'The world has held great Heroes,
As history-books have showed;
But never a name to go down to fame
Compared with that of Toad!'

When Mole escapes from the tedium of spring cleaning and embarks on a new life on the River Bank with his friend the Water Rat, he has little idea of the adventures ahead of him. And the greatest adventures of all are concerned with the vainglorious Toad, who is thrown into transports of delight and finally prison by his love of fast motor cars. It is a hard battle indeed for his friends to teach Mr Toad even a little sense.

 

 
This book is part of the BBC Big Read, and because of that I'll get to read this children's classic that until now has eluded me. I think part of the reason this never attracted me was because my Granny loved it, and tried to read it to me as a child. The talking animals thing has never appealed to me, and that's certainly a part of why until now I've resisted reading it. Maybe I'll get a really nice surprise and enjoy it, and if not I'll at least be able to say why.