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D'Aulaires' Norse Gods & Giants
Ancient myths, populated by gods and giants, were invented by the imaginative Norsemen centuries ago. Everything from the creation of the world to daily events and supernatural occurrences form the basis for these incredible, fun and fascinating stories. Complete with a Reader's Companion: a combination index, glossary, pronunciation and reader's guide.
154 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1967
157 people are currently reading
5475 people want to read
About the author
Ingri d'Aulaire
47 books166 followersIngri d'Aulaire (1904-1980) was an American children's artist and illustrator, who worked in collaboration with her husband and fellow artist, Edgar Parin d'Aulaire. Born Ingri Mortenson in Kongsburg, Norway, she studied art in Norway, Germany and France, and met Edgar Parin d'Aulaire when she was a student in Munich. They married in 1925, and immigrated to the USA shortly thereafter, settling in Brooklyn in 1929. After pursuing separate careers initially, the couple turned to illustrating children's books together, releasing their first collaborative effort, The Magic Rug, in 1931. They settled in Wilton, Connecticut in 1941, and lived there until their deaths in the 1980s. Awarded the 1940 Caldecott Medal for their picture-book biography of Abraham Lincoln, the d'Aulaires published other children's biographies, as well as some notable works on Greek and Norse mythology. (source: Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 418 reviews
December 12, 2012
The English ABCs of D'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths (with one addition and some subtractions) by Miloš & Brontë*:
A -- Alfheim: It's the place where the elves live. There's lots of elves there with bows, and they have long blonde hair and pointy years. The wear archer clothes and stuff.
B -- Balder: The God of Light (is he the God of Light? Maybe he's just goodness. No, he's the God of Light too). He was always happy. He was never mad. He just smiled the whole time. I can't remember a time when he was mad. He died because Frigg asked everything not to hurt him except mistletoe, then Loki, disguised as an old woman found out it was unsafe, then made an arrow out of mistletoe, gave it to Balder's blind brother, then Loki helped Hod shoot Balder, and Balder died.
C -- Chess and Chessmen: Almost everybody plays chess, the gods that is, and I didn't know that chess was made back then. The gods probably invented it, the god of gold that is because they were golden chessmen. Or maybe it was the Gnomes. They seem more like the building type.
D -- Draupnir: I think it would be cool to have a bracelet like Draupnir. It was cool that Odin put it with Balder in his funeral pyre.
E -- Embla: Embla is one of the first humans created by the Gods. She was the first woman.
F -- Fenris: He's Loki's son who is the big wolf who grows too big to control. He's not scared of anything, so he's fearless, and he's very big, and he can open his mouth so wide his bottom jaw can touch the Earth (Midgard), and he bites off Tyr's hand. Plus, he's stuck at the bottom of Yggdrassil.
G -- Garm: He's the dog who guards the gate to Hel.
H -- Hel: She's Loki's daughter who rules Hel, which is named after her.
I -- Ida: The green field of Asgard with a whole bunch of buildings that I expect are huge, and it is very busy.
J -- Jotuns: The Jotuns live in a very, very cold world on the tree. Instead of their beards being soft and furry, they're cold and hard like icicles. The Aesir and them don't agree with each other. Thor challenges every Jotun he sees, and kills it and stuff, declares war on it, I'd say.
K -- Kvasir: Wasn't that the drink that made people smart? Odin was wise after drinking it or something.
L -- Lidskjalf: That's the seat where Odin sits and he can see everything.
M -- Midgard's Serpent: It's scary. Very, very scary, and it's always angry, and apparently it's not too heavy for Thor.
N -- Nanna: She is the wife of Balder. She is pretty nice, and she is my favourite of all the ladies in Asgard.
O -- Odin: He is the All Father and the ruler of Asgard. He has a very, very, very fast horse with eight legs named Sleipnir. He only has one functional eye, and he pulls his hair down over his missing eye. In the Norse myths, he's my (Miloš') favourite.
R -- Rungnir: He was a pretty big Jotun, really tall, and he had the second fastest horse on the entire World Tree. He's pretty cool, and fairly strong, and Thor beat him in a duel, but his head isn't fairly strong becaues Thor smashed it, right?
S -- Sif: She is beautiful, and she has the best hair. If she was a Charlie's Angels she'd be Jill. Her hair was blonde but it became gold.
