"A small but very nearly perfect gem. ..."
     —Kirkus Reviews

"Diamond's black wash and line illustrations depict the elderly woman and the wide-eyed and well-mannered rat with charm … those with a love of words will enjoy the way Wersba shows Walter sneaking up on a friendship with the elusive but observant author. Like Richard Kennedy's Come Again in the Spring (HarperCollins, 1976) or Randall Jarrell’s The Bat-Poet (S & S, 1967), this book gives readers some writing to remember and a chance to view the world from a different perspective."
     —School Library Journal

"A sophisticated, quiet contemplation of the relationship between readers and writers that may appeal to thoughtful readers."
     —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Show All Reviews

 "A small but very nearly perfect gem. ..."
     —Kirkus Reviews

"Diamond's black wash and line illustrations depict the elderly woman and the wide-eyed and well-mannered rat with charm … those with a love of words will enjoy the way Wersba shows Walter sneaking up on a friendship with the elusive but observant author. Like Richard Kennedy's Come Again in the Spring (HarperCollins, 1976) or Randall Jarrell’s The Bat-Poet (S & S, 1967), this book gives readers some writing to remember and a chance to view the world from a different perspective."
     —School Library Journal

"A sophisticated, quiet contemplation of the relationship between readers and writers that may appeal to thoughtful readers."
     —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"[B]eautiful … moving and unpretentious … lovely … quiet and unsentimental"
     —Booklist

"The real charm here comes through Walter's close observations of his writer landlady, and through Wersba's gradual build to a friendship that seems inevitable. Diamond's half-tone illustrations strike a pleasing balance between realistic portraits of the hero while also allowing his personality to come through."
     —Publishers Weekly

"This soothing, old-fashioned tale, accompanied by precisely rendered pen-and-ink illustrations, is a tribute to books and bibliophiles."
     —Horn Book Guide