Lena is Trille's best friend, even if she is a girl. And there is never an ordinary day when you've got a best friend like Lena.
Hardly a day passes without Trille and Lena inventing some kind of adventure that often ends in trouble. Whether it's coaxing a cow onto a boat or sledding down the steepest and iciest hill with a chicken, there is always a thrill--and sometimes an injury--to be had. Trille loves to share everything with Lena, even Auntie Granny's waffles. But when Lena has to move away and Auntie Granny leaves the world, it sometimes seems like nothing will ever be right again. The warmth of friendship and the support of family suffuse this lightly illustrated novel, proving that when times are tough, a little taste of sweetness can make all the difference.
For all its emotional resonance, the narrative is never soppy ... this appealing chapter book has a distinctive setting, plenty of humor, and unusual emotional clarity.
--Booklist (starred review)
With simply rendered illustrations that zero in on key elements of the story, Forrester extends the charm of this tale.Filled with both rollicking escapades and poignant moments, Parr's notable tale portrays a young boy's heartfelt appreciation of family and friends.
--Kirkus Reviews
Recommended for public and school libraries, this will be useful as supplementary material in units about day-to-day life in another country.
--School Library Journal
A playful yet sweet story in the tradition of E. Nesbit's The Treasure Seekers, this well-observed novel nimbly explores the balance of friendships and the fear and longing that hides beneath the most prickly personalities as it celebrates old-school scrapes and the rewards of mutual best friendship.
--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Heartfelt and humorous.
--Publishers Weekly
Strongly plotted, with larger changes in the lives of the families woven into Trille's smaller-scope story.
--The Horn Book
Maria Parr is a writer and high-school teacher. Adventures with Waffles, her debut novel, has been translated into twenty languages and won several awards around the world. Maria Parr lives in Norway with her family.
Guy Puzey began translating Norwegian literature after studying the language at the University of Edinburgh and now works at the university as a researcher and teacher.
Target Age: 7-10
Candlewick Press
Pub Date: October 16, 2018
0.8" H x 6.9" L x 5.0" W
240 pages
paperback