Mole lives alone deep underground until one fine day he dares to go up. He is shy and afraid of water, but he soon meets a friendly Water Rat who composes a poem as the story progresses. Will Mole run away or face his fears? This reader is the perfect introduction to Kenneth Grahame's classic The Wind in the Willows, with illustrations by Michael Hague.

For use in schools and libraries only. A beginning reader tale inspired by Kenneth Grahame's beloved characters finds Mole scraping up the courage to leave his underground home and make a new friend in Water Rat, who composes an ongoing poem.

A beginning reader tale inspired by Kenneth Grahame's beloved characters finds Mole scraping up the courage to leave his underground home and make a new friend in Water Rat, who composes an ongoing poem.

The Mole had been working very hard all the morning, spring-cleaning his little home.First with brooms, then with dusters; then on ladders and steps and chairs, with a brushand a pail of whitewash; till he had dust in his throat and eyes, and splashes ofwhitewash all over his black fur, and an aching back and weary arms. Spring wasmoving in the air above and in the earth below and around him, penetrating even hisdark and lowly little house with its spirit of divine discontent and longing. It was smallwonder, then, that he suddenly flung down his brush on the floor, said 'Bother!' and 'Oblow!' and also 'Hang spring-cleaning!' and bolted out of the house without even waitingto put on his coat. Something up above was calling him imperiously, and he made forthe steep little tunnel which answered in his case to the gravelled carriage-drive ownedby animals whose residences are nearer to the sun and air. So he scraped andscratched and scrabbled and scrooged and then he scrooged again and scrabbled andscratched and scraped, working busily with his little paws and muttering to himself, 'Upwe go! Up we go!' till at last, pop! his snout came out into the sunlight, and he foundhimself rolling in the warm grass of a great meadow.

Presents the further adventures of Ratty, Mole, Toad and Badger, four animal friends who live along a river in the English countryside.

"There's nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as messing about in boats.... One of the all-time great animal stories. Kenneth Grahame's classic children's book, with exclusive illustrations from EH Shepard has delighted generations. The Wind in the Willows is one of the most famous and bestselling animal stories of all time. This exclusive 90th anniversary paperback edition celebrates E.H. Shepherd's classic illustrations that brought Mole, Ratty, Badger and Mr Toad to life 90 years ago and have captivated children and adults alike ever since. The Wild Wood seems a terrifying place to Mole, until one day he pokes his nose out of his burrow and finds it's full of friends. He meets brave Ratty, kind old Badger and the rascally Mr Toad, and together they go adventuring ... but the Wild Wood doesn't just contain friends, there are also the sinister weasels and stoats, and they capture Toad Hall when Mr Toad is in jail. How will he escape? And can the friends fight together to save Toad Hall? Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows is a classic animal adventure that charms and enthrals. This new paperback edition contains the original black and white illustrations by E H Shepard, the man who drew Winnie-the-Pooh. The perfect adventure for children aged 9 and above.

Black Beauty has just been bought by a new owner, Jerry. During a terrible storm, Jerry's daughter is lost outside. Will Black Beauty save her, or escape to freedom? The beloved Black Beauty returns in this new story created especially for beginning readers.

In this delightful dive into the bygone world of Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows staunch Mole, sociable Water Rat, severe Badger, and troublesome and ebullient Toad of Toad Hall are joined by a young mole lady, Beryl, and her dear friend, Rabbit. There are adventures, kidnappings, lost letters, and family secrets—lavishly illustrated throughout by award-winning artist Kathleen Jennings. Praise for Kij Johnson: “The Fox Woman immediately sets the author in the front rank of today’s novelists.” —Lloyd Alex-ander “Johnson has a singular vision and I’m going to be borrowing (stealing) from her.” —Sherman Alexie “Johnson’s language is beautiful, her descriptions of setting visceral, and her characters compellingly drawn.” —Publishers Weekly (starred re-view) “Johnson would fit quite comfortably on a shelf with Karen Russell, Erin Morgen-stern and others who hover in the simultaneous state of being both “literary” and “fantasy” writ-ers.” —Shelf Awareness Kij Johnson’s stories have won the Sturgeon, World Fantasy, and Nebula awards. She has taught writing and has worked at Dark Horse, Microsoft, and Real Networks. She has run bookstores, worked as a radio announcer and engineer, edited cryptic crosswords, and waitressed in a strip bar. Kathleen Jennings was raised on fairytales in western Queensland. She trained as a lawyer and filled the margins of her notes with pen-and-ink illustrations. She has been nominated for the World Fantasy award and has received several Ditmar Awards. She lives in Brisbane, Australia.

The Wind in the Willows is a classic of children's literature, first published in 1908. Alternately slow moving and fast paced, it focuses on four anthropomorphised animal characters in a pastoral version of England. The novel is notable for its mixture of mysticism, adventure, morality, and camaraderie and celebrated for its evocation of the nature of the Thames valley.