The Boy, the Troll and the Chalk

A troll lives in the cave, ‘Leave me alone’ it yells; so the children do just that. However, one boy doesn’t leave and taking some chalk he draws a flower leaving one petal uncoloured. The following day, the petal is complete. But still the troll refuses to accept any compliment or overture of friendship, until in despair the boy creates a picture that reveals the truth – the troll is not a troll – but a boy convinced of his own lack of worth. Now with the help of another he can discover that he does not need to be alone.

How much will the young audience for whom this book is intended understand of the metaphor I am not sure – and perhaps it doesn’t matter? ‘Leave me alone’ is a familiar cry and the sense of monstrous behaviour understood – though the consequence may not be. Then how to move on? Here another child extends a hand of friendship and is prepared to persevere. This is a clear message – recognising a need and then working together breaks down barriers and brings colour to the world. Litchfield’s illustrations, full of saturated colours, bring the text to life both literally and metaphorically. The cave is a very real cave – a hiding place on the edge of a playground; the troll is a troll (blue whiskers and all) – until someone is able to see beyond the façade. The final spreads are a joyous expression of creativity, imagination and working together.