"Walter delights most of us with his presence alone! But then when he reels
back and launches into a story, he opens his treasury of words, gestures and spellbinding
imagery. Only then do we get a small glimpse of the glory that lives in his huge
heart.
I suspect that he is actually a nine year old trapped
in a rather large body of what seems to be an adult.
I love Walter, you know, but then, everybody does...
especially us kids!"
-- Patricia Polacco
author of The Keeping Quilt, Chicken Sunday,
Mrs. Katz & Tush
"Walter's presentational style is dramatic and engaging. At 6'7" he is an imposing figure, and when he told sixth grade boys that reading is cool... I think they were inclined to believe him!"
-- Susan Tchudi
University of Nevada
Nevada Department of Education
"As Co-coordinator of the largest educational conference in Arkansas, for administrators, coordinators, teachers, instructional assistants and parents, I booked Walter as a break-out session speaker in 1995. On the evaluations we had many requests to bring Walter back as a general session speaker... he will be our kick-off speaker for the conference of 2,000 participants in 1996."
-- John Heying
Arkansas Department of Education
"When Walter Mayes talks about books... whether to young children, teenagers,
or adults... there is magic in the room. His love of reading, coupled with his sense
of drama, is the source of that magic."
-- Bill Abrams
Nevada State Department of Education
"A reading by Walter the Giant Storyteller is the kind of superb experience in a child's life that defines true privilege. That total absorption and rapture visible on every kid's face when Walter reads indicate his ability to grasp and hold the attention of the yound mind. He expands the attention span of a child beyond all norms. Walter Mayes is every teacher's dream come true, and every parent's longed-for proof that their kid is indeed interested in literature. If you have the opportunity to have Walter the Giant Storyteller perform his magic for your students, for your children-- by all means, hire him. You will never forget the experience or be more enchanted."
-- Charlotte E. Burchard
Early Childhood Educator
"People respond to Walter Mayes's ability to captivate a room full of children with the reading of books, but I'm even more impressed with his ability to understand their needs... demonstrated by his selections!"
-- Valerie Lewis
Co-owner of Hicklebee's Children's Book Emporium,
San Jose, California