If Wendell Had a Walrus

by Lori Mortensen, Matt Phelan (Illustrations)

In this heartwarming story about friendship and imagination, a boy named Wendell dreams of getting a pet walrus. Together, they’d ride bikes, tell jokes, and have a grand time. If only he could find one!

But looking for a walrus turns out to be its own adventure, one with an unexpected and happy result.

Acclaimed author Lori Mortensen and New York Times -bestselling illustrator Matt Phelan have created a sweet, playful, memorable book in If Wendell Had a Walrus that kids are sure to request again and again.

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Childrens, Animals, Storytime, Fiction, Humor

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

Lori Mortensen is an award-winning children's author of more than 100 books. Her books, which reviewers have praised as “stellar” “as good as it gets” and “begs to be read aloud,” have been published by such notable publishers as HarperCollins, Henry Holt, Abrams, Bloomsbury, and Peachtree. Popular releases include, Arlo Draws an Octopus, illustrated by NYT bestselling author/illustrator Rob Sayegh, Jr., If Wendell Had a Walrus, illustrated by NYT bestselling author/illustrator Matt Phelan, Cowpoke Clyde Rides the Range, a Bill Martin Jr., Picture Book Award Nominee and the sequel to Amazon bestseller Cowpoke Clyde and Dirty Dawg, and picture book biographies Nonsense! The Curious Story of Edward Gorey and Away with Words, the Daring True Story of Explorer Isabella Bird.
When she’s not greeting geese at the lake, or putting her nose in a mystery, she’s tapping away at her keyboard, conjuring, coaxing, and prodding her latest stories to life. Today, she lives in the foothills of Northern California with her family and all birds that flock to her feeder—including a gluttonous squirrel.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wendell really wants a walrus all his own. He has so many fun ideas planned, but can only locate one in the cloud formations outside his house. He does everything he can to acquire one, including tossing a letter in a bottle and letting it drift out to sea. While he waits, Wendell comes across another little boy with a similar wish. As they wait, their friendship blossoms and neither is left lonely for long. Neo and I were drawn to the book, particularly because Wendell is a fellow ginger. We know how outlandish walrus wanting can be, but it's one of those dreams that will always be with us. Hoping Neo can dream up some wonderful wishes, as this was his bedtime story tonight.

[Erin Dealey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lori Mortensen's picture book, IF WENDELL HAD A WALRUS, will tickle your heart. A boy named Wendell wishes he had a pet walrus and imagines all the things they would do together --including riding bikes and telling jokes (!). In his search for a walrus, he finds both unexpected adventure and friendship. Sweet illustrations by New York Times-bestselling illustrator Matt Phelan add a playfulness to this very fun read.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

After seeing a walrus in a cloud, Wendell becomes obsessed with the species and wants one of his very own. He imagines all the things he and his walrus friend might do, and even tells a series of walrus jokes. Because he wants nothing more than a walrus, he takes desperate measures, waiting by the ocean for one to appear, trying to buy one at a pet store, even sending a message in a bottle to any walrus who might see it and respond. As he waits, he meets another boy, Morrell, who has the same goal he has, only he is waiting for a whale to respond to his bottled message. They end up passing the time, playing, getting to know each other, and not worrying quite so much about their messages. While the two boys are having fun, essentially doing all the things they planned to do with their animal friends, they themselves form a fast friendship and maybe, just maybe, they won't need a walrus or a whale to bring them happiness. The final illustration shows that their messages have been received. It made me wonder what might happen next and whether the whale and the walrus will find a way to respond or just remain puzzled. The story is poignant and depicts a common childhood experience and how friendships form from some unlikely connections while the illustrations, created with pencil and watercolor, complement it perfectly, capturing the sheer joy of time spent with a new friend and of the importance of imagination.

[Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uncle Zed IS a walrus.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stupendiferous, cosmically colossal! So delightful love the word choice and the illustrations add richness.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the end. ^_^

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I met Matt Phelan last year, so I picked this one up because of that. It was a really cute story, plus I like the foreshadowing in the pictures.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to read more by this author and illustrator. Imagination, friendship, and play are what this story is about. I like it.

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wendell spends hours on end imagining how it would be to have a pet walrus. Finally he takes matters into his own hands and sends a want-ad message in a bottle out to sea. As fate would have it, he notices another boy standing on the shore with a bottled message. "Walrus?" he asks. "Whale," the boy replies. They proceed to silently wait and wait and wait, all the while sitting in close proximity. At last it strikes them that they should while away the time together and, funny thing, proceed to do all the things Wendell had imagined he would do with his walrus.

[Margaret Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

7/6/2019 ~ This story has a lovely symmetry to it. I enjoyed the imaginative play, and the ways the boys passed each other several times before connecting. The twist on the last page is just right.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

“If you’re tired of your iceberg, come on over to my house. Here’s a map. Hope to see you soon.”

After Wendell sees a cloud shaped like a walrus, he thinks how fun it would be to have a pet walrus. They could tell jokes, go biking, climb trees, draw ducks and “have the most stupendiferous, cosmically colossal best time of their lives.” But finding a pet walrus isn’t as easy as you might think. The pet store isn’t any help, so finally Wendall writes a message, tucks it in a bottle and throws it out to sea. While waiting for a response, he meets a boy who is throwing a letter to sea to a whale. While the two of them are waiting, they tell jokes, ride bikes, climb trees, fly kites, draw ducks ... and enjoy their new friendship. Who needs a walrus?

