Thistledom, brought to life by author and teacher, John LaCroix. This captivating story reveals a tiny kingdom hidden somewhere in the Land of the Mitten -- home to intelligent and resourceful little people called Nobbies. Mr. LaCroix creates a marvelous mix of characters, creatures, and life values in a carefully crafted narrative that is truly a refreshing tale for all ages. Struggles with nature and strange outside forces threatening to destroy them reveals much about character, courage, pride, and the price of personal commitment. Powerful personalities and partnerships forge and shape a kingdom, but tragedy linked to an eerie presence in the bog at the base of the mountain alters forever the course of Nobby history. Spanning generations replete with great moments of glory, haunting disappearances, deep family anguish and feats of heroism, Thistledom endures as a Land filled with opportunity, challenges and choices – not unlike our own. Its legacy is inscribed on an old pendant: “A Seed’s Power Lies In Its Promise.”Troggs & Doogles in Thistledom, Second Edition
This short adventure by John W. LaCroix written thirty years ago introduced the Nobby character, as well as the fearsome troggs and doogles. The setting is at Christmas time when Princess Emily hosts a party for her cousins in Le Grande Chateau Castle. Great uncle, Lord Norbert, drops by for a surprise visit and tells a story that unwittingly would set the stage for the entire new Thistledom series that begins with volume I, Thistledom: A Kingdom is Born. Though no longer directly related to the series by the story line, Troggs & Doogles in Thistledom is a great primer for 2nd and 3rd graders who are anxiously waiting to learn so much more about the amazing history of the Nobby Kingdom of Thistledom hidden somewhere in the land of the Mitten.
In a tiny kingdom somewhere in the Land of Mitten, lies Thistledom, home of intelligent and resourceful little people called Nobbies. Author John LaCroix’s marvelous mix of characters, creatures, and life values binds a carefully crafted narrative, encompassing a truly refreshing tale for all ages. Struggles with nature and strange outside forces reveals much about character, courage, pride, and the price of personal commitment. Powerful personalities and partnerships forge and shape a kingdom, but tragedy linked to an eerie presence in the bog at the base of the mountain alters the course of Nobby history forever. 246 Pages in paperback. The first in a five part series.
Thistledom, a tiny kingdom born somewhere in the Land of the Mitten, remains home to our beloved Nobbies. It is indeed a Land where “seeds of promise” are sprinkled for all who would seek them. The centerpiece of Thistledom, A Kingdom is Born, was the great love story between Zygmunt and Irene. Their lives so beautifully woven together created the cast and character that would form the face and fabric of the Kingdom of Thistledom. We hoped that their legacy would last forever, but that depends now upon others finding and nurturing those precious “seeds.” The powerful personalities and partnership of their sons, Bo and Theodore, did forge and shape the kingdom. Their power and vision seemed limitless. Life like the seasons, however, truly does run in cycles. Nothing lasts forever, except the “seeds of promise.” Incredibly, within the span of two short cycles, these two pillars of the Kingdom fell. Thistledom first lost its Nobby Master and then, its only King. Fear shattered hearts filling the Land with dark days and ominous shadows. Resilience born of Nobby character, courage, and commitment, however, could not be stifled, even in the face of catastrophic loss. Nobbies everywhere rose from their knees and the DuBois Royal Family raised its royal head. While the legacy of Zygmunt inscribed on the lost pendant, “A Seed’s Power Lies in its Promise,” still glowed from the darkness, young King Alec issued a bold challenge and defined a new vision inflaming the hearts of Nobbies everywhere.