Skip to main content Skip to search Skip to search

Children's Fiction General

Return to the Willows

by (author) Jacqueline Kelly

illustrated by Clint Young

Publisher
Henry Holt and Co.
Initial publish date
Oct 2012
Category
General
Recommended Age
8 to 12
Recommended Grade
3 to 7
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9780805094138
    Publish Date
    Oct 2012
    List Price
    $22.99

Classroom Resources

Where to buy it

Out of print

This edition is not currently available in bookstores. Check your local library or search for used copies at Abebooks.

Description

Mole, Ratty, Toad, and Badger are back for more rollicking adventures in this sequel toThe Wind in the Willows.
With lavish illustrations by Clint Young, Jacqueline Kelly masterfully evokes the magic of Kenneth Grahame's beloved children's classic and brings it to life for a whole new generation.
A riveting tale of bravery, bravado, and hot-air ballooning!

About the authors

Awards

  • Winner, Capitol Choices Noteworthy Titles for Children and Teens

Contributor Notes

Jacqueline Kelly was born in New Zealand and raised in Canada. She now makes her home with her husband and various cats and dogs in Austin and Fentress, Texas. She is a practicing physician. Her first novel,The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, was a Newbery Honor winner.
Clint G. Young was born and lives in Dallas, Texas.

Editorial Reviews

“[a] fast-paced, madcap adventure.” —The New York Times
“Evoking the ineffable mixture of capers and camaraderie that has kept the original in print for so long, she serves up a roistering, boisterous tale of hot-air balloons, fireworks and GBQs*. And while youngsters are lapping up Toad's adventures, howling as he rockets from lugubrious to lovable in the space of a chapter, adults lucky enough to read this aloud will also have lots of sly asides to chuckle over....” —The Washington Post
“Engaging from beginning to end, this sequel is superb.” —School Library Journal
“...an affectionate follow-up to a classic of children's literature, one that succeeds on its own as a humorous and adventurous romp along the riverbank and into the Wild Wood.” —Publishers Weekly
“Writing a sequel to such a beloved classic is almost as bold a move as Toad stealing a motor-car, but happily, Kelly's results warrant accolades rather than a trip to gaol.” —Kirkus
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate is the most delightful historical novel for tweens in many, many years. . . . Callie's struggles to find a place in the world where she'll be encouraged in the gawky joys of intellectual curiosity are fresh, funny, and poignant today.” —The New Yorker
“Each chapter of this winning . . . novel opens with a quotation fromOn the Origin of Species--a forbidden book that her own grandfather turns out to have hidden away. Together they study Darwin's masterpiece, leading to a revolution in Callie's ideas of what she might accomplish on her own.” —The New York Times Book Review on The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
“Callie's transformation into an adult and her unexpected bravery make for an exciting and enjoyable read. Kelly's rich images and setting, believable relationships and a touch of magic take this story far.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Interwoven with the scientific theme are threads of daily life in a large family--the bonds with siblings, the conversations overheard, the unspoken understandings and misunderstandings--all told with wry humor and a sharp eye for details that bring the characters and the setting to life. The eye-catching jacket art, which silhouettes Callie and images from nature against a yellow background, is true to the period and the story. Many readers will hope for a sequel to this engaging, satisfying first novel.” —Booklist, starred review on The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
“Narrator Calpurnia's voice is fresh and convincing, and Granddaddy is that favorite relative most readers would love to claim as their own. Historical fiction fans are in for a treat.” —BCCB on The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

Other titles by