His Name Was Walter

 

I'm falling behind again! It seems like ages since I finished this book. His Name Was Walter, from veteran children's writer Emily Rodda, picked up just about every award on offer in the year of its release (2018); its cover is covered in award stickers!

This is such a clever story, effortlessly weaving together three strands: the present day account of a group of children and a teacher stuck overnight in a creepy, isolated old house; the beautifully illustrated fairy tale they find in an old scrapbook, with animal characters, magic and transformation; and finally the historical events underlying the fairy tale which the children manage to uncover. Emily Rodda is a master of her craft, it's not surprising that she's been recognised multiple times and His Name Was Walter shows her at her very best.