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Freya Takes Charge: Because When You’re a Viking, You Need Help Making Friends!
From the creators of Baxter and Jeffrey comes a new kind of hero.
Outgoing. Confident. Adventurous. Intelligent. Kind........Viking.
Freya the Friendly is excited to join her father's crew as they set sail for Scotland. But her dad has some pretty unfriendly yell, growl, and grab what you want. Vikings don't dance. And when you hear bagpipes - make a face and cover your ears!
To be true to her name, Freya must make a choice. Can she persuade her crewmates to be nice, kick up their heels, and play those dreadful pipes - in pursuit of friendship, fun, and riches?
Join Freya and her father's crew as they learn how to "trade-not-take," try new things, and cheer for their Scottish neighbors in this heartwarming and hilarious take on how to make friends when you're a Viking.
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Sports champions, movie stars, and award-winning authors
Freya really knows how to take charge!"If Freya were on my team, I'd make her my starting quarterback!"
-Steve Young, NFL Hall of Fame quarterback
"Freya the Friendly is in a League of Her Own!"
-Megan Cavanagh (aka Marla Hooch)
"This beautiful and hilarious picture book teaches joyous lessons about friendship, fun, riches, and girl power!"
-Peggy Rathmann, Caldecott-medalist and author of the best-selling children's classic, Goodnight Gorilla
"A wonderful story to delight and inspire young children and grown-ups alike! Freya for CEO!"
-Deena Shakir, author, Leena Mo, CEO
Outgoing. Confident. Adventurous. Intelligent. Kind........Viking.
Freya the Friendly is excited to join her father's crew as they set sail for Scotland. But her dad has some pretty unfriendly yell, growl, and grab what you want. Vikings don't dance. And when you hear bagpipes - make a face and cover your ears!
To be true to her name, Freya must make a choice. Can she persuade her crewmates to be nice, kick up their heels, and play those dreadful pipes - in pursuit of friendship, fun, and riches?
Join Freya and her father's crew as they learn how to "trade-not-take," try new things, and cheer for their Scottish neighbors in this heartwarming and hilarious take on how to make friends when you're a Viking.
------
Sports champions, movie stars, and award-winning authors
Freya really knows how to take charge!"If Freya were on my team, I'd make her my starting quarterback!"
-Steve Young, NFL Hall of Fame quarterback
"Freya the Friendly is in a League of Her Own!"
-Megan Cavanagh (aka Marla Hooch)
"This beautiful and hilarious picture book teaches joyous lessons about friendship, fun, riches, and girl power!"
-Peggy Rathmann, Caldecott-medalist and author of the best-selling children's classic, Goodnight Gorilla
"A wonderful story to delight and inspire young children and grown-ups alike! Freya for CEO!"
-Deena Shakir, author, Leena Mo, CEO
Kindle Edition
Published November 4, 2024
About the author
Ariane Erickson
7 books103 followersAriane Erickson, along with her husband Todd, founded Norse-Gael Books in 2023, and celebrated the launch of their first book, BAXTER AND JEFFREY, with a giant slice of chocolate cake and an ice-cold glass of milk.
While kind and sweet Baxter is winning hearts around the world, their next protagonist is a bit more, well…feisty. Parents and feisty girls everywhere will cheer out loud when plucky, fearless FREYA TAKE CHARGE this Fall.
Ariane and Todd are committed to creating children’s books that root for the underdogs, promote kindness and empathy, welcome and affirm all readers, embrace characters that are flawed but lovable, create feelings of satisfaction, security, and belonging, elicit uproarious laughter from children and adults alike, and are worth reading again and again.
When not publishing children's books, Ariane enjoys sneaking in a daily chocolate before her family comes home, worrying if she is under or over watering her plants, and buying pillows for the couch (much to her family’s chagrin).
Visit Ariane and Todd at norsegaelbooks.com to learn more about their favorite brand of chocolate, where to buy decorative pillows, and how to make friends when you're a Viking.
While kind and sweet Baxter is winning hearts around the world, their next protagonist is a bit more, well…feisty. Parents and feisty girls everywhere will cheer out loud when plucky, fearless FREYA TAKE CHARGE this Fall.