T -- Tyr: He is very brave, and he is pretty strong too. Fenris ate his hand, so he has only one hand. He is also pretty nice. He is one of Odin's sons.
U -- Utgardsloki: He was super smart. It was awesome how he made all the tricks, the illusions, to trick Thor. I thought Thor would win. I loved the fact that Thor didn't win and that Utgardsloki won.
V -- Vanir: The battle between them and the Aesir was pretty interesting. They were pretty cool, and some of them joined the Aesir.
W -- War: The Norse Gods fought too much, definitely. They were really violent. Whenever somebody died nobody even cried, except for Balder, or then their wives die too. It's weird the way they were with death and war.
Y -- Yggdrassil: It's a cool tree. I like how it is holding all the Nine Realms in place and stuff. It is there to keep everything in place. I like that Yggdrassil is so important, and trees are because they give us air and stuff, but this tree is more important because it is holding our worlds together in one space so Midgard, Asgard, Jotunheim and all the rest would probably spin off into space without the tree.
Æ -- Aesir: Whenever they said something they promised, they had to do what they promised, so instead of being fierce they did what they said they would, but when they failed to do what they said they would something bad happened, and eventually it caused Ragnarokk.
*I just finished reading this to my twins last night. We start the Greek Myths tonight.
A -- Alfheim: It's the place where the elves live. There's lots of elves there with bows, and they have long blonde hair and pointy years. The wear archer clothes and stuff.
B -- Balder: The God of Light (is he the God of Light? Maybe he's just goodness. No, he's the God of Light too). He was always happy. He was never mad. He just smiled the whole time. I can't remember a time when he was mad. He died because Frigg asked everything not to hurt him except mistletoe, then Loki, disguised as an old woman found out it was unsafe, then made an arrow out of mistletoe, gave it to Balder's blind brother, then Loki helped Hod shoot Balder, and Balder died.
C -- Chess and Chessmen: Almost everybody plays chess, the gods that is, and I didn't know that chess was made back then. The gods probably invented it, the god of gold that is because they were golden chessmen. Or maybe it was the Gnomes. They seem more like the building type.
D -- Draupnir: I think it would be cool to have a bracelet like Draupnir. It was cool that Odin put it with Balder in his funeral pyre.
E -- Embla: Embla is one of the first humans created by the Gods. She was the first woman.
F -- Fenris: He's Loki's son who is the big wolf who grows too big to control. He's not scared of anything, so he's fearless, and he's very big, and he can open his mouth so wide his bottom jaw can touch the Earth (Midgard), and he bites off Tyr's hand. Plus, he's stuck at the bottom of Yggdrassil.
G -- Garm: He's the dog who guards the gate to Hel.
H -- Hel: She's Loki's daughter who rules Hel, which is named after her.
I -- Ida: The green field of Asgard with a whole bunch of buildings that I expect are huge, and it is very busy.
J -- Jotuns: The Jotuns live in a very, very cold world on the tree. Instead of their beards being soft and furry, they're cold and hard like icicles. The Aesir and them don't agree with each other. Thor challenges every Jotun he sees, and kills it and stuff, declares war on it, I'd say.
K -- Kvasir: Wasn't that the drink that made people smart? Odin was wise after drinking it or something.
L -- Lidskjalf: That's the seat where Odin sits and he can see everything.
M -- Midgard's Serpent: It's scary. Very, very scary, and it's always angry, and apparently it's not too heavy for Thor.
N -- Nanna: She is the wife of Balder. She is pretty nice, and she is my favourite of all the ladies in Asgard.
O -- Odin: He is the All Father and the ruler of Asgard. He has a very, very, very fast horse with eight legs named Sleipnir. He only has one functional eye, and he pulls his hair down over his missing eye. In the Norse myths, he's my (Miloš') favourite.
R -- Rungnir: He was a pretty big Jotun, really tall, and he had the second fastest horse on the entire World Tree. He's pretty cool, and fairly strong, and Thor beat him in a duel, but his head isn't fairly strong becaues Thor smashed it, right?
S -- Sif: She is beautiful, and she has the best hair. If she was a Charlie's Angels she'd be Jill. Her hair was blonde but it became gold.
