THE BOY, THE TROLL, AND THE CHALK

Creating art becomes an act of inclusion and friendship.

In a cave near a playground lives a “big fierce troll.” Children keep their distance—except for a pale-skinned, redheaded boy who asks the troll to come out. When the troll rebuffs his invitation, he tries another tactic. Gathering chalk, the boy draws incomplete pictures, including a flower with a missing petal and a tailless dog—tacit encouragement for the troll to participate. The artistic breadcrumbs pay off, and the troll is coaxed out of the cave but still remains gruff. In a last-ditch attempt at friendship, the boy draws himself with his hand extended. The next day he returns to find an image of himself hand in hand with a “big scary troll.” “But you’re not a troll,” he says. “You’re a boy—just like me.” He redraws the troll, depicting a smiling, brown-haired, pale-skinned youngster. Now that the troll’s true self has been revealed, the two begin to draw and are soon joined by other kids, all varying in skin tone. Litchfield’s illustrations are luminous, colorful, and tremendously appealing. More literal readers may be confused about the boy/troll in the cave: Does he live there? Is he just in a bad mood? But there’s comfort to be found in the message of seeing and being seen, of showing up, and the inclusive power of art.

A glowing reminder that patience, creativity, and kindness can quiet even the meanest of trolls.