There's always something quite thrilling about getting a 'back cover quote' when you're just a small humble book blog. Our first was this fantastic book which we quite rightly made a "Book of the Week" back in the day, the utterly brilliant "Troll and the Oliver" by Adam Stower.

Troll is a hungry old monster, and he'd like nothing better than to catch Oliver - a rather smug, cheery and far too cheeky little chap who dances through Troll's locale daily while shopping for groceries.

Troll is absolutely determined to catch Oliver, but that slippery little red-haired toddler is far too smart - and too quick for old Troll, forced instead to eat a rather bland diet of twigs, pebbles and snails.

But Troll has a plan - and this is where this book ended up as a book of the week for us, lulling you into a false sense of security in knowing just how the story is going to go, right up till its "Surprise" moment.

No no, this isn't it, what, you think we'd spoil the entire book for you? NO WAY!

We got a quote on the back of the paperback edition when it was originally released and we said "As Monster Books go this is pretty much perfect, the double-pumped payoff is so utterly deliciously satisfying that for a tiny, tiny moment your little one will sit agog!"

...and it's true too! Go read and find out!

Adam followed up with this one...

Reuniting Troll and Oliver in "Grumbug!" and introducing Oliver's equally slippery little sister who decides to go off on an adventure of her own - a dangerous quest to track down the fearsome Grumbug, a monster feared even by monsters themselves.

I think really this was just an excuse for Adam to draw lots of cake. The story is fun and we rather loved the idea of having a sassy little sis on board, but the last few pages will just make your stomach growl even louder than Troll's!

Brilliant books, once again establishing what a keen eye Templar have for enticing some of the best author illustrators in the business to produce such lovely books for them.

Original review links: 

Troll and the Oliver by Adam Stower (Templar Publishing)

Our first "Back of the Book" quote and it's a doozy...

ReadItDaddy's Book of the Week - Week Ending 5th June 2015 - "Grumbug" by Adam Stower (Templar Publishing)

"Troll and the Oliver" by Adam Stower (Templar Publishing)

Monster books - they all seem to have one thing in common. The poor monster never seems to win but with a neat little bit of switching around, here's "Troll and the Oliver" by Adam Stower.

Every single day Troll, a rather menacing looking blue beastie with a sneaky expression, beastly claws and a rumbly tum, tries to eat Oliver - a red haired cheeky and happy little boy.

Oliver is far too smart, far too small, and far too fast for the lumbering Troll though - so every day the Troll systematically fails in his mission to enjoy Oliver Souffle, Oliver Burgers, perhaps even a bit of Oliver Au Gratin.

Troll is downhearted. Every time he thinks he's come up with a winning plan to consume the little tyke, Oliver outwits him.

Stop, pause for a second here - I have a question for parents reading this review. Are you like me? Have you ever wished that just once Wyle E. Coyote came up with something from his Acme catalogue that would see him finishing the cartoon feasting on hot roasted Road Runner? Or perhaps wished secretly that Scratchy would put Itchy through a mangle and turn him into a mouse-sized pancake? Better still, wished that Tom could catch Jerry and make him blimmin' well apologise for all the times he'd stomped, squashed, crushed, blown up, run over or dropped anvils on the poor moggy's head?

Persevere then with Troll and the Oliver because the double-pumped payoff is so utterly deliciously satisfying that for a tiny tiny moment your little one will sit agog (I can't quite tell you why, but when you get to "that bit" you will love it, trust me).

As monster books go this is pretty much perfect. It sets its cards on the table early on, then gathers them in one by one in such a manner that you will reach the end, flip the book back to page one and begin all over again. Troll and Oliver are brilliant characters (you really will not like Oliver at first, but bear with, bear with!) and like all clever ideas for children's stories, it's such a simple premise but beautifully executed. We just could not get enough of it.

Charlotte's best bit: "That Page" - Yep you'll know it when you hit it and you really will love it. Now THAT'S how you do dark.

Daddy's favourite bit: Like Charlotte, I just utterly loved that page and the way it makes both storyteller and avid child listener(s) feel. This is a book that you are going to get a great deal of pleasure reading aloud to little ones, or sniggering secretly about to yourself. Just brilliant, truly brilliant.

(Kindly sent to us for review by Templar Publishing)