Rating: 
Summary: Magical
Review: Kenneth Grahame's classic children's tale can be enjoyed by people of all ages. As we follow the rural adventures of Ratty, Mole, Toad, and Badger, we encounter moments of earnest emotion, and intense moments that brush the depths of what it is to be human. For Grahame's characters, taken from amongst the familiar animals that inhabit the English countryside, have all the vulnerability and sensitivity of real human beings, and we genuinely warm to them as together they learn life's lessons.The early scenes of Ratty and Mole's boat trip and picnic are a delight, and the story progresses into absolute hilarity as we meet Toad and are introduced to his crazy adventures and ill-fated escapades, as well as his incorrigible, over-inflated sense of self-importance. The most humourous episodes involve the wise and avuncular Badger's attempts to thwart Toad's hairbrained schemes and his seemingly endless conceitedness. Toad never seems to learn his lesson, and he remains a tremendously loveable rogue, though a rogue nevertheless. Ernest Shepard's brilliant illustrations will only add to what is an incredibly touching, joyful, and involving experience.
Rating:
Summary: Continues to stand the test of time
Review: When I was very young (about six thousand years ago), our school master used to read to us from Wind in the Willows. The stories had a magical quality and a few weeks ago, as a somewhat older person, I got to wondering whether they would still have that sense of enchantment that held us so captivated all those years ago. I was NOT disappointed. Toad was just as cantankerous and difficult as ever. Badger, Rat and Mole were just as supportive - just as memorable. Badger is unpredictable but protective (and sometimes mean). Mole is timid and shy. Rat is courageous and romantic. And who could ever forget those dreadful gun-toting weasels, ferrets and stoats glorying in their take-over of Toad Hall? Wind in the Willows is a true masterpiece of allegory with endless moral lessons disguised as a children's story. It is also a lesson in things long-forgotten... the glory of floating noiselessly down a river at dawn, past loosestrife, willowherb, bulrushes and meadowsweet. How many of us have even heard of these meadow plants, never mind seen them. But it doesn't matter, because it evokes nostalgia either for things long-forgotten or for things never-known. At a child's level, Wind in the Willows is about friendship and about life in an imagined world centered around the river. At a less innocent level, Wind in the Willows draws many parallels with life, though Kenneth Grahame managed to avoid preaching his lessons. Not the least of Graham's parables is that 'the bigger they are, the harder they fall' because Toad is as egotistical and as self-important as they come until being thrown in jail for 'borrowing' a car. After that, it's all downhill for Toad, and it is only thanks to the loyalty of his friends that he regains some of his position in society - though not before learning a little humility first. Though, at an older age, we pretend to be more sophisticated, at heart we always hold out the hope of a return to innocence and simple adventures. We are still (most of us) perfectly capable of identifying with the animals and the idea, as one reviewer put it, of two school-aged hedgehogs frying ham for a mole and a water rat, in a badger's kitchen does my imagination no harm whatsoever! As for Grahame's choice of phrase (...the "remotest dungeon of the best-guarded keep of the stoutest castle in all the length and breadth of Merry England"...) it's almost as poetically attention-grabbing as Rowan Atkinson's Blackadder series. If you're looking for laser guns and hi-tech wars, W-i-t-W is NOT the book to buy. If you're after something a little more gentle (and a little more intelligent) Wind in the Willows is an outstanding example of a Classic that continues to withstand the test of time.
Rating:
Summary: Charming and extraordinary book
Review: This is a rare and beautiful book. I read it when I was a child, and the characters stayed in my heart, where they are to this day (even the irrascible rascal, Toad). The descriptions of their homes and surroundings are beautifully drawn, and the way Grahame described the picnics and their meals was vivid, appealing to the senses. I always wanted to be invited! There is an honesty and integrity in Mole, Rat and Badger, making them likeable, even with their quirks. The plot is delightful, not saccharine, and is fast moving enough to keep a child's interest up. The humour is there, too, in Toad dressing like a washerwoman and his antics in the motorcar. The lessons are subtle, not at all preachy. To this day, this remains one of my favorite books. Even thinking about it brings a smile. Do your child and yourself a huge favor, and read this charming treasure.
Rating: 
Summary: Read this to children while they are still young.
Review: Anyone with a young-enough heart and an open-enough mind will enjoy "The Wind in the Willows", no matter what his or her age is; but older readers so unencumbered by sophistication are hard to find. The safest bet is the youngest age group of children there is: those who still have the innocence and wonder required to identify with animals and believe in imaginary worlds. For instance, how many readers can really sympathize with a mole's "paroxysm of grief" because he is homesick? How many will not roll their eyes at a toad being jailed in the "remotest dungeon of the best-guarded keep of the stoutest castle in all the length and breadth of Merry England"? How many will _not_ find corny a tableau of two school-aged hedgehogs frying ham for a mole and a water rat, in a badger's kitchen? Moreover, Kenneth Grahame's narration reminded me of the kind of things an elderly English gentleman would say while showing his well-behaved grandchildren in Eton collars and boaters around the family's countryside estate. To some readers, this will be hopelessly boring; to others, it will be wonderful and charming. The former group will find it hard to understand the glory of being up at dawn and floating quietly down a river, past loosestrife, willowherb, bulrushes and meadowsweet, having never experienced it. The latter group ought to have more experience in letting dreams fill in what memory cannot. To be fair, though, picnics, boat rides and such really are exciting to only a tiny segment of readers. Substantial conflict appears in this episodic novel only when the exasperating Mr. Toad does; and Mr. Toad's "frivolous antics" take up only half of the book. I found myself wishing that it had taken Badger, Mole, Rat and Toad much longer to reclaim Toad Hall from the weasels and stoats who had "invaded" it. In my almost-grown-up opinion, "The Wind in the Willows" ends too soon and too suddenly after it starts to get interesting.
