring classics as The Fan Man, Fata Morgana, and The Bear Went Over the Mountain. His numerous children’s books include E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. He has twice won the National Magazine Award for Fiction, as well as many other honors here and abroad, including the World Fantasy Award. His most recent novel is The Amphora Project.

Glenn Murray has worked in education for over twenty years, both in Canada and the Middle East. He has written radio dramas for the CBC and devotes a lot of time to promoting literacy. He has been pleased and privileged to see firsthand that the Walter books can be used to turn kids on to reading.

Elizabeth Gundy is best known for her novel Bliss. Among her other books are Cat on a Leash and the comic novel The Disappearance of Gregory Pluckrose. She is also co-creator of the first four Walter books.

Audrey Colman illustrated the four previous Walter the Farting Dog books and also wrote and illustrated a picture book entitled Francine, Francine, the Beach Party Queen!, which appeared on the New York Times bestseller list along with the Walter the Farting Dog series. Her digital "painting" has been featured in magazines, posters, and multimedia projects. She lives in Oakland, California.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile (June 21, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525478124
• ISBN-13: 978-0525478126
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 9.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #50,051 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great art, but story line is on the weak side..., August 6, 2007

By	Robert Schmidt (Honolulu, HI & Logan, UT USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

You have to start with a certain level of acceptance when you pick up a kids' book titled Walter The Farting Dog: Banned From the Beach. I suspect those without that level of acceptance won't pick it up in the first place.

Walter has a gas problem. The same gas that gets him in trouble at the beach ends up... well, that's the story! However, "the point" here is weak. No matter what planet you're from, the theme of the story is... what? You are weird if you are irritated by dogs behaving badly on the beach or elsewhere? Society should accept everything? How about, dog owners are okay even if they are not responsible. Or, don't worry, be happy? I realize that stories for kids are allowed to be... just fun. I'd put this one in that category. But I've heard that there ARE themes here: don't rush to judgment, be accepting, defend the defenseless, and so on. These themes weren't here for me.

But the artwork! Superb work, indeed. The book certainly didn't need a "scratch'n sniff" strip to make you aware of Walter's little problem.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny - Kids love it, July 29, 2007

By	Jimmy (Georgia) - See all my reviews

If you have a problem coaxing your kids to read - Walter comes to the rescue. While being funny (all kids think the subject matter is funny) it is also a book that teaches kids a lesson about acceptance of those with minor flaws.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gassy dog is great for tinies., April 29, 2008

By	Mrs. S. Besser "judosoo" (florida) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book, one of a series, is absolutely wonderful for four to six- year-olds. They are all at the bodily functions stage of self-interest, and this book is howlingly funny.
Also, whilst they are giggling, the stories teach them moral values, ethics and the importance of good behaviour.
Our little girl, five years old, never wearies of being read, and reading her Walter books, and of squeezing her fleecy Walter the Farting Dog !
HIGHLY recommended.