Three Little Vikings

by Bethan Woollvin (Author)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

From the creator of the New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book, Little Red, comes another thrilling and spunky fairy tale retelling about three very brave and rebellious Viking girls.

Someone--or something--is crashing and bashing near a village of Viking folk! Chickens are disappearing, trees are falling down, and there are awfully big footprints leading into the woods... Three little Viking girls know just what the trouble is, but the silly chieftain won't listen to them! Can this gumptious trio work together to raise their voices and prove who knows best, after all?

A master of fractured fairy tales with feminist twists, author-illustrator Bethan Woollvin uses strikingly bold graphics that pop with vibrant colors and are perfect for read alouds. Gather around for a romping, stomping story with gripping tension and lots of silly mischief and mayhem.

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Hardcover
$17.99

Kirkus

Though peppered with references to folklore, this fun tale is updated for modern sensibilities, with a resonant message about questioning authority. . . . Clever and timely.

School Library Journal

The Viking men have returned with treasure and they are all busy celebrating their spoils. All, that is, except for three Viking girls who are playing and hear a strange noise from outside. When they run to tell the chieftain that they think there is a monster outside, he says "Nonsense...I know that is just a thunderstorm...and I know best!" This is the same response they receive each time they come to the chieftain for help: when the town has been destroyed; when the trees mysteriously fall in the woods; when the Vikings' newly acquired treasure disappears. They realize that their monster is actually a troll, and that it is up to them to make a plan that will save their town. This Nordic fairy-tale with a feminist twist promotes how sometimes the smallest voices have the most important ideas. Bright blues, yellows, and greens provide disarming contrast to snow-covered paths and the dark shadows caused by a menacing troll. Although the story line follows a predictable pattern, making it well-suited for reading out loud, children will need some background on trolls, specifically their biggest weakness, to understand the conclusion to the story. In general, more information on the setting could bring more meaning to a sweet story with a message of female empowerment. VERDICT An additional purchase for larger picture book collections.—Louie Lauer

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes



Bethan Woollvin
Bethan Woollvin graduated from the Cambridge School of Art with a First Class Degree in illustration. She has since made a name for herself with dark and witty twists on traditional stories. Her first book, Little Red, was a New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book, and she's since gained acclaim for creating instantly recognizable works with bold, graphic artwork and loads of humor. Follow Bethan on Instagram @bethanwoollvin and visit her on the web at www.bethanwoollvin.com.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781682634561
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Peachtree Publishers
Publication date
August 30, 2022
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV039140 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance
JUV014000 - Juvenile Fiction | Girls & Women
JUV012040 - Juvenile Fiction | Fairy Tales & Folklore | Adaptations
JUV022030 - Juvenile Fiction | Legends, Myths, & Fables | Norse
Library of Congress categories
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