A miser learns the true meaning of Christmas when three ghostly visitors review his past and foretell his future. Illustrated notes throughout the text explain the historical background of the story.

"Meek little Mole, willful Ratty, Badger the perennial bachelor, and petulant Toad. Since their first appearance over a hundred years ago in 1908, they've become emblematic archetypes of eccentricity, folly, and friendship. And their misadventures--in gypsy caravans, stolen sports cars, and their beloved Wild Wood--continue to capture readers' imaginations and warm their hearts long after they grow up. Begun as a series of letters from Kenneth Grahame...

From the Publisher: Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert need someone to help work their farm near the little village of Avonlea. So they decide to "take in" an orphan from a distant city. They ask for a strong, quiet, levelheaded boy. But instead, they are sent Anne Shirley-a strong-willed, talkative, redheaded girl with a quick temper, a wild imagination, and a mind of her own. How will living in this quiet little village change Anne? And how will Anne...