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Walter the Farting Dog: A Triumphant Toot and Timeless Tale That's Touched Hearts for Decades--A laugh- out-loud funny picture book

William Kotzwinkle, Glenn Murray, Audrey Colman (Illustrator)

5 stars
1,455 (40%)
4 stars
999 (27%)
3 stars
732 (20%)
2 stars
266 (7%)
1 star
157 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 553 reviews
Profile Image for Petra on hiatus, really unwell.
Petra on hiatus, really unwell
2,457 reviews34.4k followers
May 6, 2015
This is one of the only two books in Latin I've ever read. Mostly because the only Latin I know I learned during school detentions. That and the Greek alphabet. I had started on Hannibal coming over the mountains, but I didn't get very far as I got expelled and that put a stop to the Latin lessons.

Walter the Farting Dog is very funny in English, but in Latin it's totally hilarious. I mostly sell the book to lawyers and accountants, small boys get the English version with the attached whoopee cushion!

The only other Latin book I've read is X-Treme Latin which has a chapter on more uses (in Latin) for the word Fuck than there ever was in English. Highly-recommended for road-rage sufferers and the same lawyers and accountants that buy Walter Canis Inflatus.


Review rewritten 31st December, 2012 because I remembered that the other Latin book I read was X-Treme Latin.
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Debbie W.
760 reviews566 followers
July 16, 2020
I really enjoy this story as a read-aloud for young children! It has a similar story-line to "Dog Breath: The Horrible Trouble With Hally Tosis" (also a good read), only Walter helps his family with his flatulence. What a concept!
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Kelly (and the Book Boar)
2,478 reviews7,773 followers
April 10, 2015
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/

If you’re a parent of a child who doesn’t like to read (like I am), it’s all about finding material that will keep their interest. What could possibly be more interesting to a kid than farts? And what could possibly be more hilariously disgusting than the paint melting stench of a dog’s fart????

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Billy and Betty think Walter is the perfect addition for their family. Unfortunately, his stank rump is causing their father to think differently. No matter what he tries, Walter just can’t stop farting. Special food? Farts. Holding them in? Farts. Anti-fart dog biscuits? Well, when you eat the whole bag it results in farts. If Walter doesn’t stop farting, he’s going to have to find a new house : (

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Just when Walter has lost all hope, he gets a chance to save the day . . . WITH HIS FARTS! Yay!!!!!!

Dallas Commercial Photography

I stumbled upon this while attempting a clean out of some of my kids’ old books in order to donate them. This is one I just can’t part with. So many giggles. And while our personal version of Walter probably wouldn’t be able to pull off saving the family from a bad guy, he can definitely fart you out of a room . . .

Dallas Commercial Photography
(This is his “I'm so sorry for the stink I'm about to produce from my farty-feeling-belly” look)
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Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽
1,880 reviews22.8k followers
July 28, 2015
Kids who like to laugh at bodily functions (and what kid doesn't?) will enjoy the adventures of Walter the Farting Dog. This was one of our kids' favorite picture books for several years. The illustrations are quirky and funny and fit the text, and the book has an affirmative message (even dogs that fart incessantly can be useful and loved!).

At our local elementary school, there was a tradition in our son's 1st grade class for the birthday kids to bring in one of their parents to read one of their favorite books to the class. My husband and I had to talk fast to convince our son that Walter probably wasn't the best choice for an entire school class. I know; we're such killjoys. I ended up reading How I Became a Pirate to his class instead, which was well-received, but I'm sure Walter would have brought down the house.

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Malbadeen
613 reviews7 followers
August 12, 2010
I hate this book. I mean I really, really hate this book. I've got nothing against dogs and potty humor - well,whatever I don't really care about that one way or the other.

but here's the thing,

I'm in a class with a group of people that have never taught before, they all want to teach high school language arts. On the day we were to discuss Picture books - yay! picture books! I was excited by the prospect of this group of people being able to re-discover and discover some great books that can be really awesome for readers of any age.

and then we get read this,

Walter the Farting Dog.

The writing is bland, the "plot" is overdone, and the whole thing is obviously as gimmicky as a ginsu knife.

We could've read Steig, or Sendak, or Fox, or Bunting, or even Placco, or 100 others but nope we read "Walter and the Farting Dog" oh, that and Hurray for Wodney Wat.

stupid Walter I hate that you farted your way into this class and took time away that could have been spent on something great.



Profile Image for Kathryn.
Kathryn
4,335 reviews
July 18, 2011
When I worked at Borders during the holiday break one December during my undergrad years, Walter the Farting Dog had just made its debut and I was at once amazed and slightly appalled at how many people came in asking for it, right down to embarrassed grandmothers whispering the book's title with sheepish sideways glances. I really never felt compelled to read it, but then I recently stumbled across the reviews of some of the newer books in the series (yes, it's a series!) and I was bemused by the variety of opinions--it seems like most people either love it or hate it. So, my curiosity was piqued again and I decided to see for myself what the fuss is about.

