Iris and Walter and Cousin Howie

Iris and Walter

by Elissa Haden Guest, Christine Davenier (Illustrations)

"An easy-to-read story about friendship."                             -- School Library Journal In this Level 3 chapter book for newly independent readers, Walter's favorite cousin, Howie, comes for a visit. Iris expected the three of them to have lots of fun fishing and learning magic tricks. Instead, Iris feels left out and worries she will lose her best friend. Like other Iris and Walter books in the Green Light Reader series, this story addresses common childhood situations with sensitivity and honesty. Storyline also creates opportunities to talk about bullying behaviors, and, ultimately, shows characters developing clever ways to resolve their troubles. 

Genres: Realistic Fiction, Family, Picture Books

44 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2003

About the author

Elissa Haden Guest is the author of Baby Builders, illustrated by Hiroe Nakata and the award-winning Iris and Walter series illustrated by Christine Davenier. She holds an MFA in Children’s Literature from Hollins University and teaches classes in writing for children and young adults at College of Marin Community Education and Stanford Continuing Studies. She and her husband have two swell children and a hilarious little grandson. They live in San Francisco where they root for the Golden State Warriors.

Reviews

[Sarah]

This is a nice entry in this emerging reader/transitional series. I really liked that the parents and grandparents tell Iris that she doesn't have to like Howie. I always felt as a child people acted like you were supposed to like everyone. I think the distinction is not always made that you don't have to like everyone, but you still have to be able to get along with them. In kids books, in particular, they usually end up as friends, as if you really have no choice of just not liking another kid.

[Rose Rosetree]

A brilliantly constructed chapter book, packed with human interest... and not a word wasted.

So often when I'm reading picture books for children, and early reader books, too, I want to scream back at the author:

"Where are the parents? Bring out the parents, already."

But in this book parents play an important role, both Iris's parents and her wise grandfather, too. The problem they help Iris solve is Cousin Howie. He's soooo rude to Iris, even though she is Walter's best friend.

By the end of the story... well no spoilers from me, no no. Trust me though when I tell you that there's a happy ending, and it's well earned.

FIVE STARS to author Elissa Haden Guest and illustrator Christine Davenier.

[Meredith]

When Walter's cousin Howie visits, Iris feels left out.

This story depicts the common childhood experience of having to share a close friend with someone else and feeling left out and jealous as a result. It will allow young readers to reflect upon their own lives.

This easy reader series uses Iris's and Walter's friendship to tackle everyday issues experienced by children, both acknowledging the small struggles that have big impacts and reassuring young readers.

[Dolly]

This is another simple, but entertaining story in the Iris and Walter series by Elissa Haden Guest and Christine Davenier. We've enjoyed reading these stories together and we like how they depict situations that our girls can relate to.

In this case Iris deals with being the third wheel when Cousin Howie comes to visit Walter. I know that our girls experience this kind of situation, especially when a friend comes over to visit one of our girls. Despite their goodhearted efforts to be inclusive, there's some truth to the saying, 'Three's a crowd.'

Overall, this was a fun book to read aloud and we enjoyed reading it together. We will certainly look for more of the books in this series at our local library.

[Kim]

My 7yo read this book while listening to it on a CD. Good times.

[WSL Library]

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