T -- Tyr: He is very brave, and he is pretty strong too. Fenris ate his hand, so he has only one hand. He is also pretty nice. He is one of Odin's sons.
U -- Utgardsloki: He was super smart. It was awesome how he made all the tricks, the illusions, to trick Thor. I thought Thor would win. I loved the fact that Thor didn't win and that Utgardsloki won.
V -- Vanir: The battle between them and the Aesir was pretty interesting. They were pretty cool, and some of them joined the Aesir.
W -- War: The Norse Gods fought too much, definitely. They were really violent. Whenever somebody died nobody even cried, except for Balder, or then their wives die too. It's weird the way they were with death and war.
Y -- Yggdrassil: It's a cool tree. I like how it is holding all the Nine Realms in place and stuff. It is there to keep everything in place. I like that Yggdrassil is so important, and trees are because they give us air and stuff, but this tree is more important because it is holding our worlds together in one space so Midgard, Asgard, Jotunheim and all the rest would probably spin off into space without the tree.
Æ -- Aesir: Whenever they said something they promised, they had to do what they promised, so instead of being fierce they did what they said they would, but when they failed to do what they said they would something bad happened, and eventually it caused Ragnarokk.
*I just finished reading this to my twins last night. We start the Greek Myths tonight.
July 8, 2012
Well-loved books from my past
Rating: 4* of five
Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire were a married couple of Euro-origin, he Swiss and she Norwegian, who came to the US in the 1920s to pursue fame and fortune. Edgar was an illustrator for books, magazines, and the like, while Ingri painted rich guys' portraits. Came the Depression, oh dearie me...everything got harder...so the two collaborated on writing and illustrating kids' books together. For forty-plus years, the couple turned out beautiful, beautiful books.
This book, published in 1967, was a gift from my dad to me. I haven't got a lot of fond memories of my parents, and oddly most of them center around books in one shape or another. This is no exception. Dad read the book to me, even though by 1967 I was reading on my own, and we both loved the experience. He's a hambone and a half, my dad, funny and quick and full of wordplay. This book launched him on trajectories of mythmashing that, had I known then what I know now, I'd've written down or memorized or tape-recorded or something. He was abso-bloody-lutely riotous doing Odin as a doddering old fuffertut and Thor as a lisping faggot (my sides are already hurting remembering the way that made me laugh...still does...) and the Valkyries as whining misery-guts.
P.C. he was, and is, not.
The last time we spoke on the phone, before deafness and vascular dementia made it pointless to speak at all, I reminded Dad of this book. He laughed like he had when he was 40. He lit up as he did the voices again. It was a good last conversation to have with him, and it's all down to being a great big kid as he always was, and appreciating his kidliness left me feeling a lot less angry for his adult failings.
So this book holds my special and dear gratitude for being a bridge to a man I never loved, but always felt impatient with and annoyed by and hurt by. Books are magic, and myths are real, and don't ever, ever, ever forget that.
Rating: 4* of five
Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire were a married couple of Euro-origin, he Swiss and she Norwegian, who came to the US in the 1920s to pursue fame and fortune. Edgar was an illustrator for books, magazines, and the like, while Ingri painted rich guys' portraits. Came the Depression, oh dearie me...everything got harder...so the two collaborated on writing and illustrating kids' books together. For forty-plus years, the couple turned out beautiful, beautiful books.
This book, published in 1967, was a gift from my dad to me. I haven't got a lot of fond memories of my parents, and oddly most of them center around books in one shape or another. This is no exception. Dad read the book to me, even though by 1967 I was reading on my own, and we both loved the experience. He's a hambone and a half, my dad, funny and quick and full of wordplay. This book launched him on trajectories of mythmashing that, had I known then what I know now, I'd've written down or memorized or tape-recorded or something. He was abso-bloody-lutely riotous doing Odin as a doddering old fuffertut and Thor as a lisping faggot (my sides are already hurting remembering the way that made me laugh...still does...) and the Valkyries as whining misery-guts.
P.C. he was, and is, not.
The last time we spoke on the phone, before deafness and vascular dementia made it pointless to speak at all, I reminded Dad of this book. He laughed like he had when he was 40. He lit up as he did the voices again. It was a good last conversation to have with him, and it's all down to being a great big kid as he always was, and appreciating his kidliness left me feeling a lot less angry for his adult failings.