I must say that, unlike most reviewers, I did not find the story of this flatulent canine either endearing or evil. What fascinates me is that it has managed to become such a popular book as I personally found it rather bland and forgettable. The storytelling was not nearly as witty or humorous as it could have been, and the big climax was a bit far-fetched. I also didn't appreciate the message of feeding the dog anything (from cat food to junk food) to make it stop tooting. (Also, I did not like the illustrations one iota. Just not my style at all.)

Sure, there's a "good message" about accepting someone the way they are ("farts and all"*) and I do think the author meant well, there are *far* better books with that same basic message out there (like "Let's Get a Pup!" Said Kate). Which means that I guess this book's enduring appeal is that it is full of illustrations of gas coming out of a dog's behind and, good heavens but dare I wish there was a better fart book out there? Truly, I am not above enjoying some "potty humor" if it is at least remotely clever. But this one just didn't tickle my funny bone and I found it rather annoying, actually. While I personally don't have a problem with kids enjoying this sort of humor and I don't think, as some reviewers do, that this book would encourage bad manners (though we were never allowed to say "fart" as kids and I kind of wish they hadn't used that word in the book), this is not a book I'll look to add to our library when I have kids of my own. Not because of the flatulence but because there are much better books out there; and kids will make up their own jokes about bodily functions without the help of any book, anyway ;-)

*Though --spoiler alert-- I didn't like that the dog had to actually be of service to the family before the father accepted him!
Profile Image for Ann.
Ann
511 reviews
July 21, 2011
I could really find little redeeming value here. It's not that I mind a good gassy book - I can laugh and giggle over the tales of toots for ages. But, to me, the story-telling here just felt forced, and there didn't seem to be anything special in the writing. Plus, the illustrations kind of wigged me out.

That said, what I really could not support was the horrible attitude of the father. After the two children bring Walter home from the pound (where nobody wanted him, but they loved him), the family realizes Walter has an aromatic issue. They try to take him to the vet and change his diet (which, I thought was a good idea until they start feeding the dog junk food ...) but when the diet change doesn't work the father decides that the dog is going back to the pound! A) What an awful message for children: even though you can't do anything about an issue you have, you'll still be punished. And, B) no matter how sad this made the children to send Walter away, the father didn't care.

I don't know what message this book was trying to convey, but I think it sent far too many negative messages to make up for whatever redeeming message there may have been. Definitely not impressed.
Profile Image for La Coccinelle.
La Coccinelle
2,251 reviews3,562 followers
September 13, 2018
Is it wrong that this made me laugh out loud? Yes, it's a picture book about a rescue dog who farts. Like... a lot. He farts so much that Father threatens to send him back to the pound. Walter decides he needs to do something about this, so he goes and has a snack. The snack gives him gas. Of course it does...

The illustrations are really weird, some sort of mixed-media digital mish-mash by the look of it. But the expressions on Walter's face are pretty funny. Combined with the text... well, I couldn't not laugh.

Kids will probably find this hilarious. Heck, I found it hilarious. Mind you, I've had a farting dog of my own, so I can relate.

Quotable moment:

"He has to go back to the pound," said Father.

"No, Daddy, please," begged Betty and Billy. "Don't send Walter away."

"He goes tomorrow," said Father.

They pleaded. Walter farted.
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Christina
35 reviews1 follower
July 8, 2007
I read this book to my students & they adored it. Many of them took it home to read with their parents...that to me is awesome. :) Good book on compassion for kids...

(I originally bought this book to send to my 3-year old niece so that my mother would have to read it to her and naturally, it would torture my mother to say the word "fart" a million times over...;) )
Profile Image for Ronyell.
Ronyell
956 reviews320 followers
February 22, 2015
Walter

“Walter the Farting Dog” is an extremely unique book created by William Kotzwinkle and Glenn Murray along with illustrations by Audrey Colman. This book is about how an innocent dog-named Walter has some serious gas problems to the chagrin of his new family. “Walter the Farting Dog” will have the entire family rolling around laughing for many years.

William Kotzwinkle and Glenn Murray’s story about a farting dog is truly unique since there has never been a children’s book that focused solely on farting and the book is even heartwarming to read as Walter tries so hard to stop farting in order to stay with his new family that he loves. Audrey Colman’s illustrations are highly creative as she plasters realistic looking faces onto the characters surreal looking bodies and the images are extremely colorful making this book extremely lively to read.

Parents should know that this book is about a dog who farts a lot and that might disgust some children who do not enjoy potty humor. Parents should tell their children that while it is natural for people to pass gas, it is not polite to do so abruptly for the fun of it since it would be extremely rude to other people.

