The Wind in the Willows (novel)

Before I had a name, I was a feeling—the gentle splash of an oar in the water, the cozy warmth of a burrow underground, and the exciting 'poop-poop' of a shiny new motorcar. I was the whisper of wind through the reeds, telling tales of loyal friends: a shy Mole, a kind Water Rat, a grumpy but wise Badger, and a very silly, boastful Toad. My world is one of sunny picnics, dark and scary woods, and a grand home called Toad Hall. I am an adventure waiting to happen. I am the book called The Wind in the Willows.

I wasn't born in a big factory. I began as a story told from a father to his son. My creator was a thoughtful man named Kenneth Grahame. He loved walking along the river and watching the little animals. He had a young son named Alastair, who he nicknamed 'Mouse.' Starting around 1904, every night, Kenneth would tell Alastair bedtime stories about the funny Mr. Toad and his friends. When Alastair had to be away from home in 1907, Kenneth missed him so much that he wrote down the adventures in letters and sent them to him. He wanted to make sure his son didn't miss a single adventure. He gathered all those wonderful stories, and on October 8th, 1908, I was finally put together with a cover and pages for all the children in the world to read.

When I first appeared, some grown-ups thought I was a bit strange. A story about talking animals driving cars? But children knew better. They loved the exciting and funny adventures of my friends, from Mole's first trip on the river to Toad's wild escape from jail. For more than 100 years, my pages have been turned by grandparents, parents, and children, all sharing the same cozy feeling. My stories have leaped off the page and turned into plays and movies. I am more than just paper and ink; I am a reminder that the best adventures are the ones you share with good friends and that there is no place as special as home. Even today, I help children everywhere imagine a world where animals talk, friendship is everything, and the wind in the willows whispers secrets to anyone who will listen.