UK Amazon Kindle Forum discussion
Past Group Book Discussions
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The Troll Trap
Readers felt that this would be a good book to recommend for members to read with their children. They enjoyed the fun style and described it as gross but in a way that children would love. They enjoyed reading it although it was aimed at children.Two acorns - a Highly Recommended Read
I really enjoyed this book. Great fun for both adults and children. There's a good balance of menace and humour. I laughed out loud quite a few times. Ma Troll was my favourite character!
Yay Rosen for having her book chosen!Wonder where she is...
I do have a childish sense of humour and delight I thought this was fab. Lots of mud, snot and poo.
I was keeping a dignified silence in case I inhibited the discussion!Thank you for choosing my book.
Also, where's Katie? The illustrations are such a wonderful part of the book.
Rosen wrote: "I was keeping a dignified silence in case I inhibited the discussion!"Whispers *I think they expected you to come in and make troll noises, Rosen.*
I have to say that when a book is just plain FUN to illustrate, it has to be a good book!
Oh, oops.(leaves)
Comes back in blowing raspberries and smelling like bogie-veined stilton.
Now that's more like it.Personally, I reckon one of the best things about having our authors books being chosen as group reads is because we have the opportunity talk with them about it.
Congratulations, Rosen, on having yet another book as one of our group reads!
I enjoyed reading this, although I am way older than the target audience. Don't be put off by it being a children's book, I thoroughly enjoyed it!
I enjoyed reading this, although I am way older than the target audience. Don't be put off by it being a children's book, I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Rosen, is it true that you can fart to the tune of 'Ghostbusters'? And that it was while performing this at one of your dinner parties you had the idea of an entire book based on smells?
David wrote: "Rosen, is it true that you can fart to the tune of 'Ghostbusters'? And that it was while performing this at one of your dinner parties you had the idea of an entire book based on smells?"
TMI!!!
:0))
TMI!!!
:0))
David wrote: "Rosen, is it true that you can fart to the tune of 'Ghostbusters'? And that it was while performing this at one of your dinner parties you had the idea of an entire book based on smells?"Don't make me laugh so much when I'm supposed to be working!
That's not on David. I *never* use threads about your books to embarrass you! ;-)
Ghostbusters AND Mission Impossible? That is seriously multi talented.
Ah! I knew it was something with jaunty percussion. Thanks David.
Jaunty percussion!! :)I'd like to ask Rosen 1) when did you first come up with the trolls as characters and 2) did you get any advice from anyone before writing the children's book, such as on choice of vocabulary, sense of danger etc...?
1) I came up with the Trolley family last year but I wasn't quite sure what to do with them. I liked the idea of trolls trying to pass as people to make ends meet. I later came up with the idea of a boy troll hunter and everything fell into place.2) I was a little unsure about monsters that ate children but I asked around and people said that children's books were full of similarly scary things.
Generally, I wrote using the vocabulary that came most naturally but I did replace a few long words in the redraft. Finally, my editor highlighted a few words in the text that might stretch children and I replaced some of them.
Fortunately children's author, Karen Hedges is in my writers group so I got some pointers from her.
When I first saw the thread title, I thought that this site had had enough of the internet and was looking to gain revenge on, er, trolls! :)
I foresaw this misunderstanding so wrote a post about trapping internet trolls, here:http://www.davidwailing.com/2013/02/r...
I love that blog post Rosen. :)
Oh and what do you reckon the minimum age would be of children who'd enjoy it?
Interesting you should ask as I'm currently reading it to my nephews who are four and just turning six. If I'm honest, it's a little too old for them. They're enjoying it but I find myself skipping over certain words and we're having to stop to a discuss the plot regularly. Certain phrases have them rolling with laughter but some of the situational humour is getting lost. Having said that, they regularly demand more.So based on personal experience, I'd say it's suitable to read aloud to seven year olds. However, David Haynes had a really enjoyable experience reading it with his four year old.
As for independent reading age, I've estimated eight to ten year olds but I'm still collecting feedback from readers.
If anyone from this group gets the chance to read it with a child please let me know their age and how they got on.
Cool, thanks for that.I'd love to use it for shared reading with a class but I've not been asked to cover for over a week. :( Everyone is just too damn healthy here at the moment. Which is a good thing, of course.
Any who...
How much time would you reckon would need to be allotted for it? I usually do 15-20 minute sessions that include lots of discussion and comprehension questions
About how many sessions would it take?
You might consider doing a few comprehension questions for in dependant readers? Perhaps a live link that would lead to a printable document?
Of course you'd also need to an answer sheet for lazy teachers. :)
I just received four copies of The Troll Trap because I'm spoilt! My nine-year-old immediately stole one!Thanks, Rosen. It all looks very professional!
