What is it with weasels?

Development drawing for A Little Bit Anxious by Ciara Gavin (Little Tiger Press) | Illustration © 2020 by Tim Warnes
Weasels - …well, you can’t really trust them, and that’s the fact.
— Ratty, The Wind in the Willows
One of my early book memories is of a natural history series, aimed at early readers.
Technically, they belonged to my school library (a place of quiet comfort for Tiny Tim). But as I remember, for a time, I held them in a constant state of renewal, shuttling them to and from school in my chestnut leather satchel. Small and square in format, the books were a mine of information; with beautiful photographs, they were a treasure to me. I learned about squirrels, moles and mice. Badgers and bats. But it was Weasels that captivated me the most. Oh, how I dreamed of spotting one of those small, sneaky predators!
Notoriously elusive, these minuscule members of the mustelid family evaded me for years. Until one snowy day, when I watched a weasel hunting around the pots on our patio, just metres from me. Swift and slinky, it snaked his way through and around and over any obstacles in his way.
That little weasel (and they really are teeny) was a far cry from the weasels of popular culture. They don’t often pop up, but when they do, weasels generally have the misfortune of being typecast as henchmen to more powerful villains. (Most notably - and enjoyably - Judge Doom’s Toon Patrol, from Who Framed Roger Rabbit?)
What is it with weasels?! Why so maligned? A few steps along the family tree, weasels metamorphose into adorable otters and beguiling badgers. But they get landed with the simile, As quarrelsome as a weasel, and the negative phrase, weasel words (used when we need to weasel out of responsibility and accusation).
I can’t help thinking this is mostly down to the influence of Kenneth Grahame’s tale, The Wind in the Willows, in which weasels are described as ‘bloodthirsty villains.’ Since its publication in 1908, its popularity has led it to become ingrained in our collective psyche.
“Well, of course - there - are others,” explained the Rat in a hesitating sort of way. “Weasels - and stoats - and foxes _ and so on. They’re all right in a way - I’m very good friends with them - pass the time of day when we meet, and all that - but they break out sometimes, there’s no denying it, and then - well, you can’t really trust them, and that’s the fact.”
- The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame
Ratty’s right. In Toad’s absence, the Wild Wooders (weasels, stoats and ferrets - mustelids all), led by the Chief Weasel, squat in Toad Hall. And what reprobates they are!
Lying in bed half the day, and breakfast at all hours, and the place in such a mess (I’m told) it’s not fit to be seen!’ [explained the Rat. ‘M]aking bad jokes…, and singing vulgar songs…; horrid personal songs, with no humour in them.
- The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame
Toad and friends lay siege on the night of the Chief Weasel’s birthday banquet, in a bid to recapture Toad Hall. Using a secret passageway, they sneak past the armed sentries. Overhead, the sounds of debauchery and drunken behaviour ring out. “Ooo-ray-oo-ray-oo-ray-ooray!” sing the weasels as they stamp on the floor and hammer on tables.

From The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham (Methuen) | Illustration © by E.H. Sheperd 1908
The Badger drew himself up, took a firm grip of his stick with both paws, glanced round at his comrades, and cried:
“The hour is come! Follow me!”
And flung the door open wide. …
- The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame
Another example, this time from the Little Grey Rabbit books, which regularly featured in my childhood:
Down in the dell lived a family of Weasels. They had a dark little house, built against a wall where nobody could see it. ... The narrow windows were covered in green moss. Only in the middle of each there was a tiny crack where the Weasels peeped out at passers-by.
- Little Grey Rabbit and the Weasels, Margaret Tempest
Aye, aye. What’s going on here then?!
The secret house is the lair of master thieves, Bad Winnie Weasel, William and Winkie. ‘During the day they robbed any one who went by.’ If that’s not bad enough, they then kidnap Little Grey Rabbit:
Suddenly William Weasel snatched her basket, and Winkie and Winnie leapt from the leaves and picked her up. They swept her quickly through the door into the house. …
“Nobody will find you. You shall be our slave.”
So Grey Rabbit knew she must make the best of it. She cooked for the fierce Weasels, and cleaned their ugly little house. ... She worked all day without stopping, or they nipped her with their sharp teeth.
- Little Grey Rabbit and the Weasels, Margaret Tempest

