#564 of 1001 · February 15, 2022

The book of the day is Helga’s Dowry by Tomie dePaola. The story takes place in a community of trolls, adjacent to the world of mortals. Helga, a beautiful troll maiden, receives a marriage proposal from Handsome Lars, but she is quite poor and has no dowry to offer him. Old Rich Sven, on the other hand, tempts Lars with the hand of his daughter Plain Inge, who comes with land and a substantial nest egg. If she is to compete, Helga must scrape together a respectable dowry on short notice. The enterprising troll uses her magic and wiles to earn livestock, money, and land. But, after learning that Lars was unwilling to wait and set a wedding date with Inge, Helga jumps at the chance to marry a very different suitor who suddenly presents himself (sharp-eyed readers will spot this suitor hiding on many of the precious pages, witnessing and admiring all of Helga’s accomplishments). DePaola’s irresistibly witty writing and signature cheerful art style mesh for a delightful original tale. #troll #wedding #magic #book #books #childrensbooks #beautifulbook #beautifulbooks #beautifulbookcover #beautifulbookcovers #picturebook #picturebooks #picturebookillustration #picturebookillustrations #picturebookart #classicchildrensbooks #childrensbookillustration #childrensliterature #illustration #kidlit #kidsbooks #bookworm #booklover #booklovers #bibliophile #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #instabook #instabooks