ADVENTURES WITH WAFFLES

ADVENTURES WITH WAFFLES

Written by Maria Parr, Translated by Guy Puzey

Illustrated by Kate Forrester

Image credit: www.candlewick.com

1. Bibliography

Parr, Maria. Adventures with Waffles. 2005. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

ISBN 9780763672812

2. Plot Summary 

Set in a small town in coastal Norway, this story chronicles the adventures of Trille and his next-door neighbor Lena.  Lena is a fearless daredevil and Trille is always close behind.  From tying a ropeway between their two houses, to earning money by playing their recorders as street performers, these two have a lot of wacky plans.  They stick together while navigating family issues, like when they advertise to find a new Dad for Lena. This novel is about day-to-day life but also displays the sweetness of two best friends.

3. Critical Analysis

Adventures with Waffles is a story of two adventurous nine year-olds as they navigate childhood and experience true friendship.  As a Norwegian export, this novel has many cultural overtones that make the setting and events that much more interesting to read about.  The setting is a tiny town where the two main characters are free to explore.  Some of the cultural markers are the names of the characters such as Tor, Magnus, and Ellisiv.  The setting is also Norwegian with the presence of cattle and sheep that roam the hillside and the nearby seaside.  The characters also say funny expressions like "Smoking haddocks!" and always feast on a Norwegian favorite, waffles.

4. Review Excerpts

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (March 2015) "Narrated by Trille in a realistically childlike, first-person voice, the novel is fresh and fast-paced.  While readers will chuckle as the friends' adventures - and marvel at their chutzpah-their mouths will also water at the frequency with which waffles, clearly a popular Norwegian treat, figure into the story."

BOOKLIST (April 2015) "For all its emotional resonance, the narrative is never soppy.  In fact, humor plays a big part in this rewarding book.  Published first in Norway and translated into 20 languages, this appealing chapter book has a distinctive setting, plenty of humor, and unusual emotional clarity."

5. Connections

• Reader that enjoy Kate DiCamillo's humorous novels will also enjoy Adventures with Waffles.