So this book holds my special and dear gratitude for being a bridge to a man I never loved, but always felt impatient with and annoyed by and hurt by. Books are magic, and myths are real, and don't ever, ever, ever forget that.
May 5, 2022
Cuốn sách tranh bìa cứng này phù hợp cho những người mới đọc Thần thoại Bắc Âu (như mình) vì lời lẽ ngắn gọn và đi kèm với tranh vẽ rất đẹp. Hình thức thì miễn chê, bìa cứng, khổ sách to, in màu, giấy rất dày dặn cứng cáp và vàng nhẹ nịnh mắt.
Giọng văn của cuốn này khá hài hước, đọc thỉnh thoảng lại bụm miệng cười. Không ngờ thần thoại Bắc Âu có nhiều chi tiết buồn cười thế, kiểu như Thor mặc váy các thứ.
Dạo này mê các kiểu sách bìa cứng hình đẹp quá đi mất :-s
Giọng văn của cuốn này khá hài hước, đọc thỉnh thoảng lại bụm miệng cười. Không ngờ thần thoại Bắc Âu có nhiều chi tiết buồn cười thế, kiểu như Thor mặc váy các thứ.
Dạo này mê các kiểu sách bìa cứng hình đẹp quá đi mất :-s
January 6, 2022
Not quite as imagination-capturing as their Greek myth book, but my kid was still absorbed by the myths.
December 21, 2014
মিথের বই এবং সেই সাথে ঝকঝকে রঙিন ছবি, এই বই ভালো না লেগে পারে?
গল্পের বর্ণনা বেশি ভাল্লাগছে, আর ছবিগুলো বেশি কিউট। কিছু ছবি এটাচ করে দিলাম। Height, Width এর সমস্যার কারণে খুব ভালোলাগার কিছু ছবি দিতে পারলাম না :(
গল্পের বর্ণনা বেশি ভাল্লাগছে, আর ছবিগুলো বেশি কিউট। কিছু ছবি এটাচ করে দিলাম। Height, Width এর সমস্যার কারণে খুব ভালোলাগার কিছু ছবি দিতে পারলাম না :(
যুদ্ধরত Odin, দেবতাদের দেবতা। ঘোড়ার পা কয়টা খেয়াল করেছ?
Freya, ভালোবাসার দেবী, কোলে তার মেয়ে Noss.
পৃথিবীর প্রথম মানব Ask, মানবী Embla.
দেবী Gefjon ও তার চার ছেলে, তৈরী করছে Sjaelland দ্বীপ।
Skade, the Ski-goddess.
দেবী Idunn, যৌবন রক্ষাকারী আপেলের পাহারাদাতা। হার্প হাতে রয়েছে তার স্বামী Bragi, কবিদের দেবতা।
February 16, 2015
(UPDATE: I'm pretty sure I wrote this review around the time the awesome Loki movies started being released. Way too much focus on his boring blond brother in those, am I right?)
It took me a long time to come around to the idea that the Norse myths could be compelling. Even dating a guy who was crazy about them didn't help. They just seemed so solemn and manly, especially compared to the Greek gods. I could imagine falling into their world. But the Norse names were weird, and the women were utterly unmemorable. (Okay, except for Hel.)
Now I can see the appeal. I especially appreciate the poignancy of gods who know their days are numbered. Ragnarök is a brilliantly devastating idea. Oh, and the world tree with a dragon gnawing at its roots.
I read this D'Aulaires' book with my son, but I'm going to find another collection and read it on my own if he's not interested in going along for the ride. Turns out those Norse myths are pretty cool.
It took me a long time to come around to the idea that the Norse myths could be compelling. Even dating a guy who was crazy about them didn't help. They just seemed so solemn and manly, especially compared to the Greek gods. I could imagine falling into their world. But the Norse names were weird, and the women were utterly unmemorable. (Okay, except for Hel.)
Now I can see the appeal. I especially appreciate the poignancy of gods who know their days are numbered. Ragnarök is a brilliantly devastating idea. Oh, and the world tree with a dragon gnawing at its roots.
I read this D'Aulaires' book with my son, but I'm going to find another collection and read it on my own if he's not interested in going along for the ride. Turns out those Norse myths are pretty cool.
