The Wind In The Willows

This is a classic children's book, which in my view has not only stood the test of time, but is as relevant today as when it was written. The values are ones that I believe will resonate with parents and teachers, and it is if course, beautifully written and utterly charming. A book that will remain a pleasure to read to young children, of all ages!

Great item & delivery would use again

An excellent production

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Having never read it and been in the play when I was younger, I wanted to read this classic and it didn’t disappoint. Each chapter was like a mini story in itself, so was lovely to read love a few days as short stories and get to know the characters better. Would recommend!

Excellent

Look I'm very bias towards this book; but even so it's got to be the greatest novel, ever written for children. It's only rival for that tittle being 'Alice's Adventures'. I say I'm bias because I first fell in love with this story when a teacher at junior school read it to us when I was nine and ever since I have always had a copy and could not tell you how many I have now; safe to say it's a good few examples. But the story; what's it all about. that is the question. It's a silly fantastical nonsense about animals to amuse small children, it's a tale about friendship and companionship, it's an exploration of emotion and personality and how that's different from person to person, an appreciation for life and nature, treasuring relationships, exploring new horizons while still valuing ones home, fighting for what you value and giving of ones self. You can read it as a story about animals that behave like humans or as a morality parable about humans that resemble the characteristics of animals. We all know a Mole and a Toad and would cherish a stalwart friend like Badger even if he is a little grumpy and stand offish. It's a story that's more than often been copied and plagiarised but never bettered. Why this addition? There is plenty of choice when it comes to additions, some far better than others, but for me it's not a true addition unless it's got the original Ernest Shepard illustrations, for me no other illustrator has ever capture the spirt of the story like Shepard. The very first edition I bought was the Penguin paperback version of this edition and this, hard back version, has always been the go to volume. I have others, some very expensive editions on expensive paper with deluxe binding and annotation notes though out but this is the fall back feet up settle down and read copy.

This now very rare five disc box-set of Kenneth Grahame's enduring masterpiece is extremely hard to find and is consequently prohibitively expensive. That said if you can find it and you are blessed with ample pockets the investment is very worthwhile. Ralph Cosham has an ideal voice for the reading and never ventures into extreme characterisation. He captures the essence of the four protagonists creating a kindly gruff old man in the Badger, a shy and considerate Mole, a countryman for the Rat and for once a quite restrained Toad although the conceit is still very much there. Fortunately the emphasis is on character appreciation and the listener is not subjected to any over dramatization. Outside the adventures of the four characters further delights include the author's descriptions of the countryside and the changing seasons.It is a regrettable irony that this full reading is so hard to find but seriously abridged versions clutter the catalogue. Here the chapters "The piper at the gates of dawn" (considered to be influential on the hippy movement of the 1960s) and "Wayfarers all" invariably fall victim to the editor's blue pencil. For the BBC Alan Bennett has provided an enjoyable reading as has Martin Jarvis (on leave from Just William) for Naxos, although the voice given to Toad is too extreme. A pleasure with this reading is the occasional musical interludes featuring the music of Danzi. Another unabridged reading and far less expensive is the "good try" effort given by Shelly Frasier. Ms Frasier's reading has some merit but it cannot compare to that given by Cosham. The reading cries out for a male English accent

I've only just read this, but I've always been curious about it and I wasn't disappointed. It starts off slowly, introducing us to Mole first, then Ratty and Toad and eventually -after a creepy and atmospheric trek through the Wild Wood- we meet Badger. To start with, each chapter works as its own self contained story, helping us to fall in love with the characters and their wonderfully described world. For the most part, all roads lead to Toad and his loyal friends' efforts to curb his narcissistic lifestyle and you'll laugh out loud at Toad's misadventures. The quality of the prose, particularly in the descriptions of the world the animals inhabit is amazing and really draws you in. The whole story is exceedingly well written and Grahame never once talks down to his original target audience. As I said, this is the first time I've read the book, but I wish I'd done so sooner as it's a timeless classic which I'm looking forward to reading again over the course of a long hot summer in the garden. One thing that did make me laugh was the fact that all the animals smoke. A different time, with different attitudes. Maybe if badgers still smoked there'd be no need for all that nasty culling business.