Explore Norse Myths!

Yasuda gives readers a quick, lively overview of Norse myths, the influence of Scandinavian culture, technological advances made by Vikings and other Nordic peoples, and more. Throughout, she intermixes history and myth—a description of Odin’s discovery of magical runes appears in a section about the influence of Norse legends (including the use of the runes for King Harald Blatand’s initials as the Bluetooth symbol). In addition to the 25 interspersed activities (which include making a woodcut of the nine worlds of Norse legend and a “mistletoe” wreath from green paper), numerous jokes, profiles of Norse deities, trivia- and vocabulary-packed sidebars, QR codes with links to online content, and Stone’s cartooning all contribute to the book’s interactive and visual appeal. Ages 7–10. (Nov.)