Tag Adam Stower

King Coo: The Secret in the Woods

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King Coo: The Secret in the Woods
Adam Stower
David Fickling Books

Ben Pole is a a timid boy whose major worry is not the chaos-causing sink holes that have suddenly started appearing. Rather, a victim of horrible bullies, Ben’s primary concern is to get to the end of term unharmed by Monty Grabbe, son of the unprincipled mayor, and his motley gang. As he flees from them, Ben falls into one of the sink-holes and lands up in an unknown forest.

Enter King Coo, a diminutive but formidable character wielding a spear and with an exceedingly long beard. To Ben’s remark, “I’ve never seen a boy with a beard before,” comes the affronted response, “ How DARE you! I am a GIRL with a beard!” It turns out that Coo’s only company is Herbert, a wombat, obsessed with tunnels. Coo rules the forest, swinging through the canopy and living in a tree house.with ropes, slides and all manner of amazing inventions.

Ben and King Coo immediately form a friendship, but before long their kinship is disturbed by the appearance of Monty and his sidekicks. However, King Coo and Ben, are aided by the former’s ingenious devices that prove extremely useful when an attack is launched.

Who will emerge the victors? What will be the outcome, not only for Monty and gang, but for Monty’s father?

This is a terrific read for younger children mixing together the real and fantastic. Adam’s two main characters, indeed all the characters, make a splendid cast, superbly brought to life through illustrations interspersed throughout the exuberant text, and in its occasional graphic novel format.

Originally published several years ago, it’s great to see this being re-issued by David Fickling Books this month.

GRUMBUG!

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Grumbug!
Adam Stower
Templar Publishing
Yippee! It’s a return visit from my favourite Troll and of course, Oliver. This time however, it’s Oliver’s small sister, Dolly who features large – well not that large – in this story.
At the outset we find Oliver and his best pal, Troll hard at work in their café: a café run exclusively for trolls (of the cake-only-eating variety I hasten to add.) So busy are the friends that they fail to notice young Dolly heading out through the open door.

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Some time later her absence is discovered and a hunt ensues. An exhaustive search of the café reveals no Dolly so Oliver declares an outside search is needed. “BEWARE! Steer clear of Munch Mountain – you know who lives there!” warns a wise old troll speaking of  …  

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All manner of dreadful descriptions issue forth from other trolls but Oliver is undaunted and armed with cake and alone save his trusty pal Troll, he sallies forth on a Dolly hunt. Into the forest they go … Oliver at least, heedless of the clues around them

 

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– until they find themselves at the foot of Munch Mountain. Up, up they go and at the top they find …

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And she’s not alone; but surely that creature cannot be the BIGGEST, MEANEST, GRUMPIEST and GREENEST troll of all? Can it …? Erm, maybe not; but nobody wants to spoil a super-dooper story so let’s bid our cake-eating crew a hearty farewell and leave them to enjoy their repast

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… and I’ll just add Oliver’s parting words “WE NEED BIGGER CAKE!” Amen to that: and more servings please, Adam Stower. That one was a decidedly tasty offering.
The recipe’s pretty much as before with occasional textual forays into rhyme and Stower’s wonderful way of showing not telling with his witty illustrations.
My four to nine year old audiences have relished every serving and demanded immediate second helpings.

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Some GRUMBUGS as imagined by 4-9s before they’d seen him in the story.

 

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Terrific Troll Tale

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Troll and the Oliver
Adam Stower
Templar Publishing

Not an Oliver, but Daniel, enthralled by the story

Not an Oliver, but Daniel, enthralled by the story

If your name happens to be Oliver, beware. There’s a large, blue, lumbering troll around and there’s nothing this sneaky looking creature would like better than to eat you for lunch. Said troll finds Oliver catching a very tricky business; somehow, the Oliver in question – a cheeky little red head – always manages to elude him, dashing hither and thither and then vanishing suddenly. So, by the time spring comes around there is one very grumpy, hungry troll who’s not had a single mouthful of Oliver stew, or Oliver anything else for that matter. Oliver of course is still roaming free; indeed he manages to go shopping without even a sight of his enemy.

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Back home and feeling full of the joys of living, he concludes that his old adversary has finally given up the chase and sets about baking some celebratory cakes. But has he? Leap! CHOMP! BLEEEUGHHHH! Not quite the delicacy he’d long been anticipating; Olivers taste revolting. One disappointed Troll. Wait a minute … tick tock PING! What is that wonderful aroma emanating from Oliver’s oven? Mmmmmm! Cake – Guess what Troll’s new favourite food is.
I love Adam Stower’s books and this one is particularly satisfying. Superb characters, portrayed with panache, and a clever, funny storyline. There is even a page from ‘Trolliver’s Cookbook’ giving full instructions on how to create Troll Cupcakes. Repeat readings are sure to be the order of the day here.
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