Walter and the No-Need-to-Worry Suit (The Wonderful World of Walter and Winnie) by Rachel Bright

by Rachel Bright

Introducing the first fantastic tale from the Wonderful World of Walter and Winnie – an enchanting new picture book series from Rachel Bright.We all worry. But nobody worries quite like Walter. As the Seriously Competitive Sports and Funday approaches, Walter’s worries start to roll out of control. What can his best friend Winnie and the other Woollybottomers do to help?A heart-warming, laugh-out-loud adventure revealing that whatever happens, as long as you have your friends around you, there’s no need to worry!Unique picture book talent Rachel Bright has created the wacky world of Woollybottom, a little town that sits on top of a very tall hill, and home to best friends, Walter and Winnie, and a whole host of other charming characters. Each book in the series gently and humorously addresses a ‘first experience’ that all young children will be able to relate to, in Rachel’s inimitable style.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Friendship, Childrens

Paperback

First published August 1, 2012

About the author

Rachel is a writer of words, drawer of pictures and champion of silver linings. She exhibits widely, writes tirelessly and frequently creates slightly unhinged characters.

Her written work includes children’s stories and poems, clever advertising copy and lots of other stuff besides. Her illustrative work is a smorgasboard of giant, hand-printed poems, mind-bogglingly detailed gouache illustrations and a cacophony of quirky prints and etchings.

She explores the lovliness of words and the magic of pictures, revelling in a world of jam-eating miniature bears and other made-up animals.

Her work aims to capture a free way of thinking - one which makes you feel anything is possible, a feeling all too easily lost with the end of childhood. When we’re all grown-up, sometimes we just need a little nudge to remember it’s been there all along.

*Rachel has also been an air hostess, a garden designer and a lifeguard. She often runs a really long way and was once invited to the selection of the British ultra running team. She also once won a date with Man of the millennium and has been trying to live it down ever since.

Reviews

[Suz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indy and I just read this twice! He asked! We purchased this book at Pre School during the week as part of a Book Week promotion. Indy chose it, but I thought it was a little complex for him. Turns out I was wrong, and he loved it. He listened, joined in, learned some things and repeated his understanding afterwards and also during the second read.

Walter is a worrier (maybe I am too!) and he lives in Woollybottom. This of course, provided some bum wiggling and raucous laughter and silliness from Master 4, aka Indy.

Walter's friends help him with his worrisome nature, and in the end he gets by with a little help from these friends. A lovely little book with an honest storyline and a wonderful little community illustrated throughout.

If Indy wanted to read this twice, and I ended up reading it half dressed on the way out the door, something is finally clicking in my noisy and hectic household! Oh my goodness he asked for a book. Yippee!!

I also have to say that I'm enjoying the over the top reading I'm doing for him, I'll have to ask the big kids what I sound like.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very British, with mixed capitals and cozy villages and hard work for success.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for worriers!

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute read , that I read to my friend’s son Adam for world book day today.

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Walter and the No-Need-to Worry Suit is a brilliant picture book that is full of fun, humour and has a wonderful message for little ones! Rachel Bright's illustrations are superb, they stand out from the crowd and are big, bright, bold, colourful and quirky! Little people won't know what to look at first as each page is jam packed with wonderfully attractive things.The storyline is great, it is perfectly paced and is a good length. We are introduced to an amazing set of brand new characters and they are very interesting indeed. This is going to be a series so we will get to know them so much better in future books. YAY!

Walter is a bit of a worrier, actually he worries about every single thing. When he sees his name down for 3 events in the competitive sports and fun day his worrying is taken to a whole new level. His best friend Winnie gathers everyone together to make Walter a No-Need-To worry suit that will hopefully help him through the day. But the suit proves to be a little bit tricky to operate.....

Walter will come to realise that he doesn't need a worry suit if he has his friends all round him for support. This is a great tale with a really happy ending, it was wonderful to see Walter gaining some much needed confidence. We would easily recommend this book to little worriers everywhere. And, if you haven't read Love Monster by Rachel Bright either then you are seriously missing out, it's seriously cute.

4/5 Stars!

http://fictionfascination.blogspot.co.uk

[Emmaline MacBeath · Rating 4 out of 5]

SUMMARY: Walter is a big worrier. In fact he is the biggest worrier in Woolybottom. A competitive sports day is coming up and Walter is worried about the events he is picked for. He thinks of all the things that could go wrong. This makes him not want to go. His friends get together to create Walter a No-Need-To-Worry-Suit. The only problem is, he can't move very well in it. He begins the competition, but has trouble because of the suit. Finally, Walter knows exactly what to do.

ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrations are very colorful and extremely detailed and sometimes busy.

THE GOOD: This story has a wonderful moral about succeeding no matter the odds and about letting friends help when you are in need. There is plenty of laugh out loud humor and fun characters.
THE NOT AS GOOD: Some of the pages were too busy for me.

AGE RECOMMENDATION: Ages 4-8

[Courtney Torrent · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story has a good message about friendship and that friends can help you with your worries, but I thought the book was simply "ok" because I felt as though there was not a lot of detail to the story. There was some imagination, but each imaginative idea only lasted one page. I could see this book being a decent one for teaching students how to make predictions because there were three pages where Walter shares his worry and the page ends with "what if.." The teacher could stop and have students come up with what they think could happen regarding Walter's worry. This story could be used in the classroom to teach certain skills, but I think it would make a better one just to have in the library that students can choose for free reading time.

[Nola Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Walter and Winnie both live in the town of Woollybottom, but they're very different. Winnie is happy-go-lucky, but Walter worries about everything. When Walter finds himself nominated for three events in the sports fun day, he goes into a panic. What if his trousers come off or a big mouse stamps on his house? Winnie and friends come to the rescue by making him a no-need-to-worry suit, but will it do the trick?

This is a cute, humorous story with a good message about getting a little help from your friends. The illustrations are really good, with lots of little extras to keep adults amused too.

[Caspette · Rating 4 out of 5]

We watched this book being read on the kids show Bookaboo. Both myself, 3 year old son, and partner thoroughly enjoyed it.

It is about Walter who worries about EVERYTHING. Eventually he learns to over come his worries and not let them hold him back.

I loved the tall take that is woven by Walters fears. Which is built on as the story progresses.

A really good message for kids and a thoroughly enjoyable book.

[Bianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the story about how friends come together to help an anxious friend in need, and help him conquer his fears. I liked that the friends were understanding and helping out. The witting style was nice, it flowed and I believe most children could understand and appreciate what was going on in the story.

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 3 out of 5]

decent book for talking to kids about anxiety and for making predictions. I wish the author hadn't explicitly stated the lesson at the end; always better to let readers figure it out on their own.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story with a good message.

[Raneem · Rating 4 out of 5]

if you live to keep away from your fears .... you will end up not living at all....thats wat this book is saying in a cute and simple way

[Awjtf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book!

[Briana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Walter worries a lot, but has good friends who help him. Loved the cute pics and humor.