The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

When Mole ventures out of his burrow, he meets the friendly Rat, and the two embark on gentle riverside adventures. They are soon joined by Badger and the boastful, reckless Toad, whose love of fast cars gets him into serious trouble. As Toad lands in jail and his grand home is taken over by weasels, his friends come together to help him. The story shifts from whimsical tales of friendship to a daring rescue mission. It’s a charming, richly descriptive tale about loyalty, mischief, and the quiet magic of the English countryside.