The Troll with No Heart in His Body

The Troll with No Heart in His Body

and Other Tales of Trolls from Norway

retold by Lise Lunge-Larsen

woodcuts by Betsy Bowen 1999

Most Americans are familiar with trolls from the story of the Billy Goats Gruff, but trolls are an integral part of Scandinavian folklore as much as the fairies and little folk of Irish legends.  Lunge-Larsen does a commendable job with the introduction and the blurbs of information provided for each story.  Betsy Bowen's accompanying woodcut illustrations are also quite striking.  

Helga's Dowry

I had this book as a child, so when I spotted it at the thrift store recently, all my kid memories flooded back!  Isn't it funny how illustrations can do that to you?  I adored Tomie dePaola's books when I was a child.  And I distincly remember the pictures in this one of Helga the Troll with her tail, when she turns into a boulder, and the townspeople with the Troll cream on their faces.  I was so excited to share it with Charlotte the other night and add it to our library!

Helga's Dowry 

Tomie dePaola 1977