Rating: 
Summary: Funny and loving conclusion to a marvelous series
Review: As I write this review, the "average customer rating" on this fine title is a mere two stars. Please let me beg to differ with them all. I haven't read "Willows in Winter," but I loved "Wind in the Willows" and felt Horwood's "Toad Triumphant" was in some ways even better. "Willows and Beyond" brings the cycle to a conclusion -- and it's wonderful. At times it made me roar with laughter; at others it's painfully sad; the chapter called "The Uninvited Guest" is simply lovely, and belongs in someone's anthology of writings about Christmas. Yeah, so the main characters die -- did ya think they'd live forever? Can't we name several other children's books where important characters pass on -- "Old Yeller," "Dominic," "A Day No Pigs Would Die," "Bambi," etc.? Furthermore, the deaths are handled so gently, even ambiguously, that I can't understand how anyone would have been seriously upset. And yes, there is a chapter on Rat's illness; but that's humorously tossed aside (a bit of underdone potato, as it were), and nicely counterbalanced by dashing adventures on the high seas -- not to mention Toad's famous charge up the hill into Lathbury Wood. And shall we risk a hint at how the book ends by pointing out that each major character, having passed on, is given a successor -- heir to his name, title and role (to such a degree that further adventures are entirely possible!). Don't be put off by a few readers' negative comments; Horwood's third Willows book is a fine piece of work, and leaves one thirsting for more.
Rating:
Summary: Funny and loving conclusion to a marvelous series
Review: As I write this review, the "average customer rating" on this fine title is a mere two stars. Please let me beg to differ with them all. I haven't read "Willows in Winter," but I loved "Wind in the Willows" and felt Horwood's "Toad Triumphant" was in some ways even better. "Willows and Beyond" brings the cycle to a conclusion -- and it's wonderful. At times it made me roar with laughter; at others it's painfully sad; the chapter called "The Uninvited Guest" is simply lovely, and belongs in someone's anthology of writings about Christmas. Yeah, so the main characters die -- did ya think they'd live forever? Can't we name several other children's books where important characters pass on -- "Old Yeller," "Dominic," "A Day No Pigs Would Die," "Bambi," etc.? Furthermore, the deaths are handled so gently, even ambiguously, that I can't understand how anyone would have been seriously upset. And yes, there is a chapter on Rat's illness; but that's humorously tossed aside (a bit of underdone potato, as it were), and nicely counterbalanced by dashing adventures on the high seas -- not to mention Toad's famous charge up the hill into Lathbury Wood. And shall we risk a hint at how the book ends by pointing out that each major character, having passed on, is given a successor -- heir to his name, title and role (to such a degree that further adventures are entirely possible!). Don't be put off by a few readers' negative comments; Horwood's third Willows book is a fine piece of work, and leaves one thirsting for more.
Rating: 
Summary: Tear-jerker and inappropriate!
Review: Being an avid Wind In the Willows fan since childhood, I was delighted initially that the adventures of Toad, Ratty, Mole, and Badger would continue to live on. Note that I said LIVE ON. Horwood, after portraying the animals as sickly and depressed in this "lively tale", has the audacity to kill them off, mostly dying alone, one by one! I admit I cried very hard, and I am a 40 year old woman. Criticize me, but children are faced with the harsh realities of life early enough. They see so much death now. Why can't one beloved tale remain uplifting and joyful, perhaps even humorous? I would never expose a child to this author's work, nor will I go near it again. By the way, he further butchers our memories of the characters by renaming their ancestors exactly as the originals. If the author was unable to think up any more ideas for the Willows' characters (his certainly were not original in the first place), he should have quit before the damage was done. Mr. Horwood, Kenneth Grahame you will never be!
Rating:
Summary: Tear-jerker and inappropriate!
Review: Being an avid Wind In the Willows fan since childhood, I was delighted initially that the adventures of Toad, Ratty, Mole, and Badger would continue to live on. Note that I said LIVE ON. Horwood, after portraying the animals as sickly and depressed in this "lively tale", has the audacity to kill them off, mostly dying alone, one by one! I admit I cried very hard, and I am a 40 year old woman. Criticize me, but children are faced with the harsh realities of life early enough. They see so much death now. Why can't one beloved tale remain uplifting and joyful, perhaps even humorous? I would never expose a child to this author's work, nor will I go near it again. By the way, he further butchers our memories of the characters by renaming their ancestors exactly as the originals. If the author was unable to think up any more ideas for the Willows' characters (his certainly were not original in the first place), he should have quit before the damage was done. Mr. Horwood, Kenneth Grahame you will never be!
Rating:
Summary: quickie review.
Review: The Willows and Beyond is a fine novel. The storyline of it follows the classic characters from "The Wind in the Willows". The river is polluted and the characters go on a journey to save it. It is beautifully written and the story is excellent. It has to many pictures though(although the illustrations are beautiful). I would reccomend this to fans of the original classic "the Wind in the Willows"...
Rating:
Summary: quickie review.
Review: The Willows and Beyond is a fine novel. The storyline of it follows the classic characters from "The Wind in the Willows". The river is polluted and the characters go on a journey to save it. It is beautifully written and the story is excellent. It has to many pictures though(although the illustrations are beautiful). I would reccomend this to fans of the original classic "the Wind in the Willows"...
Rating: 
Summary: Nothing like the others...
Review: The Willows and Beyond was nothing like the other 3. Most of the book they had problems and got sick. I mostly hated that they didn't do any adventures and were so old. This book doesn't go under English- Literature or Fiction. It's more of a Drama book. The characters weren't themselves. William Horwood is an excellent author, but he messed up on this book. But their were a couple of funny and cool parts. But basicly it was a flop.
Rating:
Summary: Good Book
Review: This book is good, but not great. The first two books are excellent after that it gets kind of old. If you are a fan of the series, you can handle it.
Rating:
Summary: Good Book
Review: This book is good, but not great. The first two books are excellent after that it gets kind of old. If you are a fan of the series, you can handle it.
Rating: 
Summary: THE STORY IS ALL WRONG!
Review: This story is nothing like the originals. Although it takes place with the primary beloved creatures being older, we could have been spared the details of them getting sick and eventually dying. This does not keep with the original youth and magic of the first stories. There was NO NEED to show us the end of our favorite creatures lives. I think any future attempts at this series should be directed towards giving us MORE TIMELESS ADVENTURES of this group of best friends while in their prime. Never forget that the original audience for this series was intended to be children. I would not let my son read this book.
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