The Wind in the Willows

Rating:
Summary: Animal Blockbuster!
Review: I read the book for an English report. I thought I'd hate it. My mom made me read it. She always picks the worst books! Surprisingly, after the first 10 pages, I couldn't put it down. This group of friends is more than the story of there adventures. It's the story of them.

Rating:
Summary: Not that good.
Review: I was forced by my Mother-who loves these kind of animals stories to read it. I thought it would be easy. I mean come on little rats and moles talking is definately a childrens story. But this was so hard to read! In more than one of the chapters I had no idea what was going on. However it was a well written story it just didn't fit my tastes. My Mom read it and loved it. There were a few good parts. But in the jail the human was as big as the toad. It was very confusing..

Rating:
Summary: A delightful animal tale for all ages
Review: This richly drawn, well paced book of adventures (and misadventures) of Toad of Toad Hall, Rat, Mole, and Badger, is delightful reading. Whether you are 9 or 90, you will enjoy the characters and their escapades. This is humorous, exciting, and lots of fun.

Rating:
Summary: A delightful children's story that captures the imagination.
Review: The Wind in the Willows is a delightful tale that captures the imaginations of children and adults. The adventures of Mr.Badger, Toad, Mole and Ratty are skillfully presented in a way that the reader can identify with. The illustrations enhance the tale and help the mind create the scenes described. This book can be enjoyed by the young and the young at heart.

Rating:
Summary: I LOVE THIS BOOK!
Review: I read the book last year as a third grader. Now I am almost in fifth grade, but I still remember the courage of Rat, the curiosity of Mole, the risks taken by the foolish Toad, and the stern, but caring, characteristic of Badger. Wind In the Willows was a simply beautiful book that will encourage children that even when you make a mistake, never to give up. This book had action and excellent descriptions. I now own a copy of the book, and I am reading it for a marvelous second time. I compliment Kenneth Gramme on his wonderful book

Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece for all ages: sweet, wise and funny.
Review: The Wind in the Willows is a treasure trove of words. I will share it with my children when they are eight or nine years old. Some parts of the story can be scary if kids are too young. For young and old, The Wind in the Willows contains memorable characters, dramatic events, wise humor, rich use of the English language, lovely and colorfully painted illustrations and a tenderness and sweetness that is rare. It is as much a pleasure to read for adults as for children. I fondly recall the hours I spent curled up next to my mom as she read The Wind and the Willows to my sister and me. Images from it filled my childhood dreams. It has enriched the worlds of my imagination ever since

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Movie
Review: If you've never followed the adventures of a rat, a mole, a badger, or a toad ... well, here is your chance.

This animated movie (that has an un-animated beginning and end) is a delightful mixture of fun, friendship, adventure, and irreverence. The irreverence is provided courtesy of Mr. Toad.

The animation here is excellent, and a good deal of imagination was used in writing the story ... all very much fun ... which follows the lives of the animals living along or near "the river".

The actors who provide the voices for the animals do a superb job of bringing these creatures to life. I think we tend to take these good characterizations for granted, but these fellows here are truly outstanding at giving these animals unique and believable personalities.

My favorite character is the rat ("Rattie") but one cannot help but love Mr. Toad.

But this is a fun movie from beginning to end.


Rating:
Summary: Goodtimes Video Savages a Beautifully Animated Tale
Review: If the people of Goodtimes Video Distribution didn't destroy this awesomely animated series with their ghastly editing, this version of Wind of the Willows easily earns 5 stars. A lot of the original British production has been shabbily cut to make 3 "complete cartoons." Inexplicably two of these mangled vignettes actually repeat Toad's car stealing & escape. There is no reason for this bungling. It would have been so much easier just to package & distribute the John Coates/Dave Unwin series in it's original format. This beautiful animated version of Wind of the Willows deserves a better distributor. For shame, Goodtimes!

Rating:
Summary: Nice adaptation
Review: I watched this as an adult, so I can't speak for how kids will encounter it. Thoughts:
- One thing that distracted me during the movie was the pacing of the plot. It's impressive that they crammed the book into 90 or so minutes, but as a result some parts seem hurried. Maybe that keeps kids' interest better.
- One thing the cartoon did well was giving the animal characters stereotypical mannerisms of post-Victorian British gentry (bachelors, to be specific). These aren't "National Geographic" animals--these are British "good old boys". That adds to the charm & makes the characterizations really come alive. That's why this story will be considered a classic for a long time.
- Finally, Toad is so over the top (wacky) that it's almost hard to take sometimes. How long do we have to see him despairing in his prison cell for his daft & reckless behavior? There are definite similarities of tone with, say, Wodehouse's "Wooster & Jeeves" in these parts, but wackier, if that can be believed.

Rating:
Summary: The Wind in the Willows
Review: The Wind in the Willows is a delightful children's classic that touches upon many things; wonder, pastoralism, but most of all friendship between individuals very different from one another. One of the hallmarks of this classic is that the adventure stories remain entertaining to this day. A must read for any child.