Every Saturday morning Lottie goes to her swimming class, but she is afraid to go into the water. Lottie watches the other children swimming and having fun, but Lottie has a secret. Only Lottie knows there is a shark hiding in the swimming pool that wants to eat her!
One day Walter appears at the pool and Lottie discovers her secret friend loves books and bubbles, eating fish fingers and playing hide-and-seek too. Most of all Walter loves to sing! When Lottie feels scared of the dark Walter quietly sings her to sleep...
Humbelly doo,
Lumbelly la,
Loopy loo!
Can her friend Walter help Lottie find her courage to jump in the pool so she can enjoy the pool party with her friends?
I was lucky to hear Anna Walker talk about Lottie and Walter. Anna's idea for her story came from when she was little and her cousin told her there was a shark in her grandparent's pool. When Anna was young she had lots of secret companions and decided a walrus was a perfect secret friend for Lottie. Anna wanted her walrus to sing and Walter's song is one of her son Sam's funny poems.
Anna's ideas for stories come from her everyday life, travelling, her pets or even feelings and she paints or draws them in her visual diary. You can read more about how Anna created Walter and Lottie HERE.
Anna loves to bring her characters to life by making and knitting them and using them in stop motion videos. She is very talented, patient and humble.
Walter is wearing his party hat!
Can you tell that Anna loves drawing walruses?
Download your own Lottie and Walter activity pack and have fun creating Walter in different ways!
Thank you Anna, Lottie and Walter for reminding us that even though we might be scared at times, we all have the courage we need inside...
Happy reading!