I think it would be fine for younger readers (4 year old is what I'm thinking). Yes they won't get all the humour in the story and maybe won't follow the plot exactly but they'll follow it enough I think. Then when they get older they'll enjoy it all over again cause they'll understand it more.
Damn those rude healthy people! I don't know how many sessions. However, I know a teacher who has been reading it with a group of ten year olds in her class so I can ask her. I've probably spent about two and a half hours reading and discussing with my nephews and we're about 60% through.Good idea about comprehension questions. I'll put a few worksheets together.
Exciting that Katie's copies have arrived way ahead of CreateSpace's estimate. The illustrations look particularly good in the print version.
Jud, interesting point about re-reading books when older.
I've facebooked the link to a teaching couple/friends recommending they read it to their classes. :)
And I will, of course, be putting one copy in a very conspicuous place in our school library!
Oooooo.Wish I had a copy to put in the school library here.
I'll have to order a copy. Gotta say the illustrations look great on my iPad, though.
Of course. Katie drew them.
You two do make a great team. :)
One thing that I really appreciated when reading the story is how the action keeps moving forward. I know that depending on the age group, one has only a three to five minute window to truly engage a child's mind and imagination. (Less with adults) ;)
Illustrations at meaningful points in a story are paramount in re-engaging interest.
Another thing I loved was the interesting vocabulary that you used.
I've bookmarked some words. Brilliant stuff that all kids would benefit from but especially EAL kids.
Hee hee! Yay for conspicuous placing. I have friends who reposition Seesaw whenever they go into Waterstones.Patti, I'm glad you agree we're a great team. Almost every reviewer so far has commented on the quality and suitability of the illustrations. My nephews love them. Katie is a real pleasure to work with, as you know.
I really enjoyed making up place and character names, particularly the trolls.
Erm. No idea what Katie is like to work with. All I know is that she is very talented and a very kind person. Very much as I see you, Rosen. Together, you've produced a great book.I do hope we see more collaborations from you two.
I meant that you could extrapolate what she's like to work with based on forum participation.Perhaps there will be more troll books...
Just read my nephews the final chapter (the epilogue has been saved for tomorrow).They were most indignant that there were no illustrations of Marv the Magnificent or arrows. They particularly like him even though he's a quite small character.
When I discussed illustrations with Katie I just thought about the most suitable still image from each chapter. It hadn't occurred to me that children might be disappointed if they couldn't see an artist's depiction of their favourite troll.
Well now. I'd use that as a teachable moment and have them draw the troll. :)
Patti (Fluffy) wrote: "Erm. No idea what Katie is like to work with. All I know is that she is very talented and a very kind person. Very much as I see you, Rosen. Together, you've produced a great book.I do hope we se..."
Is it just me, or is it really hot in here?
Kind? I don't know where you got that from, but thanks, Patti!
I went in to work and donated the book this morning (I don't work Wednesdays), so very soon it will be available for 250 little Australians to borrow!
Patti, funny you should mention children drawing troll as this is the attempt at a worksheet that I knocked up last night:http://rosentrevithick.co.uk/the-trol...
What do you think?
Katie, thanks for donating the book. I read that J.K. Rowling was first discovered in school libraries. Because most schools had just one copy of Harry Potter, children had to wait for the library copy to come back, creating a demand and leading to sales. Fingers crossed.
And, in the unlikely event that we can't replicate J.K.'s success, at least 250 children wil have the chance to read it.
Rosen, the worksheet looks fantastic!Huh, get Katie. Tells us she not kind then donates a book to the library.
I'm glad you like the worksheet.Also, I'm glad that Katie meant to donate a copy to the school library. I once accidentally made a library donation - I popped into Exeter library to tell them about Seesaw and they took the display copy and said, 'Thank you very much'!
Can't be trusted. None of them. ;)
Check this out, ladies!http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-list...
I'm trying to think up a cunning plan that would somehow get the DTB I'm going to buy to the two of you for signing before I give it to the school library.
Guess I could get it delivered here then send it to Katie. The company pays our postage, happily. Katie could then send it you, Rosen. You could then send it my place in the UK and I could collect it when we're home in the summer...
Or I could finally book that holiday in Oz I've wanted since I was about ten years old...
If you pull this off, you'll have the first double-signed copy in existence.I haven't opted for extended distribution, which means copies can only be purchased through Amazon or CreateSpace. Therefore, all these other sources are presumably getting their supplies via shops that you could purchase from direct.
And tripling the price!Only double signed one! Not sure I could give it away.
Buy 2, get them both double signed then you can keep a copy Patti.Or have one book double signed keep it for yourself and buy a second unsigned one for the library.
I know what I'd do
Given two acorns by the Oak tree Team