published 1910, Atheneum

It's unfair to pigeonhole this magnificent work as a mere classic of children's literature; few books in mainstream literature have ever matched it in beauty, warmth, and just plain goodness. Rat, Mole, and Mr. Badger have their paws full trying to control their impetuous friend Mr. Toad, who undergoes a series of misadventures that land him in jail and lose him his house and family fortune. Though most of the action revolves around Toad, he is not truly the main character. The main character is the English countryside, lyrically evoked by Grahame in all its seasons.

Review by Sara Lipowitz
Reviewed June 25, 1996

ISBN 0-684-19345-0

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