Trolls

by Jan Lööf, Rolf Lidberg (Illustrator)

Beautifully illustrated book about father troll and his adventures as Spring came and he went to play with the children and through the summer. ``

Genres: Childrens, Scandinavian Literature, Fiction

34 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Jan Lööf, född 1940 i Trollhättan, är konstnär och författare. Han är dessutom jazzmusiker och spelar tenorsaxofon och flöjt. Tidigt började han med att teckna gubbar, men fick sin formella utbildning som bildkonstnär på Konstfack i Stockholm.

Reviews

[Chantal]

One thing I noticed in the thriftstore was the great drawings in this book. That is why I bought it. The story was okay, but at times it lacked that the story made sense and that it was logical.

[Grace]

a beautiful and ideologically-'correct' goodnight story for children, which indrduces the concept of family structure, the relationship between onself and natural surrounding, the basic idea and skill of life-planning, etc. The only thing doubtful is the gift-boxes part, which the troll's family assumed to learn from the human world.

[Kai Weber]

To read Swedish children's literature in Chinese translation may not be your first idea if you're learning Chinese and are looking out for some easy reading material, but if you get hold of this book and find yourself in the described situation, give it a try.
The book accompanies a troll family throughout the seasons and shows the importance of adjustment to current circumstances as well as the preparation for expected future circumstances. Should work well for young children.

[Redsteve]

Norwegian children's book with no translator attributed. The trolls are basically rustic people with tails and the story seems to have drawn more about Norwegians from a time when people lived closer to the land - foraging and fishing, preserving food, gathering firewood, etc. - than it does with any traditional legends

[Robb Coulter]

The English Translation is Trolls. This is a wonderful Swedish Children's story revolving around the seasons of life of a Troll family. was a family gift and I enjoyed it very much. great to read to younger members of your family.

[Emily Griswold Bunty]

Fantastic illustrations, but something might have gotten a little lost in the translation as the prose wasn’t so much a story as a description of how Nordic peoples lived during each of the four seasons—harvesting, fishing, exploring, and enjoying their families.

[Clara]

Cuteee

[Tara Reinertsen]

One of my favorites from when I was a child. A great book to read this time of year, to remind oneself that there’ll be spring once again. ❄️🌸

[Judy]

2010
This is a well-done translation with 16 Lidberg illustrations, which is a treat. I especially appreciate the messages -- a loving, caring family, and the attention to nature.

2025
Too bad I can't give this more stars! There's so much to like. I encourage kids to compare the trolls' world with ours. A couple examples ...
- Father troll is anxious for a glimpse of the spring sun -- and he says this in March, by which time we already have many signs of spring.
- The hop scotch game doesn't look like the one we're familiar with.

Pinecone cows! -- every child needs some.

Fairy slippers (Calypso bulbosa). We have them! But I've never heard them referred to as the 'winter flower' -"When they appear, the winter will belong and cold."

[Andrea Labonte]

A great way to learn about trolls.

[Lise]

Beautiful picture book about trolls