Troll

Hompimpa #13

by Frances Stickley, Marta Nazaré (translator)

Uma história sobre a força das palavras e o poder da bondade.
Nesta história há um troll assustador que vive debaixo de uma ponte. Como ninguém o vê, ele diverte-se a gritar coisas desagradáveis a quem passa. Mas, quando um coelho surdo aparece, ele percebe que não é assim tão divertido dizer coisas desagradáveis, quando está frente a frente com alguém. Será que o Troll vai finalmente aprender a ser gentil consigo e com os outros?

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Friendship, Animals, Storytime

32 pages, Hardcover

Published February 1, 2025

About the author

Frances Stickley grew up in Nottingham and Norwich, where she spent much of her time making up poems and dressing up her dog. She is a trained children’s literacy specialist and a primary school teacher who is happiest when she is covered in paint or stuck in a book. In 2017, Frances was the winner of the Bloomsbury and National Literacy Trust short story prize. She lives with her family and a big-eared dog called Babbage. When she is not writing, you’ll probably find her in a forest playing dragons with her daughters.

Reviews

[Joana Alves | Juca Mindscape · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uma história adorável que se tornou um favorito da pequena cá de casa este mês! 🥹
As ilustrações são lindas e o contraste de cores combina na perfeição com a história que nos fala de empatia, bondade, tolerância e compreensão. ✨🫶🏼

[Chris reads! · Rating 4 out of 5]

-1 star for introducing to Luca the phrase you smell like poop

[Emma Bussolotta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read hundreds of picture books for work and school and this is by far the best. I never mark these types of books as "read" on here, but this one deserves it.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gorgeous book. The way the colours change from dark browns and grays to colour as the book goes along. I really liked that they included that you need to like and say nice things to yourself first. And I might have had a little cry at Trev practicing saying nice things to himself. Absolutely loved it!

[Mulliken District Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute book with a great story and lesson learned along the way. The art is absolutely amazing and the rhyming is a perfect way to get young readers invested in the story.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

The transformation of his home is super sweet, as is the forest creatures.
Makes sure you take the time to study the detailed illustrations.

[Gustavo Hernández · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un tierno cuento con bellas ilustraciones. Ideal para pequeños lectores.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Below the bridge lives a terrifying monster, one who strikes fear into the hearts of all the townspeople who venture by. Loud, angry shouting emerges whenever someone gets too close, frightening everyone away and causing them to avoid any potential contact with this creature. But one day, a brave soul ventures closer than anyone ever has before, revealing the monster for who he truly is and inviting kindness to appear where once there was only anger. And with time and intention, sometimes, even the hardest of hearts can find ways to bring joy into the lives of themselves and others.


This rhyming, entertaining picture book borrows from the story of The Three Billy Goats Gruff and focuses on the ill-tempered troll residing beneath an often-frequented bridge. Utilizing a rich assortment of vocabulary and a meter that is a delight to read and hear out loud, the narrative explores the big feelings residing inside the troll and how the expression of those feelings affects others. With only occasional vacillations in rhyme and rhythm, the text has a feel of careful design, particularly for an early elementary school-aged audience. Additionally, the connection to fairy tales anchors the story in familiar territory while readers will enjoy getting to know the villain a little bit better. The illustrations accompanying the text are filled with anthropomorphic animals and many details that draw readers into the story, effectively depicting moments directly mentioned within the narrative and amplifying the tale with additions that young readers and their caregivers can explore together in more detail. At the heart of the story is a journey toward self-love on the part of the troll, and because this goal is not easy to achieve on the first try, it feels authentic and familiar to readers of all ages. A fun addition to contemporary fairy tale collections, this story is well-designed for upper preschool and early elementary school-aged readers, particularly in a read aloud setting.

[José Manuel Rodríguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Há livros que, embora destinados a mãos pequenas, possuem o fôlego eterno da fábula. Troll, de Frances Stickley, é um desses. Na sua aparente simplicidade, pulsa o coração dos contos antigos, onde a ternura e o mistério coexistem em perfeita harmonia.

A história desenrola-se com a suavidade de uma brisa matinal: um troll, essa criatura mitológica que a tradição nos ensinou a temer, revela-se com uma humanidade inesperada. No seu caminhar desajeitado e solitário, esconde-se um anseio profundo: o desejo de ser aceite, de encontrar o seu lugar num mundo que o pintou como um monstro sem nunca conhecer a sua verdadeira história. Stickley, com a sua prosa luminosa e delicada, conduz-nos por esta floresta encantada, onde a magia não reside em feitiços, mas na capacidade de olhar para além das aparências.

Cada página é um sussurro de doçura, um lembrete de que a amizade e a compaixão podem desfazer os preconceitos mais enraizados. Os traços vibrantes da ilustração (consoante a edição) acompanham esta pequena epopeia com uma suavidade que nos envolve como um cobertor no inverno.

Troll é um livro que, sem pretensões grandiosas, deixa marca. É um conto para ser contado e recontado, para ser lido com os olhos maravilhados de uma criança e com a alma contemplativa de um adulto. Porque, no fundo, todos temos dentro de nós um pequeno troll à espera de que alguém o veja como ele realmente é.

[Leslie | Books Are The New Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Pubspotlight and Paw Prints Publishing, for the gifted book!

