Willow Buds #1: The Tale of Toad and Badger (No. 1) [Hardcover]

Mary Jane Begin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2008 | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Willow Buds

Discover the world before The Wind in the Willows, the beloved classic by Kenneth Grahame--when the childhood adventures of best buds Ratty, Toady, Badger and Mole were just beginning! In this first tale, Archibald Toad the Third is used to having everything he wants to himself. So he's in for an unpleasant surprise when the new nanny brings her gentle son, Badger, to share in all that Toad Hall has to offer. Though Toady and Badger get off to a rocky start, they soon learn that having a true friend is worth a whole lot more than having all the toys in the world.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3—This picture book is based on the characters in Kenneth Grahame's beloved The Wind in the Willows. In this story, Begin tells how, as children, Badger meets Toad when Badger's mother comes to Toad Hall as a nursemaid. At first, Toad is reluctant to share his toys and feels threatened by the newcomer. Then he accidentally breaks Badger's favorite toy, and he feels sorry about being so selfish. The tale, though sweet, is predictable and the moral is heavy-handed. It has none of the easy humor and descriptive beauty of Grahame's original language. A preface explains that the story is from one of Ratty's journals. Begin's illustrations are full of interesting detail, action, and color. Each page is nicely formatted, and the book is printed on good quality, cream-colored paper. Fans of the artist's work in The Wind in the Willows (Chronicle, 2002) will recognize her humorous painterly style. Devotees of that book may welcome this picture-book prequel. For others, it is of secondary interest.—Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT
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About the Author

Mary Jane Begin is the illustrator for several children's books including A Mouse Told His Mother by Bethany Roberts, Little Mouse's Painting by Diane Wolkstein, and The Porcupine Mouse by Bonnie Pryor. She has done advertising and merchandising work for Hasbro, Milton Bradley, See's Candies, Franklin Mint, Celestial Seasonings, Disney, and many other companies, and she is on the faculty at Rhode Island School of Design.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316013528
• ISBN-13: 978-0316013529
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.5 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,528,062 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good foundation for good reading, October 22, 2008

By 

E. C. Baird (Boston's North Shore) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Willow Buds #1: The Tale of Toad and Badger (No. 1) (Hardcover)

My four year old daughter has memorized both of these WillowBuds books and what's really great is that my father has recorded himself reading The Wind in the Willows - so now when she listens to him read that she loves it and isn't put off by some of the larger concepts and bigger words because she is so firmly aware of who the characters are based on the WillowBuds books.

I find the WillowBuds books best read with a British accent :) Fun for all!

5.0 out of 5 stars Beatiful art, beautiful story, January 24, 2012

By 

George A. Ramos "Books and Kindle" (Montreal, Quebec) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Willow Buds #1: The Tale of Toad and Badger (No. 1) (Hardcover)

This is my 2/3 year old's favorite book right now. The artwork is gorgeous and the story describes the ups and downs of friendship. You don't need to know anything about Wind int eh Willows to enjoy the book and characters. This well-constrcuted book is well worth the money. The sequel is fantastic too, perhaps even more so.

5.0 out of 5 stars Ally, South Haven, July 11, 2008

By 

Ally (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Willow Buds #1: The Tale of Toad and Badger (No. 1) (Hardcover)

This is a must read for parents and children! The illustrations are out of this world- from the detail in the animals to the vibrant colors-it's all fabulous