Return to the Willows by Jacqueline Kelly illustrated by Clint Young 281 pages 9780805094138

One of the wildest characters in children’s lit is the irrepressible Toad from Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows. Jacqueline Kelly, Newbery Honor winning author of The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate has resurrected Toad for a new adventure.  Toad has acquired a hot air balloon – but not quite learned how to pilot such a vehicle.  He cajoles Mole to join him for the chance to “fly” above the treetops. Needless to say, their flight is a wild one and triggers a nefarious plot by a group of weasels. Utterly charming, the author includes “helpful commentary, explanatory footnotes, and translation from the English Language into American”.