Oh, how I loved this one. I don't know if I did or if my kids loved it more. The troll is living under the bridge and spends his life being mean so he will be left alone. The problem is he's starting to realize that no one knows his name. One day, a bunny that cannot hear doesn't leave immediately. He then realizes that he doesn't want to be mean anymore because maybe he does want friends. What I loved about this is that the troll needed to learn to love himself before he could share that love outward. This is a very hard and important lesson! Once he starts to be kind and loving, he starts to change. The illustrations were stunning in this one. My son's favorite part was the end when the trolls had a friend. He also loved the beautiful illustrations by the end. I might have teared up a little because he did! It's truly a beautiful story inside and out!

[Bailey Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

I predict this author will be a HUGE hit! Emotions, humor, and fairytale lore run deep in this series. Rhyming text is lyrical and flows easily. The characters are complex and experience deep change. The behavior is exaggerated and humerous. There is simply so much to LOVE!

Troll is a beautiful balance of grumpy and sweet, scary and nice, & unkind and loving! This transformative character arc is so beautiful to see. Troll hates everyone including himself until one day someone doesn't run away from his mean words, scary screams, and shaking fists. Once troll is seen....nothing feels right and he is forced to take a good look at himself. I love the message of self-love in this book and the portayal that it isn't always easy but practice makes perfect.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Troll, who lives under a bridge, spends his time being mean and hurting the feelings of creatures who cross the bridge. One day he encounters Rabbit, who is deaf and therefore not able to hear Troll's hurled insults. When Rabbit leaves because Troll doesn't have anything to say to someone who can't hear him, Troll realizes that Rabbit left behind a feeling of loneliness. Troll beings to work on learning how to be kind. It takes a while because Troll is so used to being a bully, but eventually kindness rules out and Troll is able to make friends.

A good storyline but the rhyming is clumsy and inconsistent.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un troll parecchio scorbutico vive sotto un ponte e spaventa a più non posso tutti gli animali che passano nei paraggi. Ottiene molto presto che tutta la popolazione sia terrorizzata e eviti accuratamente di aggirarsi nei dintorni.
Un giorno però, arriva una coniglietta che non può sentire. Avoglia a spaventare! Il troll ce la mette tutta per mandarla via, ma non c'è verso: lei non sente proprio quello che dice.
Quando, sconsolata, si allontana, il troll non è affatto contento. Eppure si divertiva un sacco a far fuggire tutti quanti...
Una riflessione profonda su come incontrare la diversità ci cambi profondamente in meglio.
(Grazie alla mia libraia Marta per avermelo fatto conoscere ❤️)

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unlike all the other critters in the community, a hare with a hearing impairment isn’t fazed by the neighborhood bully’s mean insults, which causes the troll to question his self-concept and learn how to be more loving and kind, starting with himself. Troll’s transformation includes helpful suggestions for improving self-talk and practicing self-love, which make this book an excellent resource for therapists. Engaging illustrations of the negative effects of the troll’s behavior on his neighbors and his believable transformation provide a useful way to initiate a conversation about bullying in the classroom.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

The troll everyone fears sends the animals that try to come near his home away yelling a warning. The mean troll scares everyone away until a young rabbit asks him to repeat his harsh words. The troll feels embarrassed. The action the troll takes shows the listeners that you can change and attract friends with kindness. An SEL type story.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Troll who is mean and nasty to any who crosses his bridge, learns how to be kind when a deaf bunny stops to try and understand him. I felt like this was also about internet trolls...but who knows. Either way it was cute, the illustrations were a cool style and kids will get the message that kindness makes you feel better than hate.

[Alyssa Mandell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this story. About a mean troll that changes their ways after meeting a rabbit who asks why they are upset. The troll learns how to be kind and the illustrations reflect this with the clutter turning into bright grass and flowers. A good lesson and best appreciated as a one-on-one story.

[Ann Haefele · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good companion book when reading the Three Billy Gosts gruff , this tells the story of a mean troll who gradually changes to a friendly troll after a chance meeting with a deaf bunny. Book is rhyming and is descriptive with some similes.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. Heart.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really cute book that includes some physical diversity. Love that.

[Bethany Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Library Borrow) Continuing the theme of being emotional, I cried reading this for the first time too whoops

Really lovely message and the artwork is sweet

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Preschool and school-age
Rhyming text

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations and an excellent lesson. Great book to teach kindness toward others and oneself!

[Helle Wittrup · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeg har læst den danske udgave.
En rigtig fin historie. Helt perfekt til højtlæsning og samtale i indskolingen.

[Axl Mendoza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Troll by Frances Stickley is a fun and engaging story that I will use in my class and keep in my library to help teach students about the importance of kindness and treating others with respect.

[Harumichi Mizuki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sedih, terharu. Ternyata justru kelinci tulilah yang bisa mengubah si Troll. Ah, tapi sayang mereka nggak sampai berteman, ya. Cuma pertemuan sekilas.

[Cathie (ClassyLibrarian) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet story that includes a rabbit who is deaf and a troll who changes.

[Danielle Berg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the artwork and the story tugged on my heartstrings! Hopeful and inspiring!

[Andrijana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was so sweet. And it made me cry at one point. Such a lovely little story.

[siskaisreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Retelling karakter Trollnya The three Billy goats gruff tapi versi modern. Troll yang tinggal di bawah rawa dan suka ngetroll orang yang lewat tapi suatu hari dia sadar alasan kenapa dia begitu dan berusaha berubah. Bagus buat kasih pandangan ke anak-anak dan orang dewasa kenapa ya kita berkata kasar dan menyakitkan sama orang lain bisa jadi alasannya bukan karena mereka tapi dari dalam diri kita sendiri.