Mr
Walker Braves the Night is the fourth book in this delightful series
inspired by the real-life Guide Dog Ambassador, Mr Walker, whose home is the
Park Hyatt Melbourne.
Life is a sensory experience for Mr Walker. He
loves walks. They offer up different smells, sights and opportunities for a
chase. He dreams of walks and chasing rabbits, although he has never
encountered a rabbit in his life.
Halloween is drawing near. Mrs Reeves is looking
forward to her sister coming to visit with her eleven year old son Lawrence.
Sophie and Amanda want to go on their first trick or treat. The girls demand a
scary story from their dad. But it is Mr Walker that has bad dreams that night.
Lawrence arrives with a bored expression on his
face. He’s rude and definitely not what the girls expected. Even Mr Walker senses trouble afoot.
Elvis, in charge of the laundry department,
suggests trolley-racing to liven things up. They have a great time! Omid
challenges them to a game demanding stealth, silence and invisibility. Then, before
they know it, it is evening.
Chef Remy and Elvis hollow out pumpkins and shape
them into jack-o’-lanterns. To add to the atmosphere, Elvis takes the three
children through the hotel’s secret and spooky passageways, while he recalls a
ghost story that scares Mr Walker more than the children.
What is that noise that Lawrence and Mr Walker hear
at night? Can it be ghosts? Why does Mr Reeves tell them to stay away from the
nineteenth floor? When the girls hear it too, they all set out together to discover
the scary source.
Again entertained by the intelligent, lovable,
always helpful hotel Labrador, Mr Walker, the Park Hyatt’s Ambassador role
includes lookout when called for. He is also a useful instrument of
diversion when needed. Mr Walker and the
Perfect Mess is the fifth book in the series.
The Reeves household prepares for Christmas with a new
advent calendar and a humorous made-up rendition of The Twelve Days of Christmas based on Mr Walker’s favourite thing - food!
It is the groundskeeper Josephine’s last Christmas
at the Park Hyatt. Her father is retiring and she is taking over the farm. So
it is to be a special festive celebration and send-off combined.
This isn’t the only special event on a program
filled till well into January. The Guide Dogs fundraiser is keeping them busy
but the family is determined to find the right gift for Josephine.
Mr Walker
comes up with a brilliant idea. He uses his extensive communication skills to
convey it to the humans.
Sophie and Amanda get on with making paper chains
and decorations to hang on the tree, plus something special for Josephine. But
a heatwave, followed by a power cut and the imminent arrival of the new
groundskeeper, has the staff at the Park Hyatt in high speed mode. Luckily,
they are always up for a challenge, especially when a storm breaks out as well
and adds to the mess!
Can the girls, Mr Walker and the unflappable staff,
succeed in making Josephine’s last days at the Park Hyatt memorable ones?
Delicate fine line black and white images by Sara
Acton decorate the pages and complement the simple entertaining text.
Designed for independent readers, Jess Black’s
delightful and humour-filled series steals hearts, especially those of dog
lovers. It carries positive messages on problem-solving, imagination, patience
and alternate thinking, while Mr Walker’s accidents always transform into happy
outcomes.
At the end of each book, there is a list of all the
characters under Friends of Mr Walker. This
is followed by a page on the real Mr Walker, one on About Guide Dogs in Australia, and another about the author and
illustrator.
Title:
Mr Walker Braves the Night; Mr Walker and the Perfect Mess
Author:
Jess Black
Illustrator:
Sarah Acton
Publisher:
Penguin, $14.99, $14.99
Publication
Date: August 2019
Format:
Hardcover
ISBN:
9780143793106; 9780143793113
For
ages: 6 - 8
Type:
Junior Fiction
