Walter

WALTER f i n d s h i s vo i c e The Story of a Shy Crocodile

ANN KIM HA

WALTER f i n d s h i s vo i c e

The Story of a Shy Crocodile

ANN KIM HA R E D

C O M E T

P R E S S

.

B R O O K L Y N

For Neda and Layla

Walter Finds His Voice Copyright © 2023 Ann Kim Ha Published in 2023 by Red Comet Press, LLC, Brooklyn, NY Creative Director: Michael Yuen-Killick All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022938504 ISBN (HB): 978-1-63655-050-3 ISBN (EBOOK): 978-1-63655-040-4 22 23 24 25 TLF 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 First Edition Manufactured in China

RedCometPress.com

Meet Walter.

He's right there, behind the tall grass, in the shallow end of the swamp.

Most crocodiles hide so they can pounce on unsuspecting prey.

But that's

not Walter.

Walter hides because he’s what some may call shy.

Every morning, his friends in the swamp sing together.

Walter wants to join them.

But he gets nervous.

What if I say something wrong?

What if they laugh at me?

What if I scare them away?

So instead, Walter goes back to hiding.

For his birthday, Walter’s friends give him a big . . .

surprise!

But Walter startles easily.

There’s nowhere for him to go . . .

. . . but down.

One morning, Walter wakes up to the sounds of the reeds rustling in the gentle breeze.

His calm is soon interrupted by a loud . . .

It’s the heron twins, and they’re looking to have some fun.

They spot Turtle on Walter’s snout and screech . . .

Squawk!

Walter starts to tremble.

His mouth becomes dry.

All he wants to do is

shrink into the water and hIDe.

But his friend Turtle looks uncomfortable.

Turtle needs help. He needs Walter’s help.

Walter can’t just leave him.

With all his strength, Walter puts on his best crocodile face and bellows . . .

Surprised, Walter and Turtle stare at each other.

Finally, Walter breaks the silence.

“I didn’t mean to scare you,” Walter said sheepishly.

“Are you okay?”

Turtle is surprised. A little surprised at the herons, but mostly surprised at Walter.

“I’m okay,” said Turtle.

“thanks for being brave.”

On that day, something

changed in Walter.

He is still a quiet and gentle soul.

But he stands taller and straighter and has a little more green to show.

Of course, Walter gets nervous sometimes and keeps one foot in the water, just in case.

But he rarely hides now.

Most of all, Walter

expresses himself more.

It took a while, but Walter finally found

his voice.

And now he’s ready for

everyone to hear it.

Ann Kim Ha

is a graphic artist and designer with a masters in architecture from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. She employs techniques of watercolor and digital collage to illustrate her stories. Walter Finds His Voice is her debut children’s book. Ann lives with her family in New Jersey.

Cover illustrations © 2023 Ann Kim Ha Printed in China RedCometPress.com