Ariane and Todd are committed to creating children’s books that root for the underdogs, promote kindness and empathy, welcome and affirm all readers, embrace characters that are flawed but lovable, create feelings of satisfaction, security, and belonging, elicit uproarious laughter from children and adults alike, and are worth reading again and again.
When not publishing children's books, Ariane enjoys sneaking in a daily chocolate before her family comes home, worrying if she is under or over watering her plants, and buying pillows for the couch (much to her family’s chagrin).
Visit Ariane and Todd at norsegaelbooks.com to learn more about their favorite brand of chocolate, where to buy decorative pillows, and how to make friends when you're a Viking.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 30, 2026
Changing the Rules of the Raid
Freya Takes Charge is a lively and thoughtful picture book about leadership that grows from empathy rather than force. When Freya joins her father’s Viking crew on a voyage, she quickly discovers that the traditional “Viking way” isn’t especially friendly. The rules are loud, rigid, and rooted in taking instead of connecting—and Freya can feel that something about it doesn’t sit right.
Rather than positioning Freya as a child who needs to overcome shyness, the story presents her as a natural problem-solver who questions habits that no longer serve the group. As the crew prepares to meet people from another land, Freya begins to imagine a different approach—one based on curiosity, respect, and exchange. Her challenge isn’t making friends for herself, but convincing others that kindness can be a strength and that cooperation leads to better outcomes for everyone.
The narrative does a wonderful job of showing how change often meets resistance. The crew is skeptical, set in their ways, and quick to mock what feels unfamiliar. Yet Freya leads not by arguing loudly, but by modeling a new path forward. Her idea to “trade, not take” becomes a turning point, offering children a clear, memorable lesson about fairness, cultural respect, and peaceful problem-solving.
Iya Voinich’s illustrations amplify the story’s humor and heart, balancing bold Viking energy with expressive emotions and visual cues that highlight moments of tension and transformation. Freya Takes Charge is a strong social-emotional read for classrooms and homes alike, encouraging children to think critically about group behavior, traditions, and what true leadership looks like. It’s a story that reminds young readers that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is suggest a better way.
Freya Takes Charge is a lively and thoughtful picture book about leadership that grows from empathy rather than force. When Freya joins her father’s Viking crew on a voyage, she quickly discovers that the traditional “Viking way” isn’t especially friendly. The rules are loud, rigid, and rooted in taking instead of connecting—and Freya can feel that something about it doesn’t sit right.
Rather than positioning Freya as a child who needs to overcome shyness, the story presents her as a natural problem-solver who questions habits that no longer serve the group. As the crew prepares to meet people from another land, Freya begins to imagine a different approach—one based on curiosity, respect, and exchange. Her challenge isn’t making friends for herself, but convincing others that kindness can be a strength and that cooperation leads to better outcomes for everyone.
The narrative does a wonderful job of showing how change often meets resistance. The crew is skeptical, set in their ways, and quick to mock what feels unfamiliar. Yet Freya leads not by arguing loudly, but by modeling a new path forward. Her idea to “trade, not take” becomes a turning point, offering children a clear, memorable lesson about fairness, cultural respect, and peaceful problem-solving.
Iya Voinich’s illustrations amplify the story’s humor and heart, balancing bold Viking energy with expressive emotions and visual cues that highlight moments of tension and transformation. Freya Takes Charge is a strong social-emotional read for classrooms and homes alike, encouraging children to think critically about group behavior, traditions, and what true leadership looks like. It’s a story that reminds young readers that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is suggest a better way.
December 5, 2024
Lovely enjoyable story.
Freya’s father is a Viking and as part of ‘Bring your daughter to work’ he brings Freya to work. There are some things that she wants to change in the way her father and Vikings work. Fun lovely story about making friends and enjoyable illustrations.
Freya’s father is a Viking and as part of ‘Bring your daughter to work’ he brings Freya to work. There are some things that she wants to change in the way her father and Vikings work. Fun lovely story about making friends and enjoyable illustrations.
January 31, 2026
Freya Takes Charge: Because When You’re a Viking, You Need Help Making Friends! by Ariane Erickson – Does this feel like someone really loves How To Train Your Dragon? Yes. Was is adorable? Also yes! Happy Reading!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews