The Wind in the Willows: Level 1

By Kenneth Grahame

Explore the human emotions of fear, nostalgia, admiration, anddesire through the anthropomorphized characters in this lovelyclassic. This delightful story follows the affairs of mild manneredMole, friendly Ratty, impulsive Mr. Toad, and the gruff butlovable Mr. Badger.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Compass Publishing
• Release date: Feb 24, 2009
• ISBN: 9781599661841

Kenneth Grahame

Kenneth Grahame (1859-1932) was a Scottish author of children’s literature. Following the death of his mother at a young age, Grahame was sent to live with his grandmother in Berkshire, England, in a home near the River Thames. Unable to study at Oxford due to financial reasons, Grahame embarked on a career with the Bank of England, eventually retiring to devote himself to writing. An early exposure to nature and wildlife formed a lasting impression on Grahame, who would return to the Thames Valley of his youth throughout his literary career—most notably in his novel The Wind in the Willows (1908), which is considered his finest achievement and a masterpiece of children’s fiction.

Book preview

A Rat and a Mole

Mole came out of his hole near the river bank. Water Rat walked over to him.

"Hello, Mole, Rat said. I have not seen you here before."

I don’t go out very often, Mole said. And I haven’t been here before. I’m happier at home underground.

It’s always better to be at home, Rat said, but I also like to swim around in the river.

Is this a river? Mole asked. All this water?

It certainly is, Rat said. "And it’s wonderful. I love it."

But what do you do in it? Mole wanted to know.

"Swim about in it, of course. Look at things. Talk to the ducks and other animals that live in the river. Oh, there’s always a lot to do in a river. Would you like to meet some of my friends?"

Oh, yes. I’d really like that, Mole said.

"Good. Let’s go to my boat and get my picnic basket. We’ll have a nice picnic by the river."

Rat and Mole jumped on the boat. Rat got his picnic basket. They traveled and returned to land. On land, Mole felt the ground beneath him move.

Oh! What’s happening? he cried.

Don’t worry about it, a voice said, and Badger came out of the ground. He was quite old and often had a bad temper. And please try not to sit on my front door.

"I’m so sorry, Mr. Badger," Mole said.

At this moment, Rat returned with the picnic basket. Badger went to the river bank to help Rat with it.

My dear friend, Ratty, he said. "It’s so