Walter: The Story of a Rat

For reasons he could not explain, Walter had been born with the ability to read. He had never known another rat who had this ability, but from the day he opened his eyes he was able to decipher printed words. This is the story of a writer and a reader. The writer is a person. The reader is a rat. They share an old house on Long Island, but have never met. Walter, the rat, would love to know Miss Pomeroy, the writer. Miss Pomeroy is an irritable recluse and has no desire to know ANYONE. How these two lonely creatures discover one another is the essence of this story--an unusual and binding friendship.

Named an IRA/CBC Children's Choice book.

Starred Kirkus Reviews ". . . Funny and poignant by turns, here's a sweetly quirky love story of letters."

* "A small but very nearly perfect gem." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Beautiful. . . . Moving and unpretentious. . . . Lovely." --Booklist

This is the story of a writer and a reader. The writer is a person. The reader is a rat. They share an old house on Long Island, but have never met. How these two lonely creatures discover one another is the essence of this story.

Barbara Wersba is the author of thirty books for young people, including Tunes for a Small Harmonica: A Novel, a National Book Award nominee. A reviewer for the New York Times Book Review for many years, Wersba has also written for the stage and television. She lives in Sag Harbor, New York, where she runs a small publishing company called The Bookman Press.

Donna Diamond has illustrated numerous children's books as well as many book jackets. She lives in Riverdale, New York.