The Happy Troll [Hardcover]

Max Bolliger (Author), Peter Sís (Illustrator), Nina Ignatowicz (Translator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

Trolls from far and wide came to hear Gus sing.
His singing made them happy.

The tale of a troll who learns the hard way that riches don't bring happiness

In exchange for Gus's songs, the trolls brought him crunchy nuts and juicy berries. As a special treat they brought him a shiny pebble from the bottom of the brook. Gus was happy. Then one day he saw a gold ring on the toe of a raven. Owning that ring, Gus decided, was the only thing that would make his happiness complete.

New illustrations and a new jacket by Peter Sís illuminate Max Bolliger's timeless classic tale.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-Originally published in Switzerland in 1983, this moralistic story tells of a little troll who has a beautiful voice. Trolls near and far come to hear Gus sing, bearing water, nuts, berries, and the occasional shiny pebble. He is quite happy until the day a raven wearing a golden ring comes to listen. Mesmerized by the glittering ornament, Gus strikes a bargain: a song for the ring, and thus begins his downfall. A snake with a golden crown and a frog with a golden carriage make similar arrangements. Now the troll will no longer perform for trifles, preferring to ride around to show off his riches. Eventually, he grows sad and lonely, finally losing his gift altogether. He tracks down the animals and returns their treasures, explaining that he no longer needs them and that he is looking for his songs. At last-hungry, thirsty, with aching feet-he makes his way home and finds them. Using oil pastels on gesso, Sís creates a miniature world of childlike trolls in colorful suits. The outdoor backdrops are celebrated in rich greens, blues, and earth tones, and the animals and the carriage with its snail wheels are striking in detail. While the story has been told before, Bolliger's simple, eloquent language perfectly taps into a child's sensibilities.-Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools
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About the Author

Max Bolliger was born in Schwanden, a picturesque village in the Swiss Alps. He is the beloved author of many stories for children and Bible retellings. Mr. Bolliger once said about his writing, "I not only wish to understand the child but to be understood by him."

Peter Sís was born in Czechoslovakia and now lives in New York with his wife and two children. He is the recipient of a 2003 MacArthur Fellowship and the internationally renowned creator of such books as Tibet Through the Red Box and Starry Messenger: Galileo Galilei, which have both received the Caldecott Honor Medal.

Visit Peter Sís at his website: www.petersis.com

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); First Edition edition (May 12, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805069828
• ISBN-13: 978-0805069822
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,706,909 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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