Before You Begin

Before you begin.

Mole abandons spring-cleaning for the bright air above ground, and a new world opens along the river. There he meets Water Rat, whose boat and easy company make the banks feel like home. Their circle widens to include the energetic Mr. Toad and the steady Mr. Badger. Across twelve chapters, Kenneth Grahame moves these friends through changing seasons, country roads, quiet rooms, and stretches of water, mixing gentle humor with moments of uncertainty and wonder.

First published in 1908, The Wind in the Willows is known for its vivid natural settings and its animals’ sharply distinct temperaments. Its river country is deliberately unnamed; what matters is the rhythm of familiar places, the pull of the open road, and the warmth of companionship. This edition preserves the twelve original chapter divisions. Its illustrated gallery, character portraits, maps, scenes, and story cards follow the book’s world, while each recap unlocks only after its chapter has been read. Begin with Mole at the riverbank, and let the current set the pace.