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Author
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Comment
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GailS
Unregistered User
(6/24/04 6:25 pm)
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Help With Suggested Books
Looking for help finding books about Norse mythology for 1st through 3rd grade reading level. Just came back from vacation with my niece and the little charmer has written her first story---about a unicorn She’s an avid reader. Visited Viking House in Tahoe and now she wants to know what Vikings are.
Also what sea serpents and other creatures we discussed that day are. She’s an avid reader, but they live in PR---libraries have a limited selection of books in English. Most of the books I find are for reading levels 3rd through 7th. Since she’s only 6, she’s already reading above her age. Any suggestions?
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Helen
J Pilinovsky
Registered User
(6/24/04 8:17 pm)
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Astrid Lindgren
This one's probably already occured to you, but ... Astrid Lindgren
was one of the foremost Norweigen authors, responsible for favorites
such as the "Pippi"
books and _Ronia
the Robber's Daughter_, which has a heavy folkloric influence.
I read those books when I was around your niece's age, and loved
them - I've also heard that a number of her less renowned books
have been or are being translated ... it's worth looking into!
Good luck,
Helen
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aka
Greensleeves
(6/24/04 10:51 pm)
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Re: Help With Suggested Books
Go to Amazon.com
and do a search for "Norse tales: juvenile" or "Vikings:
juvenile." Several books come up--both nonfiction and story
collections. If you're not interested in buying them, jot the vitals
down (title, author, publisher, etc) and contact your library regarding
interlibrary loan services. You should be able to get just about
any book (or video or recording, etc) available in an American library.
Forgive my ignorance: Where is "PR?" I've been wracking my brains for Canadian provinces, but I'm coming up short. Where are you?
Good luck! And when she's ready, you can introduce her to the Poetic
Edda. And the sagas of Iceland, and...
Edited by: aka Greensleeves at: 6/24/04 10:51 pm
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jess63
Registered User
(6/24/04 11:08 pm)
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Re: Help With Suggested Books
Since I live in "Little Norway", we have a huge Norwegian
section in our public library. I'll ask the children's librarian
for you next time I visit, probably early next week. I am sure they
will have quite a bit. In the meantime, I love "The
Saga of Erik the Viking" by Terry Jones (of Monte Python
fame). It isn't "authentic" but it is fun. I assume she
has read "East
of the Sun, West of the Moon." And National Geographic
had a very nice article on Vikings a few years back for non-mythological,
historical reference. You will need to share these with her, but
the Jones is a delightful read aloud.
If I am not mistaken, PR means Puerto Rico.
Jess
Edited by: jess63 at: 6/24/04 11:11 pm
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aka
Greensleeves
(6/25/04 11:20 am)
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Re: Help With Suggested Books
Oh, thank you--of course it does!!
Edited by: aka Greensleeves at: 6/25/04 11:21 am
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AliceCEB
Registered User
(6/25/04 1:28 pm)
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Re: Help With Suggested Books
D'Aulaires'
has a collection of Norse mythology -- the title now escapes
me -- that has great illustrations and is a perfect read aloud for
1st through 3rd graders.
Alice
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GailS
Unregistered User
(6/25/04 3:49 pm)
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Books
PR does indeed stand for Puerto Rico. Did the search on Amazon and that's how I found out most of their books on this topic were for readers in grades 3-7, rather than younger readers, but thanks for the suggestion.
Thanks for the D'Auliares'
suggestion, and others--have to see if I can find it.
GailS
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Veronica
Schanoes
Registered User
(6/25/04 6:31 pm)
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Re: Books
Just wanted to second the love for the D'Aulaires.
I had it when I was a little girl--I must have been in first grade--and
I loved it.
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CrCeres
Unregistered User
(6/27/04 8:41 pm)
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D'aulaires
The title of the D'Aulaires' book is "Norse
Gods and Giants". It's particularly good for kids, I think,
because the mythology is neatly parceled and explained.
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Gails
Unregistered User
(6/30/04 7:14 am)
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Norse Gods and Giant
Unfortunately, it's out of print. Used paperbacks start at around $90, and hardcovers at around $120.
Thanks for the help,
GailS
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selkie
no
Registered User
(6/30/04 4:33 pm)
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Snorri Edda
Hi!
You should look for a book called "Snorri Edda" or "Prose
Edda". It was written by an Icelander; Snorri Surlason,
in the 13th century. It contains stories about old Norse goods,
is easy reading and exist in various English translations. Beware
not to end up with the older "Poetic Edda" or "Sæmund
Edda", this book also contains Norse mythology, (the Sigurd
and Brünhilde cycle among others), but it is written on verse, and
it`s the kind of literature you have to analyze before you can experience
it, if you see what I mean...
I don`t think it will be that easy to find information about the vikings, because they were given that name by people that they pillaged, in for instance Ireland. But they probably never called themselves that, so who were they really? If you check out Snorri Sturlasons other works you will find a lot about characters who probably will qualify as "vikings", but I`m not sure if it´s suitable for a 6 year old. There are of course children's literature/ fantasy litterature about vikings, but not much worth reading, I think. Apart from "Astrix meets the Vikings", of course.
By the way Astrid Lindgren was Swedish, not Norwegian, and "Ronja" is not about Norse mythology. But it can count as viking territory, I suppose... If your 6 year old haven`t red Astrid Lindgrens books you should really check them out, there is so much there she is just going to love!
Selkie
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AliceCEB
Registered User
(6/30/04 5:08 pm)
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Another suggestion
For 1st through 3rd graders, you might also consider looking into
the Magic Tree House books by Mary Pope Osborne. These are not retellings
of mythology but are a very kid friendly approach to historical
fiction/fantasy. One title is Viking
Ships at Sunrise. I have not read it, but at the very
least it'll provide an easy and perhaps even informative read.
Alice
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AliceCEB
Registered User
(6/30/04 5:10 pm)
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P.S.
Although D'Aulaires may be out of print, perhaps your library has a copy, or can borrow one from another library for you.
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GailS
Unregistered User
(7/1/04 6:06 am)
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Books
Thanks for all the suggestions. I know my sister has trouble getting books in English from her library and her Spanish is limited.
GailS
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aka
Greensleeves
(7/1/04 5:15 pm)
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Re: Books
Actually, "viking" *is* a Norse word (vikingr) that the Western Norse peoples used to describe themselves, or more specifically, male seafaring adventurers/raiders. They even made a verb of it--young men would "go a-viking" (English translation, of course): take to the seas for a season as coastal raiders and adventurers. In the Sagas, going a-viking is often a career taken up during a sentence of short outlawry (3 years' banishment from the community).
Edited by: aka Greensleeves at: 7/1/04 5:16 pm
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AliceCEB
Registered User
(7/1/04 8:19 pm)
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Re: Help With Suggested Books
Another thought: a 6-year old might enjoy Viking
it and Liking it by Jon Scieska--from his Time Warp Trio
series. It's another historical fiction/fantasy series aimed for
young readers, with 2nd grade humor. My kids loved these books.
As I was looking through my library's catalog, I also noted that a lot of books were aimed for reading levels grade 3 and higher. However, they may be very good read alouds--to share with an adult. D'Aulaires, for example, might be a bit of a challenge for a new reader, but riveting with an adult reader--which made me think that many of the other Norse/Viking books currently in print may be the same.
Good luck.
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