Lottie & Walter

Lottie firmly believes there is a shark lurking in the pool where she’s supposed to be taking group swim lessons. What’s more, the shark, whose menacing blue-gray body seems to have materialized from the murky depths, has very specific tastes: it “didn’t want to eat the other kids. It wanted to eat Lottie.” So Lottie perches on a bench in a bright red suit with a towel over her head each week, “watched, waited, put her shoes back on, and went home again.” When Lottie is told of an imminent pool party, she shivers, then conjures up an antidote to the shark: a big floppy walrus named Walter, who has a pretty impressive set of teeth himself. He gains Lottie’s confidence at home, sleeping on her top bunk and playing hide-and-seek, then ultimately coaxes her into the water with a call of “Humbelly doo, lumbelly la, loopy loo.” Quiet prose by Walker (Florette), a doll-like protagonist wearing oversize flippers, and soft, thoughtful watercolors give this story of facing one’s fears an intimate, confiding feel, with happy, hulking Walter adding just the right amount of gentle amusement. Ages 4–7. [em](June) [/em]