Littlest interviews Tracey Corderoy

(Note to reader: Littlest has a copy of THREE different ‘The Grunt and the Grouch’ books to give away to ONE lucky reader and all details can be found at the end of this post)

The Grunt and The Grouch are two of the most disgusting and badly-behaved trolls in the world - and the most fun! They keep bogies and ear wax in jars, they never ever have a bath, and they’re always frightening old ladies…even if they don’t mean to!

This brand-new series of three-in-one storybooks will bring out the troll in all girls and boys! Join The Grunt and The Grouch as they disperse the queue at the cinema by playing the windy pop game, get into hot water at school for teaching the children some rude songs, and find themselves tidying up their lovely, grimy house when Auntie comes to stay.

I read this book with Littlest and whilst she was laughing out loud I was feeling rather queasy. I honestly don’t think that I’ll ever look at cinema pick ‘n’ mix in the same way! Littlest has absolutely loved the 2 chapter books (‘Pick ‘n’ Mix’ and ‘Beastly Feast!’) and the single picture book that she has read. I love that the character development can be taken from a picture book level into independent chapter book reading. This is such a good tool to help your child feel grown up as she/he takes those first steps into independent reading. Each chapter book contains 3 “Trollific” (see what they did there? Love it!) stories.

The Grunt and the Grouch as characters are rather genius. They appeal to children because they are so perfectly disgusting and the trolls are so utterly lovable. Littlest has passed her chapter books onto Middlest. She thinks that the books are suitably disgusting for even a-little-bit-more-grown-up-than-her boys and girls!

I think these books are little gems that really deserve and need to be discovered.

‘The Grunt and the Grouch picture book can be bought here and ‘Pick ‘n’ Mix (The Grunt and the Grouch)’ can be bought here and ‘Beastly Feast (The Grunt and the Grouch)’ can be bought here.

And now over to Littlest, as she interviews Tracey Corderoy:

What’s your favourite pick ‘n’ mix sweet? I like all sorts of pick ‘n’ mix but I’m especially fond of strawberry pencils with sherbet inside because they can last quite a long time if you suck instead of chew! I also like chocolate-covered raisins very much and sometimes I choose those pink shrimp things. The ones that look a bit like prawns, only nicer!

Do you have any pets? I have a dog, 2 kittens and 2 lost cats. We have lots of pets and they all live in our little cottage with us!

We have a big, big dog called Dylan who likes to sit on laps and eat fairy cakes, a black cat called Bramble, two guinea pigs called Amber and Coco, a mini-lop eared rabbit called Binky (who lives in our spare room with the guineas!) and we’ve just got a little boy kitten called Mog. He has a spotty tummy and climbs up curtains and people.

Does Aunt Gretal get her handbag back? Yes she does! But first she makes Grunty and Grouchy clean the house again! Poor trolls - she won’t let them get away with anything will she?

Do you wear lipstick? I do wear lipstick, though not as much as Great-Aunt Gretal! And I sometimes don’t know why I bother because every time I have a cup of tea it comes off all round the top of the mug. Yuck!

When you were little did you want to be a writer? Well, I always loved reading and I always loved writing but when I was very little I wanted to be a teacher. Then, when I was bigger I was a teacher before I was a mummy. Now there’s nothing I love more than being at home with my family and the pets, writing and writing all day long…

I think you’ll have your ears pierced, but my mummy says that not all adults do. Do you? Your mummy is right when she says that not all adults have their ears pierced but actually Littlest, you’ve guessed right too because I do!

Do you like The Grunt or The Grouch best? Oh, the hardest question of the lot! Um … er - see the thing is, Grunty and Grouchy are so very different although they’re both revolting! Grunty, as you know, is grumpy and thumpy and Grouchy is small and cheery. I love the way that Grunty says what he thinks and I love the way that Grouchy always looks on the bright side (even if things are grim!). I have to say I like them both the same though I wouldn’t want either at my party, would you? Even if they promised to be good…

I have 3 books written by you. Are there lots more that my mummy can buy for me? Well, there’s another troll book coming out next year (probably called Loop-the-Loop!) so you could look out for that. Grunty and Grouchy get up to all sorts - just wait!

As well as more picture books, I have a new series of stories being published in 2011 and 2012, which I’m writing at the moment. If you visit my website from time to time, you’ll find out about all my new books. There are troll activity sheets on there too for you to download and have fun with - colouring sheets and spot-the-difference - that sort of thing.

Littlest has a copy of ‘The Grunt and the Grouch’ (picture book), ‘Beastly Feast! (The Grunt and the Grouch)‘ and ‘Pick ‘n’ Mix (The Grunt and the Grouch)‘ to give away to ONE very lucky reader! All you have to do is leave a ‘please pick me’ comment by 3pm (GMT) September 4, then she’ll pop all names in a mug and ask her borther to select a winner. This competition is open to all.

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About Littlest: Littlest is only just 7 and she likes to read. She has a rather impressive collection of signed books and, at the moment, she’s thinking that she’ll either be a fashion designer or a writer when she’s much much older. She plans to NEVER leave home.

About Tracey Corderoy: Tracey Corderoy was born in South Wales and now lives in Gloucestershire with her husband, two daughters and a menagerie of animals. She is a trained teacher and now implements specialist literacy programmes in schools.