From Little Grey Rabbit and the Weasels by Alison Uttley (Collins) | Illustration © by Margaret Tempest
(I’m not sure that would get published nowadays…)
Or what about this: Posy Simmonds’ Lavender, a bedtime favourite when my kids were growing up. I remember the delight of my boys as the train steams ‘past a wood full of furious weasels.’ But why not a wood full of friendly weasels, waving hello? (And I do wish Simmonds had used (one of) the collective nouns for weasels: a boogle. We would have loved that!)

Detail from Lavender by Posy Simmonds (Jonathan Cape) | Illustration © 2003 by Posy Simmonds
The avarice of weasels in children’s books finally culminates in Elise Dolan’s book, WEASELS (Nosy Crow 2013), in which the mini mustelids scheme and plot world domination!

Detail from WEASELS by Elise Dolan (Nosy Crow) | Illustration © 2013 by Elise Dolan
Well, the hour has come (as Badger would say, if he were grammatically correct) for a different type of weasel to emerge.
From this motley collection of furious, rapacious (and ultimately untrustworthy) weasels, steps a timid little fellow.
My latest book, A Little Bit Anxious (re-titled Weasel is Worried for the US, which I think sounds much better) is the story of an anxious weasel. When things are going well, he’s perfectly happy, thank you. But as soon as things go off-plan, anxiety and fear creep in.

When I was offered author Ciara Gavin’s text by Little Tiger Press, I knew I wanted to do it!
For starters, it was about a weasel (although that was touch and go for a bit, as Sales considered them unpalatable)! When he gets caught in a big, angry storm, Weasels builds a fortress to hide in - but becomes trapped by his fears. Then one day, a mole appears. Mole loves to play in the wind and splash in the rain - and helps Weasel learn to overcome his fears and find joy. (One reviewer asked, Where did the mole come from? I suppose, like Toad et al., he beat the barricades by tunnelling up from his own secret passage!)
Here’s the thing: A Little Bit Anxious addresses some important mental health issues in a gentle, child-friendly way:
Anxiety
Fear
Depression
They all affect Weasel, who becomes a prisoner in his own home.
Please don’t be put off by the more sombre undertones. Because A Little Bit Anxious is peppered with joy and humour! And just as importantly, it’s great for teaching valuable skills: mindfulness and empathy.
Sadly, I have experienced firsthand the effects of mental illness - of my own, but also of family and friends. Depression, separation anxiety, panic disorders, low self-esteem. How I hate them. It’s so important that we become more open about discussing the effects - and consequences - of poor mental health, and promote positive, life-enhancing behaviours. Then we can truly live, just like Weasel’s friend, Mole (whose character and mindset transform the story into a message of hope).
‘The whole process was so organic and easy,’ wrote the designer at the end of the project. ‘It’s like this character and interpretation were just sitting dormant inside you, waiting to be splashed across the page!’
And that’s how it felt!
If you have little ones in your care, I’d encourage you to let the joy of this uplifting tale of overcoming wash over you. Weasel and Mole will show them how to:
reframe worrying thoughts and memories
find the positive in challenging situations
take pleasure in your surroundings
find joy in the small things
and be a supportive friend!

From the Greek edition of A Little Bit Anxious by Ciara Gavin (Little Tiger Press) | Illustration © 2020 by Tim Warnes | Image: @funkymama.gr (Used by permission)
A Little Bit Anxious (a.k.a. Weasel Is Worried) - available via your local bookshop or online SourcesA Little Bit Worried by Ciara Gavin, ill. by Tim Warnes (Little Tiger Press 2020)THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS BY KENNETH GRAHAME, ill. by E.H. Shepard (METHUEN 1926) Animalsandenglish.com Disney.fandom.com Little Grey Rabbit and the Weasels by Alison Uttley, ill. by Margaret Tempest (Collins 1947)WEASELS by Elys Dolan (Nosy Crow 2013)Lavender by Posy Simmonds (Jonathan Cape 2003)
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