November 4, 2021
Fabulous explication of convoluted Norse mythology. Not my favorite art style, but the pictures are very dynamic and the book is a nice solid tome that makes it good for reading aloud or perusing.
July 4, 2015
ছোট বেলার প্রবণতা এখনও সতেজ। ছবি ওয়ালা বই ভাল লাগে। মিথ-রূপকথা এসব ভাল লাগে। আর এই বইয়ের ব্যাপারে যেটা অভিনব সেটা হলও নর্স গডদের নিজেদের রক্ষা করার জন্য যুদ্ধ করতে হয়, একসময় তাদেরও গডগিরির সময় শেষ হয়ে আসে। নাইস। আর ট্রিকস্টার গড লোকি তো আছেই। বইটির শেষে ডিকশনারির মত করে গুরুত্বপূর্ণ চরিত্র এবং জিনিসগুলোর ইনডেক্সিং করা আছে, সেটা খুবই হেল্পফুল ছিল। কারণ অনেকদি�� লাগিয়ে বইটা পড়লাম। একটা একটা করে গল্প। ভুলে যাওয়া চরিত্র বা এলিমেন্টকে খোঁজার জন্য আগের গল্পগুলোর শরণাপন্ন না হয়ে ইনডেক্সের শরণাপন্ন হয়েই স্মুথলি কাজ চলে যাচ্ছিল। যে বইগুলো লম্বা সময় ধরে পড়ি সেগুলো শেষ হয়ে গেলে ফাঁকা ফাঁকা লাগে... এখন ফাঁকা ফাঁকা লাগছে।
[ধন্যবাদ ইমতিয়াজ ভাই, আপনি দীর্ঘজীবী হন।]
[ধন্যবাদ ইমতিয়াজ ভাই, আপনি দীর্ঘজীবী হন।]
April 10, 2017
Enjoyable, but a bit dry. Lovely illustrations.
However, I probably would have enjoyed it a bit more if I hadn't read it right after reading Gaiman's Norse Mythology since it more or less retells the same tales.
However, I probably would have enjoyed it a bit more if I hadn't read it right after reading Gaiman's Norse Mythology since it more or less retells the same tales.
May 31, 2017
Hey, Mighty Thor fans! You might want to brush up on your Norse mythology before Ragnarok comes to your local theatre, and there's no better way to do that than by rereading the D'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths.
I read it as a child (albeit with a slightly different title back then), checking it out from my public library, and I just reread it now in the edition my brother gave my daughter years ago with the new preface by Michael Chabon.
And like Chabon, who also read it as a child back in the '60s, these stories and the art by the D'Aulaires ("at once grandiose and goofy," writes Chabon) have stuck with me over the decades: the cosmic cow who licks all creation into being, Odin trading his eye for a drink from the Well of Wisdom, Thor's cart pulled by those two angry goats, the death of Balder, Thor disguised in Freya's wedding dress, and Loki's terrible revenge.
The stories by those sissies of sunlight and air, the Greeks, are far better known and perhaps better told, but these stories, the northern stories of ice and fire, are far better stories themselves, much sadder, and far funnier than anything the Greeks ever wrote. Tolkien, GRR Martin, and Neil Gaiman all draw from the Norse tradition. And the Greeks have no one in their stories quite like Loki, who Chabon singles out for great praise: "Ally and enemy, genius and failure; delightful and despicable, ridiculous and deadly, beautiful and hideous, hilarious and bitter, clever and foolish, Loki is the God of Nothing in Particular yet unmistakably of the ambiguous World Itself."
And if the Greeks have no Loki, neither do they have a Ragnarok, which I remember as a child was a word of great power. Jesus might die, something to recall on this Good Friday as I tap away here on my cell phone, but three days later he's feeling much better, up and about, taking a walk in the Garden and punking poor cynical Thomas. But Thor and Odin? When they die, they die for good, just like the rest of us miserable bastards. And they know it, too, which makes them and their stories just a little more poignant for the reader, both for Michael Chabon and for me as a child, back in the '60s and again today forty-some years later.
Here's my review of Neil Gaiman's recent take on these same myths:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I read it as a child (albeit with a slightly different title back then), checking it out from my public library, and I just reread it now in the edition my brother gave my daughter years ago with the new preface by Michael Chabon.
