The Wind in the Willows

Kenneth Grahame's brilliant children's novel The Wind in the Willows is still as fantastic as it was in 1908. The story of four anthropomorphic animals - Mole, Ratty, Mr. Toad and Mr. Badger - it is set on a river in bucolic, turn-of-the-century England. Mole is a homebody, but has grown tired of his domestic life and so ventures out into the bustle of the river. Ratty, a mellow and friendly water vole, takes Mole in as a friend. Mr. Toad is the big shot, the wealthy owner of Toad Hall - he's impetuous and given to lavish tastes, especially for the newfangled automobile. Mr. Badger is the hermit, the party popper: he "simply hates society" but is bros with Mole and Ratty.

An awesome romp is in the offing with these wonderfully lifelike characters as they race about in cars, get in and out of nasty scrapes with the law, and battle it out with weasels and ferrets who are bent on taking over Toad Hall. The Wind in the Willows mixes adventure, mysticism and esprit de corps in a wonderful tale for children or anyone with a taste for quality literature.