Did you love The Wind in the Willows growing up? It was one of my favourite stories, and has become a talisman for me throughout my life. That is why I was delighted to be invited to write a story set on the riverbank. There was only one story I wanted to tell, and that was the story of Portly, Otter’s son, who goes missing in Chapter Seven: Piper at the Gates of Dawn. 🦦
I’ve been working with the wonderful artist Polly Dunbar who has beautifully reimagined E. H. Shepard’s illustrations to bring little Portly and other characters from The Wind in the Willows to life for a new generation. 🌳
As well as the standard edition, there will be two special limited editions with sprayed edges. The edition with insects on the sprayed edge will only be available through independent bookshops. The edition with the willow tress on the sprayed edge will be exclusively available through Waterstones. If you want to be certain of grabbing one of these beautiful editions, then you’ll need to pre-order as they’ll disappear fast. 🦦
Here are some kind things other authors have said about the book:
"A magical tale of one mischievous otter bursting with charm, wit and wonder" — Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear
“This magical retelling bubbles with wonder, joy and love.” — Piers Torday, author of The Last Wild
“A glorious future classic” — Alexander Armstrong, author of Evenfall
"Marvellous tales, full of sparkle and charm” — Sophie Anderson, author of The Girl Who Speaks Bear
"One of the loveliest books I've read in a long time” — Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The Girl of Ink and Stars
"A story that ripples with the gentleness of childhood wonder and friendship.” — Leah Lane, @mymulberryhouse
The Adventures of Portly the Otter will be out on 26th March 2026 in hardback, but it is available to pre-order now! So please do!🦦📚