And like Chabon, who also read it as a child back in the '60s, these stories and the art by the D'Aulaires ("at once grandiose and goofy," writes Chabon) have stuck with me over the decades: the cosmic cow who licks all creation into being, Odin trading his eye for a drink from the Well of Wisdom, Thor's cart pulled by those two angry goats, the death of Balder, Thor disguised in Freya's wedding dress, and Loki's terrible revenge.
The stories by those sissies of sunlight and air, the Greeks, are far better known and perhaps better told, but these stories, the northern stories of ice and fire, are far better stories themselves, much sadder, and far funnier than anything the Greeks ever wrote. Tolkien, GRR Martin, and Neil Gaiman all draw from the Norse tradition. And the Greeks have no one in their stories quite like Loki, who Chabon singles out for great praise: "Ally and enemy, genius and failure; delightful and despicable, ridiculous and deadly, beautiful and hideous, hilarious and bitter, clever and foolish, Loki is the God of Nothing in Particular yet unmistakably of the ambiguous World Itself."
And if the Greeks have no Loki, neither do they have a Ragnarok, which I remember as a child was a word of great power. Jesus might die, something to recall on this Good Friday as I tap away here on my cell phone, but three days later he's feeling much better, up and about, taking a walk in the Garden and punking poor cynical Thomas. But Thor and Odin? When they die, they die for good, just like the rest of us miserable bastards. And they know it, too, which makes them and their stories just a little more poignant for the reader, both for Michael Chabon and for me as a child, back in the '60s and again today forty-some years later.
Here's my review of Neil Gaiman's recent take on these same myths:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
October 31, 2013
Years ago, I got a copy of D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths from a library sale. And I loved it. That's where my love of mythology, and probably all folklore, started, with that one 50 cent book from a library sale. But this isn't about the Greek myths, it's about the Norse myths.
I'm ashamed that it took me so long to get around to reading the d'Aulaire's treatment of Norse myths. After all, I loved their version of the Greek myths so much. I still tend to picture the Greek gods through their images of them. I should have sought out this book years ago, and I don't really have an excuse. But since I've been reading a lot of Marvel's Thor lately, and because the second Thor movie will be out in about a week, I got it into my head to read some of the actual myths. And there was this book, waiting for me.
I loved it, of course. I loved the art, and I loved the way the myths were retold. I feel like I'll look at Marvel's Thor in a slightly different light now, and it will help me understand some of the writing decisions better. For example, I had wondered why Fear Itself had been so focused on Thor taking nine steps in the prophecy. It's very specific, repeated over and over, before and after the event. After reading this book, I know that the nine steps were deliberately borrowed from the myths. Pretty cool.
This would be a great starting point for anyone who wants a little mythological background before hitting Marvel's version. It's very accessible for anyone who just wants a taste of the myths, and inspiring enough to be a bridge for anyone who decides to read more later.
I'm ashamed that it took me so long to get around to reading the d'Aulaire's treatment of Norse myths. After all, I loved their version of the Greek myths so much. I still tend to picture the Greek gods through their images of them. I should have sought out this book years ago, and I don't really have an excuse. But since I've been reading a lot of Marvel's Thor lately, and because the second Thor movie will be out in about a week, I got it into my head to read some of the actual myths. And there was this book, waiting for me.
I loved it, of course. I loved the art, and I loved the way the myths were retold. I feel like I'll look at Marvel's Thor in a slightly different light now, and it will help me understand some of the writing decisions better. For example, I had wondered why Fear Itself had been so focused on Thor taking nine steps in the prophecy. It's very specific, repeated over and over, before and after the event. After reading this book, I know that the nine steps were deliberately borrowed from the myths. Pretty cool.
This would be a great starting point for anyone who wants a little mythological background before hitting Marvel's version. It's very accessible for anyone who just wants a taste of the myths, and inspiring enough to be a bridge for anyone who decides to read more later.
May 7, 2025
The boys were devastated for it to end.
I was encouraged the D'aulaire's chose to end the myth with hope: the resurrection of Balder, the salvation of Lif and his wife, and the dawning of a new day.
Spring 2025
Finished on a rainy day. I'm reminded of the hidden truth in all stories.
I was encouraged the D'aulaire's chose to end the myth with hope: the resurrection of Balder, the salvation of Lif and his wife, and the dawning of a new day.
