The Willows and Beyond

William Horwood, author of two other bestselling "sequels" to Kenneth Grahame's beloved classic, The Wind in the Willows (The Willows in Winter and Toad Triumphant), picks up where Grahame left off, with nary a misstep. The flavor and tone of his thrilling story, along with Patrick Benson's marvelous crosshatched illustrations, have done the impossible: brought Grahame's characters back to life. Like a river, time moves inexorably forward. Ratty, Mole, Otter, Toad, and Badger are growing older. They are content to live out their lives on the River Bank in peaceful reflection--until, that is, one of those mysterious eddies of life picks them up and spins them around. It all starts when Rat, while "communing" with the River, senses that something is terribly wrong. Soon after, a mysterious summons to collect an item from the post office arrives. From there, the adventures gather speed. Whether fighting off the horrible Beast of the Iron Bridge, rescuing Rat from a near-fatal bout with indigestion, or trying to save the Wild Wood from impending, polluting Progress, the friends have no time to slip quietly into old age. Even so, each animal must begin to prepare for the next generation. (All ages, 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter