Walter & Wilma the Wandering Albatrosses by Emma Heppell

Walter & Wilma are a pair of wandering albatrosses – big seabirds with long wings that allow them to glide through the sky for months at a time. Their home base is Macquarie Island, halfway between Tasmania and Antarctica, although they travel far and wide.

When Wilma lays an egg, the seabird couple take turns keeping it warm. But one stormy night Walter doesn’t return to the nest. Wilma is worried. Where could he be? Poor Walter has been tossed about in the rain and injured. He shelters on a boat and a kind sailor looks after him until he is better. At last Walter is strong enough to make the long journey home. He’s back just in time to see their little chick hatch. (Her name, of course, begins with W too.)

Emma Heppell, who wrote as well as illustrated Walter & Wilma the Wandering Albatrosses, lives in Waimate, South Canterbury. Her images make the story come alive by showing the beauty of the cliffs and mountains on Macquarie Island, the vast wingspans and swooping flight of the wandering albatrosses, and the perils of the storm. Both her writing and her illustrations capture Walter’s perseverance and determination to get back home, and Wilma’s relief and happiness when he returns safely.

Day turned to night, and the stars came out. Their light sparkled on the water like a path of diamonds guiding him home.

Through the soft moonlight, Walter saw islands appear in the distance – home! With a racing heart, he flew on, catching every gust of wind to help him soar higher and faster.

When Wilma and Walter are finally reunited, Walter has caught fresh fish for the whole family including their tiny newborn chick.

Although Walter and Wilma are the main characters, Heppell’s illustrations include penguins, seals, whales, colourful schools of fish (albatross dinner!), leaping dolphins, and a happy jellyfish. There’s plenty of detail on every page – look out for the lighthouse, the jagged bolts of lightning, and the downy feathers surrounding the nest.

The map on the inside front cover shows where Macquarie Island is located. It’s a tiny dot in the vast Southern Ocean, well below Australia and New Zealand. Inside the back cover is a close-up map of the island, with key landmarks identified.

At the end of the book, Heppell describes the cultural and historical importance of albatrosses in te ao Māori. She says that they feature in legends and are seen as protectors and messengers who often represent beauty and power. She shares information about the distances they can travel each year, their typical lifespan, and their impressive wingspan. The albatross population faces environmental threats, and Heppell explains that conservationists are working hard to protect these magnificent seabirds.

The book is aimed at children aged 4 – 8. There’s just enough suspense to make the story exciting – will the lost and injured Walter recover and find his own way home? – and a happy ending. Five percent of profits from sales of Walter & Wilma the Wandering Albatrosses will be donated to the Royal Albatross Centre in Dunedin.

Reviewer: Anne Kerslake Hendricks

Bateman Books