Explore Norse Myths!

August 17, 2015
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.

December 1, 2015
Grades 2-5 Fascinating myths, witty jokes, eye-catching art, games, science projects, and a coherent narrative history fill the pages of this informative volume, which presents multifaceted facts about the Nordic people based in Scandinavia before the twelfth century. Each of the six chapters presents a thematic discussion paired with projects exploring Norse mythology, period technology, Viking warriors, comparative mythology, and lasting influences in the modern world, some of which are surprising. The Bluetooth symbol, for instance, is based on Nordic runes. The projects are engaging, and all rely on commonly available materials, such as egg cartons, empty juice boxes, or jars with lids. The graphics-heavy page layouts nicely balance the content, vocab explanations, cartoon illustrations (though one depicts Native Americans in a stereotypical light), and sidebars, which makes it easy to negotiate the different categories of presentation. Clear instructions for accessing supplementary web content make expanding the scope of the text a breeze. This engaging entry in the Explore Your World series is a great choice for the classroom and an entertaining introduction to world history.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)