Skip to main content

Trundle's Quest

By

by Allan Jones, illustrated by Gary Chalk
HarperCollins, 2010. 151 pgs. Fantasy

Trundle Boldoak is a hedgehog who is a lamplighter on Shiverstones, a floating fragment of a planet shattered by a massive explosion in prehistoric times, and one among many of the Sundered Lands. One night he finishes his shift, goes home looking forward to some hot cabbage tea and a good book, but he is immediately thrown into turmoil by the somewhat violent arrival of one Esmeralda, self-styled Princess in Darkness, who has read the Badger Blocks and knows Trundle to be the Lamplighter who will help her retrieve the Six Crowns that will reunite the Sundered Lands. Things move swiftly after that as the wicked Captain Grizzletusk arrives to wreck and pillage Shiverstones. Trundle and Esmeralda escape as stowaways and wind up on the mining/slave planet of Drune where it takes all their wits and courage to escape a terrible fate--and to find the first crown. The two hedgehogs are delightful protagonists: Trundle inexperienced and a bit fearful, but filled with compassion and a rough sort of courage as well. Esmeralda is a bit of a scofflaw--she cheats at cards to get money for Trundle's sword, but then hucks a paving stone through the pawnshop window in a smash-and-grab to aid them in their quest. Trundle is appalled; Esmeralda can't figure out why. The two start to rub off on one another as the story progresses with Trundle becoming bolder and more engaged and Esmerald acquiring some scruples. Trundle's Quest is great fun in the English tradition of animal adventure tales--kids should take quickly to these two valiant creatures and look forward to the next book in the series, due out soon.




Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: The House with Nobody in It

By
  The House with Nobody in It By Jon Klassen Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press, 2026. Board Book.  The House with Nobody in It may very well be your child's first ghost story. The simple story begins with the narrator explaining to readers that this house used to have someone in it, but there is now nobody there. Toddlers and preschoolers will love contradicting this statement as they peek through the house that the board book forms, as the ghost is clearly visible throughout the story.  This unique and imaginative board book is the perfect thing to read during Halloween season! The book itself plays into the experience, with cutouts and clever turns that make it especially interactive. The illustrations are superb, simple but well crafted, adding to the story's theme as a whole. This will likely be a book that gets many repeat reads!
Post a Comment
Read more

Display: Teddy's Top Picks

By Suzanne
  Bear in the Air Written by Susan Meyers Illustrated by Amy Bates New York : Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2010. Picture book. When a teddy bear is lost by the child who loves him, the bear begins an adventurous journey to get back home again. -- Editor Blanket and Bear, A Remarkable Pair Written by L.J.R. Kelly Illustrated by Yoko Tanaka New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2013. Picture book. When a boy loses his beloved blanket and bear, they travel a great distance to make their way back to him. -- Editor A Bear to Share Written by Jessica Alba, Nora Weinstein, and Kelly Patricof  Illustrated by Alicia Mas New York, NY : Baby2Baby/Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2021. Picture book. Tiana loves her teddy bear, Bach. She doesn't mind that he's a little worn and somewhat torn. So when her mother suggests she make room for a new bear, Tiana can't believe her ears! Will Tiana have to lose the one bear she really loves? Or will she find room in her heart for t...
Post a Comment
Read more

De la hora del cuento: La letra "B"

By
  Cuentos La bicicleta nueva Por Darcy Day Zoells New York : Clavis, 2023. Libro ilustrado. "Mari tiene una bicicleta nueva. Ahora el mundo luce diferente. ¡Hay tantas cosas que puede hacer! ¿Hacia dónde irá? ¿Qué descubrirá? ¿Conocerá a nuevos amigos? ¡Acompaña a Mari a descubrir lo más importante que la bicicleta puede llevar!" --Editor Cuentitos Me gusta mi bici Por AG Ferrari New York : Holiday House, 2022. Fácil. "Ilustraciones y texto fácil muestran las ventajas de andar en bicicleta cuando las calles están llenas de otros veh̕culos." --Editor Otros libros sobre la letra "B" Baby Ballena El oso polar y la bailarina El tejado de Benito Mi abuela es una bruja ¡Hola, Lola! A la bodega
Post a Comment
Read more