Trouble with Trolls [Hardcover]

Jan Brett (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

While enjoying a skiing trip with her dog, Tuffi, Treva must outwit a greedy family of trolls, who kidnap her dog. By the author of Berlioz the Bear.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A Scandinavian girl must use her wits to outsmart a bunch of pesky trolls in Brett's latest picture book. When Tre,va and her dog Tuffi are set upon by these nasty creatures with dognapping on their minds, the girl dissuades the little folk by offering them other belongings in Tuffi's stead. And, ingenious child that she is, Treva retrieves her goods and also saves her pet before adventure's end. Brett's matter-offact text contains many traditional folktale elements: Treva's quick thinking overcomes obstacles, and she is rewarded for her good intentions and cunning. Readers will need to suspend disbelief just a bit, as Brett never places her heroine in any real dangereven though at one point she is nearly disrobed on a mountaintop. And Tuffi, a stalwart looking husky, makes no attempt to bark, growl or escape his captors. Brett's sumptuous paintings are typically replete with detail of landscape and costume, this time vividly capturing Scandinavian mountains and villages. Intricate page borders feature folk art needlework on top and scenes of the simultaneous action in the trolls' underground den on the bottom. A wintry winner with a sunny glow. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3-- Treva's trouble begins when she and her dog, Tuffi, go up Mount Baldy. She meets five white-haired trolls, all intent on taking Tuffi; they want a dog and have filled their underground burrow with the things such a pet would need. Quick-thinking Treva, using tactics worthy of Br'er Rabbit, convinces the trolls that her mittens, hat, sweater, etc., are much more important to her than a dog, but wins all her belongings back before she and Tuffi escape down the mountain. Obviously influenced by Scandinavian folklore, the story is appealing. With the fine details that have become her trademark, Brett tells two stories at the same time: the child's encounters with the trolls appear on the top three-fourths of each spread, and a cross-section of their abode occupies the bottom. A humorous subplot involves a curious hedgehog. Set against a wintery, snow-capped background, the saturated colors seem to jump off the page. As always, Brett does a remarkably realistic job of depicting clothing and the natural landscape. Less successful, however, are her renderings of Treva and Tuffi, who have a slightly frozen quality. But the trolls are a personable bunch and readers may hate to see them disappear at the end. Overall, a visually attractive and accessible book that's ideal for individual use, but also fun to share aloud. --Denise Anton Wright, Illinois State Univ . , Normal
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile; First Edition edition (October 21, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399223363
• ISBN-13: 978-0399223365
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #388,564 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jan Brett is the author of the New York Times bestselling Gingerbread Friends, The Three Snow Bears, and The Mitten, as well as many other classics. She lives in Norwell, Massachusetts.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Jan Brett classic, September 3, 2001

By 

A. Cargile (United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Trouble with Trolls (Mass Market Paperback)

My 3-year-old daughter and 4-year-old-son adore this book. As with any Jan Brett book, the illustrations are fantastic. This story is solid, too, and shows "girl power" at its simplest and sweetest. The heroine, Treva, outwits trolls who want to steal her dog and keep him. My daughter, who looks like a younger version of the herione, Treva, tells me, "Treva is smart!" Treva can also ski well, too. I still prefer Jan Brett's "Annie and the Wild Animals", but this is right up there with "Annie" and "The Mitten" as one of our favorite books to read.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars How To Outsmart Trolls, November 24, 2004

By 

Joshua Koppel (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Trouble with Trolls (Hardcover)

Treva lives on the slopes of Mount Baldy. One day she goes to visit a relative on the other side. She will climb up with her dog and then ski down the other side. But on the way up she runs into the trolls. Each troll she meets is interested in her dog. Treva manages to trick each of them into taking some of her clothing instead (mittens, hat, sweater, boots). But just at the top the trolls decide they still want the dog. Treva has one more trick up her sleeve and winds up same with her dog and all of her clothing. The ultimate fate of the trolls is quite interesting.

This is a very nice story with an intelligent and quick-thinking protagonist. Troll legend has been change a little. There is no mention of the trolls wanting to eat the dog (a la Billy Goats Gruff) but instead to help warm them and act as a pack animal. Their fate is also one I am unfamiliar with. Many stories have trolls turn to stone in the sunlight but this transformation is quite interesting.

The illustrations are just what you expect from Jan Brett; beautiful and packed with detail. Earrings and hair ribbons should be paid attention to as well as the happy hedgehog who invades the trolls' home. A truly delightful story from an author who has written more stories about clothes than you can imagine (The Hat, The Mitten, Armadillo Rodeo, Etc).

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two Stories in One!, November 10, 2001

By 

Birgit Nazaryan (Columbus, OH) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Trouble with Trolls (Hardcover)

My preschool daughter and I absolutely LOVE this book! The illustrations are gorgeous and there is a second storyline with a mischievous hedgehog raiding the trolls den on the bottom of the page - it is like two stories in one! The story is simple, amusing, well written and the clever protagonist, a Norwegian (?) girl, Treva is very charming. As soon as I discovered Jan Brett's books I started collecting several others - they are such a treat to read and look at!