Iris and Walter: The School Play

by Elissa Haden Guest, Christine Davenier (Illustrator)

Overview

"This excellent addition to the series is a perfect choice for newly independent readers."  —School Library Journal

Iris and Walter are excited about performing in their first school play. Walter helps Iris make her costume. Iris helps Walter remember his lines. But when Iris wakes up sick on the morning of the play, she’s in for a big disappointment. Will the show go on without her?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780544456020
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	08/04/2015
Series:	Iris and Walter
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	44
Sales rank:	497,641
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

Elissa Haden Guest is the author of Baby Builders, illustrated by Hiroe Nakata, and the award-winning Iris and Walter series. She holds an MFA in children's literature from Hollins University and teaches classes in writing for children and young adults at Stanford Continuing Studies. She lives in San Francisco, California.

Christine Davenier is an illustrator for young readers and for the French and American press. She illustrated the Very Fairy Princess books by actress Julie Andrews and her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton. She studied at the National School of Applied Arts in Paris and at the Rhode Island School of Design in the United States

Editorial Reviews

Praise for books in the series:
[star]"Guest's economic eloquence is in perfect sync with Davenier's elegant watercolor and ink drawings."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Iris and Walter will join Frog and Toad and Henry and Mudge in a prominent place on the easy-reading shelves."—The Bulletin

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From the Publisher

Iris excitedly prepares to make her stage debut and helps Walter with his lines. But when the big day arrives, she awakens with a fever and must stay in bed; her teacher, however, prepares a surprise for Iris's return. Ages 6-9. (Apr.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

K-Gr 2-Iris and Walter are excited about their parts in the school play about bugs. Iris practices and practices, and helps Walter with his lines, reassuring him when he forgets them at dress rehearsal. The day of the play, a devastated Iris has a fever and must stay home. She finds it difficult to return to class and hear all about the big event, but Walter helps her get through the day and her teacher brings in a special treat. The best surprise comes at the end, however, when Iris finds out the class will soon begin rehearsing for a dance about the solar system. Readers will relate to the child's situation and will be reassured by her supportive family and best friend. Pen-and-ink drawings done on keacolor paper convey the emotions of the story. This excellent addition to the series is a perfect choice for newly independent readers.-Melinda Piehler, North Tonawanda Public Library, NY Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

In this fifth slice-of-life story about Iris and Walter, last seen in The Sleepover (2002), our heroes are preparing for a class play where Iris will be a cricket and Walter will be a dragonfly. Iris loves to practice her lines and Walter enjoys creating the costumes with cardboard, paint, and scissors. But when rehearsals start, Walter has a little trouble remembering the words. Though Iris prompts him in rehearsal, Walter is still worried. What if he forgets his lines on the day of the play? Iris promises to help, but on the morning of the big day, Iris has a fever and has to stay home. Fittingly, she worries about her responsibility to her friend. She is deeply disappointed and still feels sad when she returns to school and has to hear all the excited reminiscences about the play, but the future holds promise. Though the stars here are Walter and Iris, and their dear friendship, Guest adds a dandy supporting cast in Grandpa, who is always there to say the right thing, and Miss Cherry, the understanding teacher with creative ideas and sensible solutions. Davenier's swirling, lively watercolors capture Iris's exuberance and Walter's worrywart expression. The situation might be familiar and ordinary, but Guest has an exceptional gift for intelligently capturing all the angst and joy of stage fright and friendship for her audience. Henry and Mudge fans have some new friends in these likable pals. (Easy reader. 5-9)

Kirkus Reviews