Everybody knew that a big fierce troll lived in the cave.
"Leave me alone!" it yelled.
So everybody did.
Only one child cannot turn their back on the troll at the edge of the playground. One day, he takes his chalks up to the mouth of the cave. He draws a flower with every petal coloured in but one, and leaves the chalk behind. The next day, the flower has been completed. Day-by-day, the boy and the troll finish each other's drawings, until they each draw a portrait, showing a boy holding hands with a fierce, scary troll. "But you're not a troll," says the boy. "You're a boy - just like me."
Patience, kindness and the power of art win out in the end: the two boys wordlessly draw together. Soon all the other children gather to join in with the game. Everyone forgets that there was a troll inside the cave. Because outside the cave, there is so much to draw.
This touching story shows the power of kindness, art and imagination, in the face of isolation and difficult emotions, and delicately embodies the philosophy of art therapy. From the creative duo behind A Shelter for Sadness, award-winning artist David Litchfield's illustrations bring life and colour to this gentle tale of hope and friendship by Anne Booth. The beautiful, textured illustrations are also a joyful celebration of pavement art that is sure to have little ones reaching for their own chalks.
Publisher: Templar Books
ISBN: 9781800783058
Number of pages: 40
Weight: 505 g
Dimensions: 294 x 254 x 9 mm
Taking its cue from art therapy, The Boy, the Troll and the Chalk is a beautiful book that will surely inspire many a little one to find themselves - and, quite possibly, new friends - through the magic of making art together. - Reading Zone
It's a testament to the power of creativity and the power of kindness. Sometimes it takes someone reaching out to coax us from a difficult place. We've all been the troll in this story, and we can all be the boy. David Litchfield's illustrations are full of heart - Juno Magazine
stunningly illustrated and beautifully written. A treasure of a book - Simon Smith
stirring story of empathy, imagination and new-found friendship elegantly augmented by David Litchfield's illustrations - his use of scale, perspective and colour packs poignant punch - LoveReading4Kids
Litchfield's dazzling, textured artwork brings life and colour to Booth's tale of hope and friendship. A joyful celebration of pavement art that is sure to have little ones reaching for their own chalks! - Pam Norfolk, Lancashire Evening Post
Highly recommended. - Tom Tolkien, School Reading List
Inspired me to plan a session for my Brownies based on the book. There will be chalk drawings, discussions about why people might act like trolls and how we can help. - Scope for Imagination
This is a truly inspirational book about kindness and perseverance. - Armadillo Magazine
Gentle and reassuring, 'The Boy, the Troll and the Chalk' is a poignant, powerful tale. - Through the Bookshelf
A joyous expression of creativity, imagination and working together. - Books For Keeps
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