Rating:
Summary: A true classic not to be missed!
Review: Start cultivating a good reading habit by reading such a book. It will make reading interesting and fun. It's the gateway to many more things...
Rating:
Summary: A little dated, but still a classic¿.
Review: By some accounts, I am a little old to be enjoying the trials and tribulations of Mole, Badger, Toad, and Water Rat. This is one of the books you hear about always, but may not have had the chance in childhood to read this (or have it read to you). The book starts with Mole and his journey from his house to the River. There, he meets the Water Rat and the reader is introduced to the ways of animals in this world. Everyone is very polite and there are rules of interaction between the animals. For instance, there are some things you do not ask questions about. All these rules seem to be from an era that has passed. It is refreshing to read about it though and wonder how long ago people were this friendly and civil. The story of Toad is maybe the most dated. Toad is excitable and gets caught up in the newest fads. Today, we may not see Toad as being a burden to his friends or the bad seed. We may see him as the rebel who goes after what he wants and has the adventures. Would we censure him if he were one of our friends? Whether the manners are dated or not, this is a very relaxing and fun story. There is a little bit of fighting involved, but not too bad. I would recommend this book for anyone wanting to read about a more innocent time.
Rating:
Summary: Comfort food for the mind
Review: The first time I read this book was last year;at age 30,yes,that's right,it is impossible (or it was impossible)to find a copy in my own country,so when I moved here,I bought it.
Now,whenever I feel a little sad,or I find that the world can be less than beautiful,I read it again,because,it describes a world were people is nice and polite,were a friendship is not a hard thing for some to achieve,were nature is respected,were even the wackiest guy isn't despised for being "diferent",lots of good examples for kids and adults alike.
A good adition for your child's library.
Rating:
Summary: A great work for readers of all ages
Review: I doubted if a children's book could command my interest at this advanced stage of my life, but I have to say that "The Wind in the Willows" completely enthralled me. It is the story of four personified animals, the eponymously named Mole, Water Rat, Badger, and Toad, who live on or near a river that runs through an idyllic countryside obviously modeled on Edwardian England. In their world, physical size with regard to objects and other animals doesn't follow any kind of common logic or consistency; the animals seem to be simultaneously as big as humans and small enough to live in their own natural habitats. The animals have vivid human personalities. Mole is timorous and meek, Rat is adventurous and poetic, Badger is unpredictable but protective and mean when he needs to be. Toad, however, is the most salient figure; he is wealthy, greedy, conceited, and clumsy, and he lives in a stately manor called Toad Hall. Mole and Rat's interests are simple; they enjoy boating down the river and socializing with other animals, including otters, field mice, and a seafaring Rat who regales the Water Rat with eloquent tales of his voyages around the world. They even encounter the god Pan, in a strangely ecclesiastical moment. Toad's picaresque adventures throughout the book provide a counterpoint to Mole and Rat's more pastoral activities. Toad is so captivated with the idea of faster and faster transportation that when a motor-car overtakes and wrecks his horse-drawn cart in the road, he can only watch the departing vehicle in avaricious rapture. So then he buys car after expensive car, wrecking each one with his incompetent driving. Despite his friends' attempts to cure him of his obsession, he steals a car in a frenzy and is consequently thrown in jail. However, he escapes by means of a ridiculous ruse and, after many more adventures, finally returns to his native river-bank only to find that Toad Hall has been taken over by gun-toting stoats, weasels, and ferrets. (Note the parallels to Homer's Odyssey here.) Fortunately, his friends rise to the occasion to help him reclaim his home, after which he resolves to learn some modesty. A great thing about the book is that Grahame uses many words that may be new or unfamiliar to young readers, but they're used in such a way that kids may be able to figure out their meanings by context. Also, while there are lessons to be learned through the animals' (especially Toad's) examples, there is no heavy-handed moralism to dilute the book's enjoyability. Clearly this is a work of the utmost creativity and imagination and demands the adult reader expand his or her mind to the realms of childlike wonder.
Rating: 
Summary: Wind in the Willows
Review: This is the third version of Wind in the Willows that I've seen with my daughter. This may be the lamest version we've watched. Still, its a great story. Very funny and with the second movie, Winter in the Willows, make it a good buy. I don't regret buying it.
Rating:
Summary: Didn't live up to my expectations
Review: I enjoy most classic childrens' stories and I relive my youth when I read them. I was disappointed when I read this book because the characters were not very likeable. Mr. Toad seemed to have everyone wrapped around his finger; his sad puppy eyes seemed to allow him to get away with everything. I was hoping one of the characters would stand firmly against him and not eventually give in to his whims. Even though this book is fantasy, I had trouble believing that Toad could look like a human washerwoman. It was also strange reading about the animals sitting down to dinner to have ham, pheasant, rabbit, etc. Basically, I thought the author could have been more imaginative about how the animals interacted with the humans in the story. The ending was also a little unbelievable considering Mr. Toad's character. The redeeming factor of the book is the writing style and the vivid images of nature.
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