Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Small Walt
Illustrator: Marc Rosenthal
Picture Book
For ages 4 to 6
Simon and Schuster, 2017 ISBN: 978-1481448451
It is a cold winter’s night and snow is falling. The city’s snow plows are all lined up and ready to go. There is work to be done. Walt, the smallest plow in the fleet, hopes that he won’t be “picked last,” but this is just what happens. None of the drivers want to drive Walt because they think that he is “too small for a big snow like this.” Then Gus comes up. He does not mind driving Walt, even if the snow plow is smaller than all the others.
Off Walt does, determinedly clearing his route, scraping snow of icy bridges and ramps, pushing snow aside on roads, and laying down a trail of salt behind him. Over the radio Gus hears a blizzard warning. People are asked to “head home,” but this request does not apply to Walt and the other plows. They will work all night if they have to.
Walt clears mile after mile until he comes to the bottom of a steep hill. Gus does not think that they can clear such enormous drifts on such a steep slope, and he suggests that they let Big Buck, another plow, do the job. After all, Walt is rather small.
Being told that you are too small, too tall, too thin, too large, too old, and too young is really annoying and frustrating. Especially when people make fun of you at the same time. In this charming picture book we meet a snow plow who is much smaller than the other plows, and who is therefore looked down upon. Thankfully he has more than enough determination to go around; Walt rises to the challenges that he is presented with. He is a delightful little hero who is a tribute to everyone who has been told that they cannot do something because of who they are.
