Vole and Troll

by Iza Trapani, Iza Trapani (Illustrator)

Overview

Loosely based on "The Three Billy Goats Gruff," this sweet, funny tale introduces two loveable characters who just can't get along . . . until they start singing.

Troll-dee-roll, I'm a troll, and my favorite food is vole.

Meet mischievous Vole and grouchy old Troll, the newest characters by best selling author/illustrator Iza Trapani. Vole wants to cross the bridge to where the literal and proverbial grass is greener, but grumpy old Troll lives under the bridge and offers two options: pay the toll or eat Vole. Vole outwits Troll three times by distracting him with clever, interactive songs (which will be quite familiar to young children and caregivers). But in the end, the pair lays aside their differences and embraces their common love of music.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781580898850
Publisher:	Charlesbridge
Publication date:	09/10/2019
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.70(w) x 9.70(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	2 - 5 Years

About the Author

Iza Trapani was born in Poland, and when she first came to the United States at the age of seven, she learned English in large part by reading a book of Mother Goose. She is the author of many books for children, some of which were based on beloved nursery rhymes such as Mary Had a Little Lamb, I'm a Little Teapot, and the bestselling The Itsy Bitsy Spider, which recently celebrated its twentieth anniversary. Iza lives in upstate New York.

Read an Excerpt

Vole headed to a knoll across the creek to sample the tastiest grass in the valley. But a gruff and greedy troll was said to guard the bridge.

Sure enough, Troll was at the bridge, singing.

Troll-dee-roll, I’m a troll,  
And my favorite food is vole.
With a knick-knack, paddywhack,
Better pay the toll,
Or you’ll end up in my bowl!

Editorial Reviews

Readers will need to tune their voices before meeting Troll, who guards the bridge leading to "the tastiest grass in the valley."When Vole arrives to cross, Troll sings a challenge in his clear, deep voice: "Troll-dee-roll, I'm a troll, / And my favorite food is vole. / With a knick-knack, paddywhack, / Better pay the toll, / or you'll end up in my bowl!" But hungry Vole can't pay, and the battle of wits begins. Luckily, Troll knows only one song, so Vole teaches him a new one. Three times, Troll gets so caught up in each new action song—children will recognize these storytime standards and join in—Vole teaches him that the anthropomorphic creatures successfully sneaks over the bridge for "a feast of grassy greens." But on Vole's fourth visit, Troll snatches him by the tail. Knowing he is destined for Troll's bowl, Vole begs for one last Troll song. In an unexpected twist, Vole joins "in with a sweet, high harmony," and together they fill "the valley with music so enchanting that fish [spring] from the creek, flapping their fins with pleasure…. Even the songbirds [hush] to listen." Understandably, as part of their new friendship, Vole insists on rewriting Troll's challenge song. Watercolor, colored pencil, and ink illustrations enhance the emotional subtext to this revised fairy tale. A harmonious twist on an old favorite with bonus action songs. 

—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2019-06-25
Readers will need to tune their voices before meeting Troll, who guards the bridge leading to "the tastiest grass in the valley."

When Vole arrives to cross, Troll sings a challenge in his clear, deep voice: "Troll-dee-roll, I'm a troll, / And my favorite food is vole. / With a knick-knack, paddywhack, / Better pay the toll, / or you'll end up in my bowl!" But hungry Vole can't pay, and the battle of wits begins. Luckily, Troll knows only one song, so Vole teaches him a new one. Three times, Troll gets so caught up in each new action song—children will recognize these storytime standards and join in—Vole teaches him that the anthropomorphic creature successfully sneaks over the bridge for "a feast of grassy greens." But on Vole's fourth visit, Troll snatches him by the tail. Knowing he is destined for Troll's bowl, Vole begs for one last Troll song. In an unexpected twist, Vole joins "in with a sweet, high harmony," and together they fill "the valley with music so enchanting that fish [spring] from the creek, flapping their fins with pleasure….Even the songbirds [hush] to listen." Understandably, as part of their new friendship, Vole insists on rewriting Troll's challenge song. Watercolor, colored pencil, and ink illustrations enhance the emotional subtext to this revised fairy tale.

A harmonious twist on an old favorite with bonus action songs. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews