A delightful re-telling of one of Britain's best-loved books, aimed deliberately at younger children.

Richard Cuddington's verse rendition of Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows is the perfect introduction to a volume of stories which has enchanted generations of readers with its timeless evocation of life 'along the river bank'.

All the well-known characters are here: the Mole, the Water Rat, Badger, Otter and, of course, the larger-than-life and utterly irrepressible Mr Toad of Toad Hall.

The author has retained all the verve and energy of the original tales, together with the chapter titles, but simplified the language in order to make them more accessible to the younger reader.

Mole's frightening visit to the Wild Wood in the depths of winter and the colourful adventures of Toad take centre stage in a bubbling, rhythmic verse that drives the ebullient narrative forward so that there is never a dull moment.