Troll Soup
illustrations by
What’s inside...
Parents, are you ready to encourage your child to explore nature? This story follows a young boy who encounters a Mushroom Troll in the woods, who remembers a yummy soup the boy made for him and invites him to a magical party in the woods as a thank you. The story promotes outdoor exploration, creativity, and critical thinking through a fantasy adventure. At the end of the book, there's a troll soup recipe with ingredients that can be found during a nature walk with your child, encouraging further exploration and bonding.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-10
Length
45 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think about how the troll solved his problem in the story?
How did it make you feel when the characters in the book worked together?
What would you have done if you were in the troll’s shoes?
Can you think of a time when you helped someone, just like in the book?
What do you think is the most important message of 'Troll Soup'?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to relate the story to their own experiences by asking about times they've faced similar issues.
Highlight the importance of teamwork as shown in the book, and relate it to everyday situations at home or school.
Discuss the problem-solving aspect of the story, and ask your child to come up with alternative solutions to the troll's problem.
Praise your child’s responses to ensure they feel confident in expressing their thoughts and opinions about the story.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Empathy and understanding
Explanation: In 'Troll Soup,' the main character, a young troll, learns to understand and empathize with other forest creatures' feelings and needs.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by learning to recognize and respect the feelings and perspectives of others, building stronger, more empathetic relationships.
Example Lesson: Importance of cooperation
Explanation: Throughout the story, the troll collaborates with other characters to solve problems, demonstrating how teamwork can lead to better outcomes.
Real-World Application: This lesson teaches children the value of working together with peers or family members to achieve common goals, fostering a spirit of cooperation.
Example Lesson: Creative problem solving
Explanation: The troll uses creative methods to gather ingredients for the soup, showcasing how thinking outside the box can help overcome obstacles.
Real-World Application: Children learn to use their imagination to solve problems creatively, which can aid them in academics and daily challenges.
Example Lesson: Respecting nature
Explanation: The story highlights the troll’s journey in the natural world, teaching children to appreciate and take care of their environment.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to engage in environmentally friendly practices such as recycling, conserving water, and protecting wildlife.
Example Lesson: Learning from mistakes
Explanation: The young troll makes several mistakes while trying to make the soup but learns from each one, which ultimately leads to success.
Real-World Application: This lesson highlights the importance of viewing mistakes as learning opportunities, encouraging resilience and a growth mindset in children.