“Walter the Farting Dog” is a great book for the entire family that will have them rolling around laughing at Walter’s predicament for a long time. I would recommend this book to children ages five and up since smaller children might try to imitate the potty humor displayed in this book.

Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog

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Profile Image for Terry.
Terry
434 reviews93 followers
November 3, 2019
The story of a farting dog and the children who loved him.
Kid tested. Lots of giggles, belly laughs and comments.
Any book which keeps kids' attention and inspires interaction while reading aloud, is a success in my book. This book was a, (wait for it), gas! 😁
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TWISTARELLA
1,646 reviews1 follower
August 28, 2021
I am not a fan of bathroom humor, nor does humor that would curl the toes of an average 9 year old boy do much for me, but ................... I do love dogs and poor Walter won me over.

💭🐕💭🐕
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Kristina
71 reviews2 followers
October 5, 2007
I read this one with Alex while I was teaching him reading a couple years ago. I really did not like it. Other than the subject matter, it isn't written well and the illustrations are odd and don't make me want to look at them. There are much better kids books out there.
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Amy
390 reviews40 followers
December 31, 2017
This book is pretty funny and the illustrations are a lot of fun. Although, I'm not sure we were allowed to use the word "fart" at home, when I was a kid. Haha!
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Ivy H
855 reviews
January 3, 2018
OK so I cheated a bit. I just listened to this book on YouTube. It was short and so funny but then I love dogs and I thought this was kinda cute. Poor Walter is a dog that farts so much that potential owners are turned off. He's lucky that little Betty and Billy adopt him but their home starts to reek of his farts soon after. Lol. Thank God my dogs don't share Walter's farting issues. Seriously. I think the hard copy of this children's book includes a lot of illustrations ( it must because the book itself is really short since the YouTube video I listened to was only about 10 minutes long ) and I really wish I had one so I could enjoy all the cute pictures of Walter, Betty and Billy. I don't have kids as yet so I don't know how parents of kids from ages 5 would respond to the content in this but I wouldn't have a problem letting a kid of mine read this. Perhaps little boys might love this more than little girls though. But I just loved it and now I'm a big fan of Walter the Farting Dog and I am kinda ashamed to say that I'm thinking of locating the other books in the series to read. I even wish I had a Walter plush toy too. It will join my stuffed toy shelf with my Alf and Eric Cartman dolls. This is what happens when I sleep during the day and get insomnia at night. Blame it on YouTube ( kidding ) but at least it's better than listening to Despacito ...

Here's the link for anybody with insomnia and a weird personality , who might want to while away 10 minutes on a kids book:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7La8S...

Profile Image for Amanda.
Amanda
1,389 reviews33 followers
September 30, 2014
The story is funny, but it's the illustrations that take this book into the realm of "must own". Walter is a good dog who just happens to have, hum, digestive difficulties. His children love him, but Mom, Dad, the Uncle, and the Vet decide that Walter has to go. Only a last minute triumph by a very flatulent Walter saves the day.

I read this to the kids subsituting the word "tooting" for "farting" - on the direction of their parents. I think we should go ahead and call a fart a fart, but I'm only the aunt, so I go along.

The pictures are wonderful, although they are printed flat on the page, they look multidimensional, and it's great fun to notice all the details. The best picture books have lots of small details that you don't notice the first time through, but further readings bring the pleasure of noticing the picture on the wall, or the curtain blowing in Walter's wind, or the expressions on the characters' faces.

Even if you have to say 'tooting,' get this one for your nieces and nephews. Somebody has to show them that almost anything can be the subject for a fun and instructive book.
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John Ginn
4 reviews15 followers
September 4, 2008
Well it's a children's book, and silly as hell, and all I can say is that it made me laugh so hard that other people were looking at me like they thought I was nuts.

As in his writing for adults, Kotzwinkle's prose is a textbook example on how to avoid extra words. He's a master at creating humorous rhythm in his sentence construction, so that sometimes he can get a laugh by simply throwing an oddball cadence into the mix. One sentence had only two words: Walter farted. With the context and buildup, that one sentence had me howling with laughter. The delightful illustrations certainly helped the hilarity along too.

