This book is a derivative work of Kenneth Grahame's
The Wind in the Willows
, a classic children's story that explores the adventures of Toady, Badger, Mole, and Ratty along the riverfront and the Wild Wood and the determination of the latter three to convert the conceited, irresponsible, lawless (and yet softhearted) Toady into a respectable member of their society. Besides the adventurous nature of the story, character lessons, such as the qualities of genuine friendship, what constitutes acceptable and nonacceptable behavior, and the principle that individuals are humbled when seeking to exalt themselves are also evident throughout the book. In keeping with the original version and its British author, this book has kept the British spelling of words used in the story itself, while the American spelling is used for the chapter review questions. A chart that compares the British and American spelling of words that are used in the book is provided prior to the first chapter. As an example, the American spelling of the word
color
is spelled as
colour
in the United Kingdom. While the text is nearly identical to the original 1908 version, several words have been replaced and certain sentences restructured to more accurately reflect modern-day English and to make for an easier read. As a bonus, story illustrations and end-of-chapter review questions have been provided. (Please note that the answers to the end-of-chapter questions are only available in the teacher's edition.) Besides the review questions, free computer-based tests for each chapter are available by visiting the website of Habakkuk Educational Materials. (See page 5 for more information.) The computer will notify users if an answer is correct or incorrect, and their grades will be displayed after completing a test. To contact Habakkuk Educational Materials, please visit the business website.