{"id":28451,"date":"2015-09-24T22:42:30","date_gmt":"2015-09-25T02:42:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=28451"},"modified":"2015-09-24T22:44:39","modified_gmt":"2015-09-25T02:44:39","slug":"review-of-troll-and-the-oliver-by-adam-stower","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=28451","title":{"rendered":"Review of Troll and the Oliver, by Adam Stower"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"troll_and_the_oliver_large\"<\/a>Troll and the Oliver<\/em><\/p>\n

by Adam Stower<\/p>\n

Templar Books (Candlewick Press), 2015. 40 pages.
\nStarred Review<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s some high drama for the preschool set. We start out being introduced to Troll and \u201can Oliver.\u201d Troll keeps trying to catch the Oliver, wanting to eat it for lunch. But the Oliver keeps getting away. We see many of these scenarios, as the Oliver dodges, hides, and sneaks away, cleverly eluding capture. As he escapes he sings little songs and always wears a happy smile. Despite the giant fuzzy blue troll, the reader isn\u2019t really frightened for Oliver.<\/p>\n

Then one day, the reader thinks Troll has given up. Oliver looks and looks for Troll and steps stealthily just in case.<\/p>\n

And shall I give a spoiler? I don\u2019t feel like I can explain how absolutely brilliant this book is without explaining what happens.<\/p>\n

But perhaps I can get away with saying there\u2019s a half-page turn in this book \u2013 which is the most dramatic page turn I have ever seen in a children\u2019s book. Read well, I can easily imagine children jumping out of their skin.<\/p>\n

When I say half-page: A double page spread has vertically half a page in the middle of it. Before you turn the half-page, you\u2019ve got Oliver in the kitchen, just having realized the Troll has given up.<\/p>\n

My name\u2019s Oliver,
\nLook at me!
\nI\u2019m as clever
\nAs can be!
\nI\u2019m the best
\nAnd I\u2019m the winner.
\nI\u2019ll never ever
\nBe that smelly
\nTroll\u2019s dinner!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Turning the half-page \u201copens\u201d the cabinet \u2013 to devastating effect.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s just say that it\u2019s a good thing it turns out Olivers taste awful. And the pictures of Troll tasting him all have Oliver\u2019s legs hanging out of Troll\u2019s mouth. So still not too frightening.<\/p>\n

And then, in a brilliant stroke, Troll smells what the Oliver was baking in the kitchen. All along, something was wafting from the oven, but our attention wasn\u2019t called to it. Turns out \u2013 Trolls love CAKE!<\/p>\n

And the book finishes off with a happy scene of Oliver having a Cake Picnic with a whole big party of trolls. The back endpapers have a recipe for Troll Cupcakes.<\/p>\n

I especially like the Author\u2019s Note at the end:<\/p>\n

I would strongly advise the reader to ALWAYS have some cake handy, just in case a troll should happen by. He might be hungry. . . .<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

One of the things I love about this book is that Oliver is consistently smiling. Despite the dramatic reversal in the middle, the reader is never too worried for Oliver, because he\u2019s not worried. Yep, there\u2019s a big fuzzy blue troll trying to eat a little kid, but it\u2019s not really a frightening book. And you come away with the message: Always have some cake handy. <\/p>\n

What could be better?<\/p>\n

I\u2019m going to try this book at Storytime. . . And see if I can make the kids jump.<\/p>\n

candlewick.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Picture_Books\/troll_and_the_oliver.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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