In an entertaining early-reader chapter book, Gregorich tells three funny animal stories that dramatize idioms and play with words in a cozy domestic setting In Waltur Buys a Pig in a Poke, Waltur ends up with a bossy pig that treats him like the pet. . . . Sorra’s cheerful line-and-watercolor pictures show Waltur and his friends trying to keep control in the uproar, and a cheerful concluding note traces the idioms to their probable origins hundreds of years ago.               — Booklist

[Waltur] then proceeds to prove out the truth of an old fable by assuming that a clutch of eggs will hatch out as chickens and finally he makes a deliberate effort to prove Matilda wrong by leading a horse to water and trying to force it to drink. Each episode ends well, despite mishaps . . . . Gregorich both shows and explains what each saying means, and supplies glimpses of their history at the end to boot. An amusing way to introduce the idea of metaphor — or wordplay in general.
                — Kirkus Reviews

* In this funny early reader, a . . . bear named Waltur learns — the hard way — what is really meant by three age-old idioms, each highlighted in its own story. . . . Despite Waltur’s missteps, things do work out for him, sending an upbeat message to youngsters that at times one only learns by trial and error. Gregorich’s prose tickles nascent readers while building their confidence (Waltur to the horse: “I can make you drink water.” Horse to Waltur: “I think not.”) Sorra’s chipper spot watercolors add just the right touch of comic visual stimuli.
    — starred review, Publishers Weekly

Gregorich has fun with idioms in this easy reader featuring a single-minded bear. . . . The author makes excellent use of repetition, sight words, and engaging dialogue to create a manageable and entertaining read. Sorra’s cartoon-style watercolors are perfectly suited to the lively text and help round out the characters’ personalities with added emotional details. . . . These clever and accessible tales will capture the interest of youngsters who are ready for short chapters but are still most comfortable with the beginning-reader format.
          — School Library Journal

Waltur Buys a Pig in a Poke and Other Stories can be purchased at independent bookdealers, chain bookstores, or online bookstores, including amazon.com