The River Bank: And Other Stories from The Wind in the Willows

by Kenneth Grahame, Inga Moore (Illustrator)

Offers several stories from the classic The Wind in the Willows, bringing to life the charming cast, including impulsive Mole, rash Mr. Toad, the Badger, and others.

Genres: Classics, Childrens

96 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1908

About the author

Kenneth Grahame was a British writer. He is best remembered for the classic of children's literature The Wind in the Willows (1908). Scottish by birth, he spent most of his childhood with his grandmother in England, following the death of his mother and his father's inability to look after the children. After attending St Edward's School in Oxford, his ambition to attend university was thwarted and he joined the Bank of England, where he had a successful career. Before writing The Wind in the Willows, he published three other books: Pagan Papers (1893), The Golden Age (1895), and Dream Days (1898).

Reviews

[Hana Zet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Detská klasika, ktorá vyšla prvýkrát v roku 1908 a odvtedy úchvacovala malých i veľkých ma trochu zmiatla. Čakala som milé rozprávanie o zvieratkách v štýle Kvaka a Čľupa, ktoré vyšperkujú prekrásne ilustrácie Ingy Moore. To druhé sa absolútne naplnilo, ba priam prekonalo moje najsmelšie predstavy. Inga Moore odviedla kus úžasnej práce a vo Vetre vo vŕbach je radosť listovať. Ak vám takéto drobnosti nevadia, bude sa vám Vietor vo vŕbach páčiť celý ako je. Zvieratká na obrázkoch ožívajú a spolu s nimi vlastne všetky miesta, ktoré Kenneth Grahame opisuje. Stretnete starostlivého Potkančeka, zvedavého Krta, rozmerného Žabiaka, ktorý sa pre svoju vášeň stane kriminálnikom a aj tak sa nikdy nepoučí, samotárskeho Jazveca s dobrým srdcom... ale aj zlé lasice a kuny, ktoré ale dostanú na kožuch.
Avšak - zdá sa, že podľa všetkého práve Inga Moore neurobila autorovi najlepšiu službu.

Kenneth Grahame písal tieto príbehy pôvodne pre svoje deti a Vietor vo vŕbach naozaj uchvacoval generácie čitateľov. Keď som premýšľala nad tým, prečo to u mňa tak celkom nie je, náhodou som našla článok v Literárnej revue, kde sa to rozhodla rozlúsknuť recenzentka .... A priniesla aj logické vysvetlenie.

Vietor vo vŕbach totiž Inga Moore popri plnení si svojho životného sna - ilustrovať túto knihu - upravila. Niečo vyškrtala, niečo pospájala. Práve toto ale mohlo spôsobiť, že zostal príbeh, v ktorom síce milé postavičky občas vyvolajú úsmev na vašej tvári, ale to podstatné čaro občas akosi chýba. Čo ma navyše zamrzelo je, že si tam zvieratká medzi sebou alebo sami sebe často nadávajú do hlupákov, truhlíkov a podobne.

Ak vám ale takéto detaily nevadia, bude sa vám Vietor vo vŕbach páčiť celý ako je. K Tajnej záhrade vizuálne krásne zapasuje, musím povedať, že v ilustráciách dokonca vyhráva. Ale pokiaľ ide o príbeh a akúsi dušu, prekrásna Tajná záhrada je pre mňa skrátka niekde inde.

[ll_booklover · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5*

[Bree · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone having a difficult time getting kids' to follow the original Wind in the Willows story, this book is amazing. Inga Moore tells an abridged version using the author's original language, but her art adds a dimension that keeps kids' from going under with the wordiness. I am typically not a fan of anything abridged, but both my kids adore this book. Now I need to find the second volume since this book covers only about half the original story.

[Zuna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Synovi sa páčila, mne menej. Ilustrátorka však odviedla dobrú prácu.

[Kitkatreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

A childhood favourite, I love re-reading this and wishing I lived in a cosy little home like the mole and the badger. Also love the illustrations so so much , so beautiful 😍

[Martin Šuraba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jedna z najkrajsich a najlepsich knih, ktoru som miloval ako dieta. Ked som to cital ako dospely, uvedomil som si, ze zabiakov pribeh milujem Este viac


V starsom vydani sa to volalo Rozpravky spod vrby

[Vanessa Hoyles · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my opinion not as good at the adventures of Mr toad. But still wonderful childhood favourites. Happy and quaint stories with beautiful illustrations

[Nik F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous illustrations. I wish it was the full novel.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inga Moore's abridged and illustrated Wind in the Willows collection features some charming tales of a simplistic country life and adorable animals who just want to make friends and enjoy their time together picnicking or finding new friends in the woods.

This selection focuses on the characters of Mole and Water Rat. Mole is so wonderfully naive and optimistic it is hard not to love him. The tale of him rediscovering his old home was a very poignant one. Water Rat is more grounded and rational, but nevertheless is portrayed as very loyal and thoughtful. Both make for an adorable pair of protagonists.

Complete with the elusive Badger and extravagant Toad, this collection of stories wonderfully illustrated by Moore really hit the sweet spot for me. It's what good children's fiction should be. It's simple, charming, and innocent. But beneath this are themes of what home means, of what friendship means, of what little adventures and rituals define life, and what it means to be Good. After all, Badger, for his elusive and anti-social nature, is revealed to house young hedgehogs overnight who lost their way to school in the snow. Everything about this little collection is a brilliant little work of art.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

More charming and magical than the first time I read it as a 9 year old. I can't imagine children appreciating it near as much as adults with its traditional prose, but definitly read it to your kids or grandchildren. a good curl up in your pj's book.

[Mary Bundy · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books and Charlotte's Web may be solely responsible for my early love of reading! Inga Moore as illustrator could be my most favorite. Sweet and simple drawings, love the innocent nature of this series.

[Veronika Pizano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hoci z toho cítiť, že to bolo napísané pred vyše 100 rokmi, je to stále krásny príbeh, v ktorom síce zvieratá majú ľudské črty, ale stále sú zvieratami. Na týchto starších príbehoch, ak sú dobre napísané, mám rada ich drsnosť, akú v dnešných rozprávkových knihách nenájdeme.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the illustrations in this book. The story excerpts from Kenneth Grahame's series are perfect.

[Jason Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you don't mind your kids hearing "you ass" by British animals ;) it is a fabulous read to share with them!

[Vicky Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely beautiful book. I was feeling nostalgic and this book, particularly the chapter based around Christmas time reminded me of my childhood.

[Ivet Ga · Rating 2 out of 5]

Veľmi rozpačitý dojem, očakávala som asi príliš veľa, príbeh deti vôbec neoslovil, naj z celej knihy sú ilustrácie od Inge Moore

[Molly Hart · Rating 2 out of 5]

I completely didn’t understand what was going on. I guess I missed something. But, like, the animals were just like humans, but not. It was strange.

[Katharine · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite stories. This version has gorgeous illustrations.