Portobello Book Blog

   

Here Comes the Trolls

Through gaps in the roof we didn’t repair 

through cracks in the walls we pretended weren’t there…

…the trolls have come creeping 

while we were all sleeping. 

Trolls on your chair, trolls in your bed – 

is anything worse than a troll on your head?

What happens when your house is invaded by trolls – mischievous creatures who do nothing but cause havoc and mayhem? Find out in this zany and charming book which tells you how to get rid of them for good and make your house a troll-free zone!

Day of the Trolls

It’s the Day of the Trolls: Fart-Fart and all the trolls are back! Join them in the shopping mall where they go wild, causing havoc as they overrun the place. But when they follow sign saying All Trolls – This Way, things turn out very differently to what Flycatcher, Bumscratcher, SnotFace, Squeer and the rest of them expected …

 

What can I say about Ron Butlin’s creations The Trolls? Well, first of all let me say that my young nieces and I loved them.  These mischievous, grumpy little creatures are sure to be enjoyed by the little people – and not so little people – in your life. Young children will be giggling at their antics and will love joining in with the rhymes within the book.  There’s lots to talk about within the story from the ever so slightly rude names of the trolls (which my nieces thought were hilarious!) and the made-up words, to James Hutcheson’s bright and cheerful illustrations expertly bringing the story to life in a simple yet really effective way.

I particularly enjoyed the second book, more directly narrated by the Trolls themselves as they talk about their disgusting breakfast which they then proceed to burp in people’s faces before they head off to cause havoc at a shopping centre. (More giggles from the nieces!) It’s sure to bring squeals of laughter mixed with disgust!

For breakfast we feast on gutter-fish roast

on drain-slime, slug stew, squid-eyes-on-toast.

Our Troll Day treat is rat-on-a-stick

I must also mention that if you buy these books, you get a free audio download of the book read by the author himself – details are to be found in the back of each book. Ron Butlin is an award-winning poet, playwright, novelist, short story writer and librettist whose works have been translated into many languages. He regularly gives creative writing workshops in schools, and was Edinburgh Makar from 2008 to 2014. To give you a flavour of the book and his reading, here is a video clip of Ron reading from Day of Trolls.

 

Thanks to Kelly Lacey at  LoveBooksGroup Blog for inviting me to read these books.  Both are available directly from the publisher at the links below or you can order online.

Here Come The Trolls

Day of the Trolls

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