I loved this book because it teaches about the importance of equity and treating others equally - even if you're the only one doing so! I would use this as a journal activity in answering, "Why is it important to treat everyone with kindness" or "Why was everyone mean to Walter? What should they have done differently?"

"Klein aber fein" - das trifft nicht nur auf den Protagonisten, eine Ratte namens Walter, zu, sondern auch auf das Buch selbst. Nicht weltbewegend aber herzerwärmend und eine Freude für jeden Buchliebhaber. Selbst mein Sohn (5), bei dem ich dachte das Buch wäre vielleicht doch noch zu anspruchsvoll und lang(weilig) für ihn, hörte mir gebannt zu und wollte unbedingt bis zum Ende weiter mitlesen. Das perfekte Weihnachtsgeschenk für alle anderen - und einen selbst.

What a wonderful, wonderful book. Walter is a very literary rodent, much given to the apropos snippet of poetry. When he busted out "My candle burns at both ends" I whooped with laughter. The central conceit works so well here. Walter lives with an author and is dismayed to learn that her books are about mice. The story of the odd and awkward relationship between the woman and the rat is both poignant and amusing. The illustrations resonate at the exact same frequency as the prose. Highly recommended.

My thanks to Lisa Vegan for her review, which led me to this book. I'd never have found it otherwise.

One of my favorite books ever. I read it at least twice a year just for the good feeling it gives me when it is over.

I first read years ago to my class when I taught 4th grade. Walter, The Story of a Rat, is a story about friendship plain and simple and beautiful. It is a book that gives you hope, and leaves you with a overwhelming feeling of contentment. I read it at least once a year and it never loses its appeal.

Excellent children book. Walter, the Story of a Rat, It's  a  story of An unlikely friendship develops between Walter, a literate rat and Amanda Pomeroy, elderly writer of children's books. Both are very lonely . It's a story about the vulnerability and fragility of friendship and love.   Walter the rat is smart, witty and sophisticated.   A fun enjoyable read.

This lovely children's chapter book is about an elderly rat who lives in the home of a writer of children's books. He is intrigued by Miss Pomeroy and her loneliness, but is also hurt because she writes a series of books about heroic mice, with nary a rat to be found: "Walter sat on Miss Pomeroy's ladder studying these books, and he did not know whether to laugh or cry. He felt betrayed -- for why had Miss Pomeroy chosen to write about mice when she could have just as easily chosen rats? How could she not have known that rats are more interesting than mice, more intelligent, and more adaptable? To put it bluntly, how could she not have known that rats are more magnificent?"

Walter wants to make contact with Miss Pomeroy, so that he can ask her about why she has neglected rats so (in truth, he's rather angry), but he doesn't want to come right out and ask her first thing, so he writes her his first note: My name is Walter. I live here, too. And the pair embark on what turns into a wonderful friendship. The drawings, by Donna Diamond, are great -- she clearly has a pet rat or has spent a lot of time with one, because all the poses are wonderfully ratty.

"Liebe Miss Pomeroy,

danke, dass Sie mir geschrieben haben. Ihr Brief war kurz, aber ich habe mich sehr darüber gefreut. Wie schon gesagt, ich heiße Walter, und mein lateinischer Name ist Rattus norvegicus. Ich lebe seit sechs Monaten hier und habe keine Freunde. Auch keine Verwandten. Ich lese alle Ihre Bücher und hoffe, Sie haben nichts dagegen. Ich stelle sie immer an Ihren Platz zurück.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen,
Walter (benannt nach Sie Walter Scott)"



This is the third rat that made me cry. They are out to get me...

Det er en rigtig sød og hjertevarm historie. Selvom den blivet beskrevet som en julebog, synes jeg ikke at det begrænser den.

This was a lovely book, however, it contained some spoilers of other books that I haven't read yet. That was the only thing I disliked about it.

It's a story about a rat, his thoughts, the books he is reading and most of all about friendship. It's a lovely sweet story.

Der Rattenmann hatte als Jungratte auf der Müllhalde ein Buch von Sir Walter Scott gelesen. Seitdem nennt er sich Walter. Die Autorin Miss Amanda Pomeroy, in deren Haus Walter lebt, weiß nichts von ihrem Untermieter, da Walter nur nachts aktiv ist. Der Rattenmann ist ausgesprochen ordentlich und penibel, putzt und striegelt sein Fell und hält seinen Bau sauber. Walter ist auch sehr wissbegierig; mit der Zeit liest er sich durch Miss Pomeroys Bibliothek. Allmählich beginnt Walter, sich um Miss Pomeroy zu sorgen. Ist die alte Dame eigentlich glücklich? Eine ungewöhnliche Korrespondenz zwischen einsamer Autorin und rücksichtsvollem Ratterich beginnt.

Walters Geschichte punktet damit, dass der Ratterich auf seinem literarischen Höhenflug von Donna Diamond mit feiner Feder wie ein Tier gezeichnet und dabei nicht verniedlicht wird.

Did not expect this story to have me tearing up at the end. I’m keeping this one in my library FORSURE