Dwayne was traveling for a few weeks and we did not want to continue reading our current read-aloud, The Wheel on the School, while he was gone, so we started a totally new read-aloud in his absence, The Wind in the Willows. The girls and I loved it immediately. Rat, Mole, and Badger became our fast friends and we started referencing them in conversations right away.
I am very familiar with CS Lewis at this point in my life. As I was reading this book at particular moments, I wondered whether Lewis must have read this book, too. It reminded me of him. I checked the timeline, publication date, etc. and found that it was, at least possible for Lewis to have read this book. Then I inquired of my literary friends and many confirmed that CS Lewis loved this book and even reread it many times. No wonder the characters in this book felt like old friends to me all at once! Next to Willy Shakes, Jack is my oldest literary friend. Jack knew and loved these characters long before I ever met them!
It was exhilarating and rewarding to be able to trace that connection between Lewis and Graham. They say all the books are talking to one another and in this case, that was obvious to me. Reading this felt like meeting someone new and really liking them, then finding out that you and the new person both have a mutual friend.
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