Troll Forest: A Norwegian Tale

by Donna Seim, Susan Spellman (Illustrator)

Overview

Peter, a fourteen-year-old boy, works as a hired farm hand in the next village to earn money to help his mother save their farm. On his way home, he finds himself alone in the forest just before dark. Peter has no choice but to spend the night in the forest. He falls into a restless sleep but is soon awakened by loud voices. In the moonlight, he sees a huge woman emerge from the forest followed by a ten-foot-tall man carrying a youngling on his shoulders. At first Peter is frightened by these strange folk; but when the youngling falls into a rolling stream, his parents unaware of his danger; Peter must decide whether to try to save the youngling or to stay safely hidden. In the end, with a little magic, will Peter be able to save the youngling and his mother’s farm? Join Peter on his adventures in the enchanting, magical Troll Forest.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781937721923
Publisher:	Peter E. Randall Publisher
Publication date:	12/01/2022
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.25(w) x 10.25(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

Author Donna Seim is the award-winning author of three children’s picture books and three middle grade readers. Bella and Jingles is the story of a young girl who rescues a baby polar bear in Alaska. Where is Simon, Sandy? is set on the island of Grand Turk. It is the story of a little donkey that wouldn’t quit. Satchi and Little Star is the story of an island girl who tries to catch and tame a wild horse. Cheeky and Charlemagne is a North Country adventure with two furry friends, who save their friends from the trappers. Hurricane Mia is an adventure story of a young girl who sets out to find the tea that cures everything. Charley, set in 1910, is based on a true story of a streetwise city boy from Boston who, after being abandoned, finds himself taken in by a dairy farming family in rural Maine. Charley was adapted as a play and performed both in Massachusetts and Maine. Donna is a graduate from The Ohio State University with a BSSW in the field of social welfare. She holds a MA in Special Education from Lesley University. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators. Donna lives in Newbury, Massachusetts, with her husband, Martin, and her dog, Charlie. You can see more of her work at www.donnaseim.com

Artist Susan Spellman, pursues a dual career as a fine artist and as an illustrator with extensive experience in painting, portraiture, and children’s book illustration. Her fine art work can be viewed at: www.spellmancollection.com. She has illustrated six previous titles by Donna Seim.

Editorial Reviews

Troll Forest: A Norwegian Tale is a picture book for children written by Donna Marie Seim and illustrated by Susan Spellman. It introduces us to Peter, a fourteen-year-old boy who is traversing the Norwegian countryside. After three days of hard work in a faraway land, Peter is heading home with the few kroner (coins) he has earned. But darkness falls before Peter makes it home, and he camps for the night beside a stream. In the dead of the night, Peter awakes to thundering voices ringing out of the forest's depths. A large woman emerges, carrying a giant pan, and scoops an enormous salmon from the stream. She stacks a pile of logs and magically lights them. A larger man, about ten feet tall, emerges moments later with a youngster on his shoulders and joins the woman. Could these be the trolls Peter had heard so much about from the folks in his village? And, if they are, will they be as devious and untrustworthy with Peter as the troll legends suggest? Troll Forest was lovely. It fulfilled all the requirements for a fantastic, fast-paced adventure. As Peter strides into the forest and night approaches, incredible Norwegian mysteries of old and the secrets of the deep forest begin to unravel. You can't wait to learn more about the trolls' secretive livelihood and how they manage to leave no trace of their nighttime escapades. The illustrations are vibrant and elaborate. They are so creative that they vividly display the characters' traits. Peter is not only hardworking but also a brave and compassionate young man. Every attribute about him is described and expressed in actions, as evidenced in the illustrations. Troll Forest highlights the excellent research and time invested by Donna Marie Seim and illustrator Susan Spellman. It is appropriate for children of all ages. The moral lesson embedded in it will instill in children the importance of being brave and hardworking. Adults will also enjoy learning more about the mystery of trolls.

Alex Ndirangu for Readersʼ Favorite