Iris and Walter: The School Play

Iris and Walter

by Elissa Haden Guest, Christine Davenier (Illustrator)

Iris and Walter can't wait for opening day of their first school play. Walter helps Iris make her costume. Iris helps Walter practice his lines. But when Iris wakes up on the morning of the play, she's in for a big disappointment.
Luckily, in this fifth book of the critically acclaimed, award-winning series, Iris learns that with a best friend like Walter and a teacher like Miss Cherry, there are always happy surprises just around the corner.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books

44 pages, Hardcover

First published January 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

[Jacki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Iris and her best friend Walter are very excited to be bugs in their school play. Iris is great at remembering her lines, and Walter is great at preparing the costumes. But Iris is sick on the day of the play and can’t make it, so Walter is on his own. When Iris comes back to school, their teacher tells them they are going to have another performance, so Iris doesn’t feel as bad anymore.

This book is what I would imagine a level 3 book should be like. There was still the good contrast of the text and the pictures not intruding but assisting in understanding the words. The small chapters match the goal at level 3 of “reading independently,” and the topic should be of interest to young children like Iris and Walter. One thing I didn’t like was the illustration style, but I think the facial expressions were still presented very accordingly to the feelings of the characters, which is important in this transitional reading phase.

[Joshua Grimes · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Iris and Walter: The School Play" is an enjoyable, and also forgettable story. The book could be used as a good tool in a kindergarten or first grade classroom as an introduction to chapter books with an overarching plot. Iris and Walter are fun characters, whose interactions with one another add heart to the overall story. Iris's inability to attend the school play, and then later participation in another production could act as a tool for teachers and parents to relay the importance of patience and seeking the positive in any situation.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Iris's and Walter's class are putting on a play about insects, Walter has stage fright, and Iris gets sick and misses the play entirely.

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.

[Allison Turkish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book very much because Iris misses the play. She is sick and her parents keep her home from school!!

Children who read this learn that sometimes you miss out on something great but LIFE GOES ON.

The note that Water wrote Iris is so sweet.

This is only the second book of the series which I have read. I love these books. I wish I'd known about them when my kids were younger.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a child, I've experienced the disappointment of missing an important school function because I was sick. As a parent, I've empathized with my girls when they have the same experience. It's so sad and frustrating. So this is a good story that helps children see that it's not the end of the world and that there will always be another play, another dance, another special snack or ice cream party... We've read a couple of the books in the Iris and Walter series and we will certainly look for more at our local library.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Iris and Walter both got parts in the school play. During rehearsal, however, Walter forgets all his lines and Iris had to whisper them to him. When the day of the school play comes, Walter gets worried he won't remember his lines or have help because Iris is home sick. Walter ends up remembering all his lines and they both get parts to another play at school.

[carissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

grades 1-3
reading alone
early chapters

[Melanie Boss · Rating 4 out of 5]

picture book. iris and walter are in a school play, but the day of the play iris gets sick. the next day when she was better, the teacher brought yummy cookies.

[Aine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Elanor]

All by herself!