Adrián Astur Álvarez reviewed Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Review of 'Wind in the Willows' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
The language in this book is pretty advanced for a 5 year old so we took our time reading - lots of breaks to explain what was happening. Still, he wanted to persevere, despite many suggestions that we put this story aside until a little later. He loved the story and, of course, the lovely illustrations by Robert Ingpen in this version from Palazzo Editions. I'm glad he was into the story because I never read this book as a child so this was my first encounter with Grahame's classic and I fell in love. There are so many wonderful pastoral touches, so many gorgeous moments of description, and an underlying theme that never stops being touching and delicate. I really loved the main ideas and I thought the plotting was surprising. It feels loosely held together until you think of everything retroactively in a sweep of imagination. Then it …
The language in this book is pretty advanced for a 5 year old so we took our time reading - lots of breaks to explain what was happening. Still, he wanted to persevere, despite many suggestions that we put this story aside until a little later. He loved the story and, of course, the lovely illustrations by Robert Ingpen in this version from Palazzo Editions. I'm glad he was into the story because I never read this book as a child so this was my first encounter with Grahame's classic and I fell in love. There are so many wonderful pastoral touches, so many gorgeous moments of description, and an underlying theme that never stops being touching and delicate. I really loved the main ideas and I thought the plotting was surprising. It feels loosely held together until you think of everything retroactively in a sweep of imagination. Then it becomes clear this is a purposeful story about things you may not have expected while reading.
I had a few favorite chapters but the most moving to me was The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. My son's favorite storyline was Mr. Toad's raucous incarceration and escape. What a character for a children's novel!
Anyway, if you've read this then you know how great it is but if you are like me and made it to adulthood without any exposure to the story I'm here to tell you that's worth fixing.