I see there are now many sequels in the farting series. I can't imagine the kid who wouldn't enjoy them immensely.
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Ryan
4,674 reviews25 followers
November 1, 2019
This book came out 18 years ago, and I have to say, it still holds up. I know many children’s librarians were confused by my love of this wonderful pup, but I can't help it. Maybe he reminds me of my past and present stinky dogs, maybe he reminds me of a few family members, but I am not ashamed to say I love Walter the Farting Dog and all his adventures. About the only thing that dates this book is the reference to the VHS player, otherwise it is just as much fun now as it was then. Plus, the illustrations are just so unusual and unique. If you have not checked out Walter in the past, it is high time you do so.
Rebekah
388 reviews3 followers
July 11, 2008
My mom was having a rough time of things, so we went to a bookstore, because is there really any better place to go to cheer up? We saw this book, and I made her sit down while I read it to her out loud. She was very embarrassed, but also very amused. We both know a Walter. Everyone knows a Walter.
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Cindy
257 reviews264 followers
April 19, 2010
I read this at a certain five-year-old friend's birthday party this weekend. Okay, so I had more than a few margaritas, but a few of the lines were genuinely funny. The illustrations were lovingly cringe-worthy but amusing. I'm thinking a lot of kids without dogs might start calling their dad "Walter!"
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The Cute Little Brown-haired girl
135 reviews16 followers
April 11, 2008
This is on the shelf of the exam room at my doctors office. (Nice to know she has a sense of humor, eh?) I read it when I was waiting and laughed my ass off!!! Get it for your kid when they realize that there is a trumpet in their butt. Or, when the dog lets one during dinner. It is hilarious.
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Sarah
1,700 reviews42 followers
May 11, 2008
Rife with middle school humor, this could aptly be billed as having been written "expressively with the adolescent male in mind." A little too flat (ulent) for my taste but then I'm not a twelve-year-old boy.
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Dolly
Author 1 book649 followers
October 14, 2008
A great story about adopting a good, deserving animal, warts (oops, I mean farts) and all. Our girls really enjoyed this one. Unique illustrations, too.
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Robyn
6 reviews1 follower
August 29, 2016
very funny, and a great story for small kids
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Mariel
667 reviews1,069 followers
February 15, 2015
Walter's farts aren't hurting anyone. It wasn't enough that the adults could blame their own toots on poor Walter (he really is responsible for mine, though. He's a ventriloquist pooter). The not-very-fun adult father laid down the law. The vet sticks his cold instruments up you-know-sunny places and then just says he can't eat anything good anymore. Doctors always say that! Shhh, doctor, but health food is gaseous too (I hear sugar free is the road to diarrhea). So it is The Pound! They don't even pretty it up with a story about a country and room to run. Walter did his dog thing of looking innocent and hopeful. He could look sad and bewildered too, if needed. The kids all love him. I liked that the cat was his buddy the best. It's so cute when they are layabouts on the couch, or vegged out with the kids in their bedroom. If only the good old days didn't have to end. It was nice of those hapless burglars to break in and provide the pooch with the perfect opportunity to prove his mettle. They didn't have the looks or the brains. The poor girl's Wet Bandits. Maybe that's what inspired their lackluster appearance. I hope Walter doesn't have to earn his keep every time. Everybody farts. Maybe not as often or as toxic as Walter does it, but still. Audrey Colman illustrated. I think she knew (and she's not wrong) that Walter and his feline buddy are the whole planet of this show because no one else looks interesting. I don't know what this style of illustration is called. You know where it looks like they cut the heads out of cartoon-world magazines and pasted them on different magazine (probably kids hour on Nickelodeon home decor) pictures? Something like bad early morning children's tv. Walter is awfully cute, though. I can't believe he didn't melt the mean old adults right from the start. He isn't doing the puppy dog look. It's the heat stroke puppy look. Tongue hanging out of the mouth and they are going to follow you home anyway. Probably will roll in something smelly on the way. They would look like that if you weren't there and that crazy responds to your ....... hypnosis. That's way better than the puppy eyes. It's you with you getting to be with them with them. Walter looks like you could scratch his butt right there on the page. He's bigger than the bed, bigger than the couch. All gray wooly fur to hide what he will roll in. I wish I could watch tv with Walter.
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Robert Beveridge
2,402 reviews162 followers
July 13, 2011
William Kotzwinkle and Glenn Murray, Walter the Farting Dog (Frog, Inc., 2001)

One of the more challenged books in school libraries since its 2001 debut, Walter the Farting Dog does one thing, and it does it very well: take something that kids find irresistibly hilarious and use it as a shoehorn to attach a story about difference and belonging. It's quite clever, given that, and one has to wonder whether those who would like to see it taken off the shelves object to the dog's endless flatulence or the idea that one should welcome those with differences into acceptable society. Not that I'm presuming to judge such illiterate, loathsome idiots. (Just to make sure the illiterate, loathsome idiots get it, that was sarcasm.) This one will pretty much be a guaranteed hit with the kiddies thanks both to the descriptions of, and Audrey Colman's amusing illustrations of, Walter's irrepressible stench factory, and adults will, I think, be hard-pressed to find it any less amusing than their charges do. Those with a sense of humor, anyway. *** 1/2
Displaying 1 - 30 of 553 reviews

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