Walter the Farting Dog
by William Kotzwinkle, Glenn Murray
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Book Summary Information
Author: Glenn Murray, William KotzwinkleBrand: Books
Illustrator: Audrey Colman
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Format: Deluxe Edition
Published: 2001-10-10
ISBN: 1583940537
Number of pages: 32
Publisher: Frog Children's Books
Book Reviews of Walter the Farting Dog
Book Review: Walter the Farting Dog -- A Dog Trainer's Perspective
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't know how William Kotzwinkle and Glenn Murray learned of my dog George. Somehow, though, they must have heard the tale - like the fart heard round the world - and seen in his story the drama, the suspense to capture an audience and make their New York Times Bestseller dreams come true. They changed his name, of course, called him Walter the Farting Dog; but then that is common practice, "to protect the innocent" - I assume that means me. And they changed some of the facts of the case - again, common; a true story fictionalized to make it more difficult for casual acquaintances to put two-and-two together and identify my family as the agonists (not exactly ant- but certainly not pro-). But it's our story; really. And as Kotzwinkle and Murray benefit from its telling, here I sit, gas-mask mussing my hair, living the odorous reality of it all. It seems so unfair. Perhaps I should sue.
Chiefly I object to being portrayed as the kind of woman who would consider returning George because of his noxious smell. After all, my husband farts. In fact, he farts in bed. And not only does he fart in bed, he then proceeds to fluff the sheets to share his farts with me. It is egregious. It is gratuitous. It is, as he puts it, "The last bastion of manhood in a gelded world." (All right: I'm paraphrasing. The way he said it was ever-so-slightly more salty.) And I have never once (well, maybe once) threatened to send him back to his mother in England - so why would I return George?
Though, George does fart. Like Walter, he farts when he bathes and while playing. He farts as he walks around the house - in the dining room and kitchen. And he farts in bed. And while my husband, fair-minded man that he is, laughs and helps George to fluff the sheets (George having that no-opposable-thumb issue), I admit I am not so forgiving. "Outside," I'll say, and then, "Bedtime," as I hold the kennel door open and my nose closed and usher George into his own little bed for the rest of the night. Sometimes, then, I'll lie in the darkened room down the hall and wonder if the kennel has yet swollen to ten-times its normal size as George's hot-air inflates it like a balloon. The next morning it is always in its place, though. Flights of farts and fancy aside, George remains at home where he belongs. I open the kennel door, and with a fart and a stretch, George begins his day. I accept this. I would not give George up.
Aside from this one small error, however, Kotzwinkle and Murray got the story straight. We have consulted our veterinarian (who apparently is in the authors' employ), and we have tried various foods (though not lettuce and tomato sandwiches - everyone knows that George doesn't care for green food). Poor George does indeed get the blame for any and all suspicious smells, including those emanating from backsides decidedly less doggish (you know who you are, "Uncle Irv"). And while he has never in fact scared away nighttime marauders, guests who have over-stayed their welcome have occasionally been handed rather smelly, though figurative, hats as George has shown them the door. So you see: our story; not Kotzwinkle's and Murray's.
Yet, I suppose the story is theirs now, in a way; and because they have told it, it's become your story, too. For Kotzwinkle and Murray, from their objective (and odor-free) distance, have distilled our malodorous little family saga to its universal essence; have made it a story of compassion, a story of acceptance, and, ultimately, a story of redemption. And so, you see, I cannot bring myself to pursue legal recourse. In a way, I'm proud that our smelly laundry has been so publicly aired. If it can but help one family, one other Walter, or George (or 30-something English computer programmer) retain his happy home, it will have been worth the sacrifice. No other compensation is necessary. (But honestly, Kotzwinkle and Murray: now that you've sold a million copies, couldn't you at least spring for one bottle of Febreeze?)
Summary of Walter the Farting Dog
Warning: This book may cause flatulence. Walter is a fine dog, except for one small problem: he has gas. He can't help it; it's just the way he is. Fortunately, the kids Billy and Betty love him regardless, but Father says he's got to go! Poor Walter, he's going to the dog pound tomorrow. And then, in the night, burglars strike. Walter has his chance to be a hero. A children's beloved classic, this story will have kids rolling on the floor with laughter. Adults are permitted to laugh too.
We hold this truth to be self-evident: farting makes kids laugh. Walter, an apologetic-looking dog adopted from the pound, passes gas morning, noon, and night, no matter what he eats, whether it's a 25-pound bag of low-fart dog biscuits, cat food, or fried chicken. On the bright side, "If Uncle Irv let one slip, he just went and stood near Walter." When Father reaches the limit of his patience with Walter's flatulence, he decides the pooch is once again pound-bound, despite Betty and Billy's pleading. Poor Walter knows his days are numbered and "He resolved to hold in his farts forever." That very night, two burglars break into Walter's family's house, and (you can see where this is going) Walter gasses the burglars with a "hideous cloud" that forces them to drop their loot and run into the clutches of the police officers, "choking and gasping for air." The next morning Father and Mother discover Walter has saved the day--or at least their silverware and VCR. "And so the family learned to live with Walter, the hero dog. And that is the end of our tail." (Or is it? Fans will be pleased to discover the next book Walter the Farting Dog: Trouble at the Yard Sale.) Audrey Colman's highly stylized illustrations, imbued with a surreal, Monty Pythonesque collage look, are as absurdly comical as this silly story that is purely powered by natural gas. (Ages 5 to 8) --Karin Snelson
A Q&A with Illustrator Audrey Colman
Q: How did you become interested in children's book illustration? Why did you decide to illustrate this particular book?
A: I didn't plan to do children's book illustration. As a freelance artist, I regularly sent out art samples to various businesses. I sent art to North Atlantic Books in hopes of doing book jackets, and approximately a year later they approached me with Walter the Farting Dog by William Kotzwinkle. I was very excited because I was a big fan of Kotzwinkle's (not-for-children) book, Dr. Rat, about the wretched reality of the lives of laboratory animals. I'd recommended this book to many over the years and I would never have passed up an opportunity to work on a project with Kotzwinkle. Of course, it wasn't exactly an animal rights-themed picture book, but I expected that we'd agree on how animals would be depicted.
Q: Many people think "potty humor" is inappropriate in literature. Do you think there's a benefit?
A: If it encourages reading and laughing, it's beneficial.
Q: Everyone is asking about the spider that shows up throughout the book. Is there a particular story you?d like to share about the spider?
A: I'm often asked where the spider is on the Fart-Free Biskwee page in Walter the Farting Dog. Sometimes I say that he's hiding in the cupboard on that page, but the truth is that I just forgot that one. I tried to be careful not to leave out the spider in subsequent books so I wouldn't have to apologize again. (Who knew that so many people would notice my goof?) In any case, sorry for my mistakes and any ensuing confusion!
Q: Walter the Farting Dog spent an incredible 75 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list after it was first released in 2001, and there is even a Walter plush toy--that farts when you squeeze it. Are you surprised with how well this book has been received by parents and kids alike?
A: Of course! It's been ten years and five Walter books in the series later, and I'm still not always sure which ingredients are responsible for a book's success or failure!
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