Reviews: (by author)

Grahame, Kenneth. The Wind in the Willows. Illus. Inga Moore. Cambridge: Candlewick, 2003. $19.99.ISBN 0-77636-2242-7.

Candlewick is one of the States' outstanding publishers, creating children's books of high quality in all aspects. This year they've republished two classics, Pinocchio (reviewed above) and The Wind in the Willows. For each, they commissioned the work of extraordinary artists perfectly matched to the material and to the contemporary audience. Sara Fenelli's originality illustrating the episodic, frenetic Italian classic highlights for the modern reader the swift pace of Collodi's writing. Inga Moore's work on the British classic captures the more cozy campfire world of Mole, Ratty, Badger, and Toad. Moore's work is very fine indeed, depicting not just the idyllic side of Grahame's Ode to the River, but also the dynamic, slapstick element as well. Fenelli uses oranges and reds, collages, and sharp angles; Moore uses pastels, soft shading, and detailed pen work. Both books are generous with their art; almost every page has color illustrations or faces a full-page illustration to entice young readers used to multi-viewing. Just as with Pinocchio, The Wind in the Willows in Candlewick's versions are the versions of these books I would buy.

A.A. 12/03

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