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Overview
I wish I lived a thousand years ago. There would be beautiful castles, kings and queens, good knights, bad knights, fair ladies in danger, evil dragons from the mountains, and a giant troll that roars and eats anything.
What kid hasn’t dreamed of living in fairy-tale times—hasn’t imagined himself as the bravest knight in all the land (or at least the knight’s faithful squire). As he has done in his celebrated There’s a Nightmare in My Closet and its follow-ups, Mercer Mayer brings childhood fantasy hilariously to life here. Bad knights are forced to pick flowers for the king, a day’s adventure involves rescuing a cat from a tree, and our hero boldly fights a fire-breathing dragon using his trusty slingshot.
This silly charmer, originally published in 1968 as Terrible Troll, has been entirely redone in vivid color. It’s a rediscovered gem with timeless appeal.
Synopsis
I wish I lived a thousand years ago. There would be beautiful castles, kings and queens, good knights, bad knights, fair ladies in danger, evil dragons from the mountains, and a giant troll that roars and eats anything.
What kid hasn't dreamed of living in fairy-tale times—hasn't imagined himself as the bravest knight in all the land (or at least the knight's faithful squire). As he has done in his celebrated There's a Nightmare in My Closet and its follow-ups, Mercer Mayer brings childhood fantasy hilariously to life here. Bad knights are forced to pick flowers for the king, a day's adventure involves rescuing a cat from a tree, and our hero boldly fights a fire-breathing dragon using his trusty slingshot.
This silly charmer, originally published in 1968 as Terrible Troll, has been entirely redone in vivid color. It's a rediscovered gem with timeless appeal.
Linda StaskusCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information. - School Library Journal
K-Gr 2
Mayer's Terrible Troll (Dial, 1968; o.p.) has been redone in full color, which gives the story new life and vitality. A little boy wishes he lived a thousand years ago so that he could be a squire to the bravest knight and encounter kings, queens, knights, dragons, and trolls. Funny details abound in every picture as he imagines polishing the knight's armor, sharpening his sword, and being rescued from a huge dragon. If a troll were terrorizing the countryside, the knight and his squire would fight him and the victor would emerge. It is then that the child decides he no longer wishes to live during this period. This fresh version of an old favorite should find a place in all picture-book collections.
Editorials
School Library Journal
K-Gr 2
Mayer's Terrible Troll (Dial, 1968; o.p.) has been redone in full color, which gives the story new life and vitality. A little boy wishes he lived a thousand years ago so that he could be a squire to the bravest knight and encounter kings, queens, knights, dragons, and trolls. Funny details abound in every picture as he imagines polishing the knight's armor, sharpening his sword, and being rescued from a huge dragon. If a troll were terrorizing the countryside, the knight and his squire would fight him and the victor would emerge. It is then that the child decides he no longer wishes to live during this period. This fresh version of an old favorite should find a place in all picture-book collections.
—Linda StaskusCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information.