
Reach for this book when your child expresses frustration about not being good at the things they are supposed to do, or when they feel like an outsider in their peer group. It is particularly healing for children who feel they have to mask their true interests to fit in at school or home. Cliff the Failed Troll is a heartwarming and hilarious story about a young troll who fails at every traditional troll metric: he is too cheerful, too active, and too much of a vegetarian. The book explores themes of self-confidence and the courage to seek out a community where your unique quirks are celebrated rather than corrected. It is an excellent choice for children ages 4 to 8 who are navigating the social pressures of preschool or early elementary school. Parents will appreciate the gentle humor and the reassuring message that failing at someone else's expectations often means you are just beginning your own successful adventure.
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Sign in to write a reviewThe other trolls act grumpy and mean, which is their nature but might feel unfriendly.
The approach is metaphorical and secular. It deals with identity and the feeling of being a disappointment to one's community or family. The resolution is hopeful and empowering, showing that the problem was the environment, not the individual.
An elementary student who feels like the odd one out in their class, perhaps a neurodivergent child who finds sitting still difficult or a child whose hobbies differ from the local norm.
This book can be read cold. Parents may want to emphasize that the Go Away attitude of the other trolls is what they are supposed to do, so the child understands Cliff isn't being bullied, he just doesn't fit the culture. A parent might reach for this after seeing their child's face fall when they receive a poor grade or after hearing their child say, I am not good at anything.
Younger children (4-5) will enjoy the pirate sounds and the silly subversion of troll tropes. Older children (7-8) will more deeply resonate with the school report card and the pressure to perform tasks that feel unnatural.
Unlike many books about being yourself, this one uses the framework of failure as a redirection toward a different vocational and social path, rather than just asking others to accept the protagonist.
Cliff is a troll who is failing Troll School. He cannot sit still for Stony Staring, he is a vegetarian who won't eat goats, and he thinks the proper greeting is Ahoy rather than Go Away. After receiving a report card of Fs, Cliff decides to leave his community to find where he truly fits. He discovers a pirate ship where his supposed troll failures (being loud, active, and adventurous) are actually his greatest strengths. He finds success and belonging by redefining who he is on his own terms.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.