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Walter the Farting Dog | 
 enlarge | Authors: William Kotzwinkle, Glenn Murray
Creator: Audrey Colman
Publisher: Frog Children's Books
Category: Book
List Price: $15.95
Buy Used: $0.65
You Save: $15.30 (96%)
New (56) Used (87) Collectible (5) from $0.65
Avg. Customer Rating:  182 reviews
Sales Rank: 4404
Media: Hardcover
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 32
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 11 x 9.8 x 0.4
ISBN: 1583940537
EAN: 9781583940532
ASIN: 1583940537
Publication Date: October 10, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com Review
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
Product Description
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. Destined to become a children's classic, this story will have kids rolling on the floor with laughter. Adults are permitted to laugh too.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 177 more reviews...
 Walter the Farting Dog -- A Dog Trainer's Perspective October 6, 2008
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?)
 Appropriate or Inappropriate? September 20, 2008
This book can be very funny at times, but I believe that the illustrations can be very scary for young ones to look at.Yes, there are better books out there, but this book gives some kids a good laugh, but while reading this book to our kids, we should teach them that farting is inappropriate in public.
 STOLEN STORY !! June 25, 2008
I came across a book called "Dog Breath" by Dav Pilkey. It's the SAME EXACT story as "Walter" but the dog has bad breath. This dog also fends off burglars and is saved from being given away. I was horrified. This book was published in 1994. Walter in 2001. Way to steal someone else's story for your own profit!!!
Learning Spanish June 9, 2008
My 9 year old daughter is in immersion Spanish at school. I bought this book for her to help build her reading and comprehension. This book has pictures on every page which helps her with context, and used a number of new words which is great for vocabulary building. Better yet, the story was funny and that kept her interested. She loved it and talked about it for days.
 It's hilarious, but is it important? May 31, 2008
Much about this book is controversial. Is the subject matter crude? Was the story stolen? Are the illustrations well done? Should it be in public schools? Does it uphold pet kindness? And on and on.
As a frequent reader at grammar schools, I mulled over the yeas and nays of Walter the Farting Dog. The teacher who requested that I read Walter to his sixth grade class assured me that he thought the book was appropriate. Still I wavered, not wanting to create a situation where irate parents could protest. The teacher became more insistent and more demanding (making me even more reluctant) and I spent much time reflecting on my decision.
First thought: The book is funny. I don't consider the topic of farting to be obscene, and only mildly crude (that's probably because I'm a retired firefighter and farting around the firehouse was as common as whistling a happy tune). But it is funny, there's no denying it. I include the occurrence now and then in my own writing.
Second thought: In my opinion the story line is clever, the illustrations well done, and the idea is entertaining, a must for reading to ten and eleven year-olds.
Third thought: The dog pound threat would probably have never been carried out based on Father's compassion for his children. And, I have never been terribly impressed with opinions on books that are based on personal convictions.
Fourth thought: The story idea, while not very involved, is based on an idea I've not seen before (the fart being a weapon to foil an attempted crime).
So I read the book to the class the other day, complete with electronic sound effects inserted at appropriate times. The students loved it, and based on feedback to the teacher from parents, the topic seemed perfectly okay with them. My conclusion? Times are changing but I'm still a tad uncomfortable with the book because I'd hate to see farting gain complete social acceptance.
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