Thor Speaks! A Guide to the Realms by the Norse God of Thunder

In this third entry in the Secrets of the Ancient Gods series (following Anubis Speaks! and Hades Speaks!), Shecter assumes the rough-and-tumble voice of “everyone’s ‘good-buddy’ god,” Thor, introducing more than a dozen myths and the gods central to them. Thor’s unfussy perspective is just right for recapping myths that can be unpleasant in the details (“Ymir the ice-giant began to sweat, and from his stinky armpit emerged two giants”). Larson’s delicately etched pen-and-ink illustrations have a creepy, Goreyesque edge as he pictures Odin and Thor visiting Mímir’s well, and the god of thunder doing battle against the great serpent Jörungandr during Ragnarök. Extensive character descriptions, source notes, and a glossary round out this entertainingly informal introduction to Norse legends. Ages 9–12. Agent: Courtney Miller-Callahan, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. (Sept.)