A review by daphrose
Johnny the Walrus by Matt Walsh

adventurous challenging emotional funny informative inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A great book for teaching kids that just because they can imagine they’re something or even want to be something, doesn’t mean they are that thing. A funny way to teach kids (and adults!) the difference between imagination and reality.

Are there things in here that kids, especially young kids, won’t understand? Of course. But I think that’s a big part of the point: this book causes kids to ask questions that parents will have to answer (because guess what, parents: you WILL have to answer these questions, and probably much sooner than you think). Is it political? Yes, absolutely. We live in a political world. Our children grow up in public, in a political culture. They won’t grasp that for a long time, but introducing these kinds of subjects young is incredibly valuable. Lay the foundations now so they can have strong mental health, critical thinking skills, and a good grasp of reality.

The illustrations are cute and whimsical (and at times very creative and hilarious for adults). The book itself is sturdy and good quality, which is good, because I’ll have this in my house for years. 50/10 stars. SBG 4 lyfe.