I love this slim, allegorical novel. It is a pensive, touching story with little action and bright words. It champions friendship between wildly different physical beings, but beings who find common ground in loneliness, quiet, and words. I would say it's more for adults than children. ( )

One of my favorite books ever. I read it at least twice a year just for the good feeling it gives me when it is over.

I first read years ago to my class when I taught 4th grade. Walter, The Story of a Rat, is a story about friendship plain and simple and beautiful. It is a book that gives you hope, and leaves you with a overwhelming feeling of contentment. I read it at least once a year and it never loses its appeal. ( )

What a wonderful, wonderful book. Walter is a very literary rodent, much given to the apropos snippet of poetry. When he busted out "My candle burns at both ends" I whooped with laughter. The central conceit works so well here. Walter lives with an author and is dismayed to learn that her books are about mice. The story of the odd and awkward relationship between the woman and the rat is both poignant and amusing. The illustrations resonate at the exact same frequency as the prose. Highly recommended.

My thanks to Lisa Vegan for her review, which led me to this book. I'd never have found it otherwise. ( )

A great little story! ( )

Walter is a well read rat and lives in the house of a children's book author. ( )