Trollbella Throws a Party: The Land Of Stories (Picture Book)

K-Gr 2—Expanding on his best-selling series, Colfer focuses on supporting character Trollbella, the Troll Queen. The monarch throws a lavish birthday party for herself, complete with a clown, musicians, and rainbow kittens. Despite the excitement, she is still unhappy until she learns to share her wealth with her subjects and a special child who shares her birthday. The plot is nothing new, of course, but it's still delightful to see it unfold, given Colfer's knowledge of folktales. By using classical folktale elements, Colfer crafts an entertaining story that seems straight out of a forgotten Grimm collection. Dorman's artwork also greatly contributes to the piece; similar at times to the style of Paul O. Zelinsky's classic fairy-tale books, it recalls a Renaissance setting but with some modern elements mixed in that truly make this selection a joy to read. VERDICT Definitely for fans of the series, but this title certainly has legs of its own—highly recommended.—Peter Blenski, Greenfield Public Library, WI