Love the last page 😁

[Jason · Rating 2 out of 5]

there's nothing wrong with this. I'm just very picky when it comes to books that are too predictable for me to enjoy. I understand that a lot of people like that in their picture books, I just don't. As far as books with predictable plots go, this is just fine and Phelan's art is great as usual. But I've read enough of the [boy/girl/duck/robot] imagines [unusual animal] as a friend/pet and gets upset when he/she/it isn't able to get [unusual animal] as a pet/friend and then discovers that friendship with someone/thing real is far better. yawn.

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle

Adorable story about finding new friends. This is such a cute book. I really enjoyed it. The artwork is lovely, the text is the perfect amount of repetitive, and the whole thing is just so freaking adorable. Plus there are lots of punny jokes.

Wendell wants a walrus and he is determined to get one. But in the end, he finds something else entirely. Very nice book. I especially liked the illustration of the whale and the walrus at the end. It really tied the whole book together so splendidly.

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wendell is a lonely boy who dreams of all the fun things he could do if only he had a walrus friend. So he writes a notes, sticks it in a bottle, and throws it out into the ocean in hopes some sympathetic walrus will get it and come by his friend. As he does this, he comes across another boy who is doing the same thing, only in hopes of getting a whale friend. While the two boys await answers to their notes, they start to do the very things they dreamed of doing with their aquatic friends.

Cute illustrations.

[Melki · Rating 5 out of 5]

A boy's interest in walruses leads to a genuine friendship with an equally obsessed young stranger. The last page is utterly perfect. This is an adorable story with wonderful illustrations by Matt Phelan.

[Sam Wernert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was very cute! I enjoyed the story, along with the pictures and speech bubbles that incorporated character dialogue in a new way that a lot of students probably have not seen before. I liked how the story had topics of imagination and friendship that students could relate to. I would use this book in a center so that students could explore the story and then think about what animal they would want to be friends with and what things they could do with their animal friend.

[Jennifer (JenIsNotaBookSnob) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was cute, but, almost gave it three stars as I wasn't sure a kid would like it. I will kid test this at some point and update my review.

It is fun and imaginative and I can picture kids liking the visual jokes. It might be a pinch too sentimental? I did like the illustration style.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting this to be as darling as it was! A boy longs for a walrus to be his pet and best friend. He can't find one, but instead befriends another boy who wants a pet whale. The last page with the whale and the walrus both getting the letters from the boys is hilarious. Great for talking about the letter W!

[Deana Metzke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute story about how Wendell's quest for a pet walrus gets sidetracked, but for a good reason. I enjoyed reading this book by myself the first time, but enjoyed it even more the second time became I noticed things in the illustrations that I didn't notice before.

I think this is a great read aloud for elementary classes and was a great bedtime read for my two kids.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wendall really wants a walrus and dreams of all the wonderful things they would do together. But after inquiring at the pet store and sending notes in a bottle, he is resigned to wait on the rocks by the ocean. He discovers another boy who is also waiting for his new pet and they decide waiting together would be better. Cute friendship tale with a little bit of humor.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wendell sees a cloud that looks like a walrus which, of course, leads him to imagine what life would be like if he had a walrus. He doesn't get a walrus but he does make a friend. A stupendiferously delightful story. I can't wait to read this with the grands. They will appreciate the jokes.

[Donna Dobihal Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is lots here to discuss and enjoy, from Wendell's imaginings, to the delightful illustrations, to the amusing jokes. A great read aloud for kids who will identify with Wendell and be pleasantly surprised with the ending.

[Liz Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

So fun--and such a happy ending. When I read this book, I thought about the care and love that the author and illustrator put into this project. The illustrations are so sweet and the texts holds lots of great little surprises for those who notice.

[Patricia Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books that feature childhood milestones in a warm, satisfying way. IF WENDELL HAD A WALRUS elegantly focuses on an unorthodox friendship that leads to a clever twist at the end. And it doesn't hurt that the walrus and Wendell are loaded with charm. This book delivers!

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fortunately, Wendell does not have a walrus, but he does have a very active imagination that does no harm to any living creature—an admirable quality he shares with another boy, both obviously worthy of each other’s friendship. Lively illustrations show what “cosmically colossal best time” a boy and a walrus could have if boys were magicians and walruses were not clouds.

[Nan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! Great artwork from Matt Phelan. Wendell dreams of having a Walrus and all the things they would do together. He sends a note in a bottle, and then realizes there is another boy with a similar situation. They become friends, and then I love the final illustration.

[Alyssa Gudenburr · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cute book about all the things a boy would do if he had a walrus for a pet. While looking for a walrus, he met a new friend, and didn't need the walrus anymore. This would make a good read aloud for elementary children.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute story about a boy who becomes obsessed with the idea of having a pet walrus once he sees a cloud shape that looks like a walrus. He ends up finding a boy who does all the same things with him that he wanted to do with the walrus. It's a cute story of friendship.

[Miss Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wendell wanted a friend more than anything- a walrus friend to be exact- he tries lots of different ways to get a walrus friend. When all of his attempts fail him he finds someone that makes a better friend then he could have ever imagined. Such a cute story!