If The Wind in the Willows tugs viewers (and readers) through the river reeds with its graceful, enchanting words, The Willows in Winter hurtles them along with its bumpy adventures, all linked to the restless, irascible Toad. Here, the ever-proud proprietor of Toad Hall hangs up his former preoccupation with motorcars in favor of a far hipper mode of transport--airplanes. Though he fancies himself an avid aviator, Toady's nothing but trouble when he takes to the skies. Enlisted to survey the wild woods from up high for Moley, who never made it to Rat's house amid a river-swelling winter storm, he loops-the-loop one time too many, sending Ratty tumbling in thin air. Then there's the small matter that he swiped the plane he's piloting, an offense punishable by a lengthy prison sentence. And he's already a wanted toad for escaping on stolen-motorcar charges. While Toady's tricking an innocent chimneysweep into changing identities with him, Rat's semi-spiritual river wisdom tells him Mole's still alive, and, indeed, the weary traveler straggles up just in time for his own memorial service, requesting cheese on toast and a glass of hot toddy. All's well again along the river, but Toady's captured, and his complicated web of criminal deception lands him in court on murder charges. Well-connected, formidable Badger bails him out, but a lesson in humility awaits the wily bugger back at Toad Hall. High-flying fun skillfully wraps itself around a primer on friendship in The Willows in Winter; it's a can't-miss combination with dear, genteel characters guaranteed to win the hearts of viewers of all ages. --Tammy La Gorce
