The Wind in the Willows: Abridged Edition for Younger Readers (Abridged Classics)

Grahame, Kenneth

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1786751062 ISBN 13: 9781786751065

Publisher: Welbeck Editions, 2017

"Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats." When the Mole leaves his spring-cleaning and heads up into the open air, he embarks on a series of exhilarating adventures with his new friends: the laid-back Ratty, the gruff yet kindly Badger and the self-satisfied, irrepressible Mr. Toad. The impulsive Toad leads the friends from one escapade to the next - from upturned gypsy caravans to stolen motorcars, a daring prison escape and, finally, to a heroic confrontation with the sinister inhabitants of the Wild Wood. This timeless tale has never been out of print and is one of the best-loved children's titles in English literature. Kenneth Grahame's wonderful imagination and quiet humour continue to charm children and adults alike.

Review:

Mole "thought his happiness was complete when, as he meandered aimlessly along, suddenly he stood by the edge of a full-fed river. Never in his life had he seen a river before--this sleek, sinuous, full-bodied animal, chasing and chuckling, gripping things with a gurgle and leaving them with a laugh, to fling itself on fresh playmates that shook themselves free, and were caught and held again." Such is the cautious, agreeable Mole's first introduction to the river and the "Life Adventurous". Emerging from his home at Mole End one spring, his whole world changes when he hooks up with the good-natured, boat-loving Water Rat, the boastful Toad of Toad Hall, the society-hating Badger who lives in the frightening Wild Wood, and countless other (mostly) well-meaning creatures. Grahame's The Wind in the Willows has enchanted readers for four generations, and this lavishly illustrated gift edition is perhaps the finest around. (All ages, or 9 to 12)

Review:

- -It is a book that breaks nearly every rule of modern children's fiction... it wasn't about fairies at the bottom of the garden, but it was about magic -- just the right kind of magic. It thrills me still to read it.- --Shirley Hughes, The Times