Peter Clenott

It is a funny take on a Norwegian tale of the Christmas Troll and why he feeds the animals at Christmas. It is also a book to provide a subtle teaching experience for appropriate pragmatic skills of calling others by their proper name. It also gives a great insight into the Norwegian culture of trolls and Christmas. The author lived in Norway for nine years and her daughters were lucky to grow up there. This book provides the author's grandchildren an insight into the culture that their grandparents experienced, The Christmas troll discovers that the farm animals are tired of eating only hay. In his compassion he promises to find them something better to eat. By peeking into a window he sees bowls of steaming Norwegian porridge on the table. That is exactly the food the animals will surely like. The farmer and his wife are awakened during the night by farting sounds and smells. At first the wife thinks it is her husband but then he denies it. Then, there is a crash and clatter as the troll trips over the Christmas tree. He then runs out with only three bowls of porridge and the wife is left with a mess on the floor. Then, they have to cook more porridge in the morning. Well, the father discovers why the troll has stolen the porridge. Norwegians are a very loving and compassionate people. The mother decides that every Christmas she will leave porridge out for the troll to feed the animals. And, the young girls are given a lesson in what they should call the troll, a farting four-toed troll or by his real name - Christmas Troll or the Norwegian name, Julenisse.