Kenneth Grahame 
The Wind in the Willows 

For more than a century, The Wind in the Willows and its endearing protagonists have enchanted children of all ages. Whether the four friends are setting forth on an exciting adventure, engaging in a comic caper, or simply relaxing by the River Thames, their stories are among the most charming in all English literature. Alternately slow-moving and fast-paced, the novel is notable for its mixture of mysticism, adventure, morality, and camaraderie and is celebrated for its evocation of the pastoral nature of the Thames valley.