Spring 2025
Finished on a rainy day. I'm reminded of the hidden truth in all stories.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2022
This book is responsible for setting off a Norse "myf" craze in our house. The 6yo has decided to be Thor for Halloween, the 4yo has decided to be the pretty one aka Freya, and the 1yo is getting an Odin costume foisted upon him c/o of his older siblings.
But I was even moved by the diminished gods playing chess in the gray twilight after their downfall and then by the dawn of the new world.
As usual the D'Aulaires prove themselves to be a national treasure.
But I was even moved by the diminished gods playing chess in the gray twilight after their downfall and then by the dawn of the new world.
As usual the D'Aulaires prove themselves to be a national treasure.
December 30, 2010
d'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths has the distinction of being the first book I ever bought with the next generation specifically in mind. I was trawling Amazon one day and suddenly recalled a moment when I was ten years old, and I discovered a storybook of Norse myths. I recalled Thor with his eight-legged horse, and odin with his patched up eye and the rainbow bridge to Asgard.
And then I decided I wanted my kids to also have that experience, especially if I have a daughter. (I suppose that's because I think little boys will find strange adventure whether you hand it to them in a book or not.)
And of course, among books of Norse Myth, d'Aulaire's comes highly recommended, having been a favorite for generations. I haven't finished it, since I'm only glancing at it occasionally, on cold nights when I most feel the need for storymead. But the experience is always one of returning to the wonder of being ten again, and discovering Northern myths for the first time. The artwork, lovingly crafted, adds much to the experience.
If only we had similar volumes available for Tagalog, Visayan, Ilocano, and Cordilleran myths...oh wait, I'm already working on that. Sorta. :D
d'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths lives up to its reputation as perhaps the best introduction a child can have to the myths of Asgard and the other worlds of Nordic myths. And I certainly recommend the book as a sound investment, both for your own edification, and for the enjoyment of your own next generation of readers.
RE de Leon
2.30 PM
December 30, 2010
Agoo, La Union
And then I decided I wanted my kids to also have that experience, especially if I have a daughter. (I suppose that's because I think little boys will find strange adventure whether you hand it to them in a book or not.)
And of course, among books of Norse Myth, d'Aulaire's comes highly recommended, having been a favorite for generations. I haven't finished it, since I'm only glancing at it occasionally, on cold nights when I most feel the need for storymead. But the experience is always one of returning to the wonder of being ten again, and discovering Northern myths for the first time. The artwork, lovingly crafted, adds much to the experience.
If only we had similar volumes available for Tagalog, Visayan, Ilocano, and Cordilleran myths...oh wait, I'm already working on that. Sorta. :D
d'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths lives up to its reputation as perhaps the best introduction a child can have to the myths of Asgard and the other worlds of Nordic myths. And I certainly recommend the book as a sound investment, both for your own edification, and for the enjoyment of your own next generation of readers.
RE de Leon
2.30 PM
December 30, 2010
Agoo, La Union
April 4, 2017
First off this is a physically beautiful book. Both the illustrations and the actual paper that the book is printed on. This is a children's book and as such is a wonderful quick introduction to Norse Myths without too much violence. One I will be saving to read to children. And for me a great introduction to get me interested in learning more of these myths.
December 3, 2022
we read it aloud during our Gathering as part of both 21-22 and 22-23 educational years. this was a favorite of Matthias- I loved hearing him read it aloud. the children loved the illustrations!
I counted this as my second choice of “fav author of your fav author” book for @literarylifepodcast (14/22)
our 5th family read aloud of 2022.
I counted this as my second choice of “fav author of your fav author” book for @literarylifepodcast (14/22)
our 5th family read aloud of 2022.
June 23, 2017
I loved the illustrations and the feel of the pages of this novel. Beautiful.
October 1, 2017
Again, I'm not even going to pretend to be objective. When I was tiny & wee, I checked this (and their D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths) out from the public library about a million times, and never failed to be mesmerised by their clear prose and their lovely illustrations.
(Although when I was reading it, it was called Norse Gods and Giants and I think it had a different cover.)
Yes, this is written for children, so there's probably a lot of ... elision ... going on, but it still manages, in about 150 heavily-illustrated pages, to give stories of the making of the universe, most of the major gods, giants, etc., some of their more memorable deeds and, eventually, Ragnarok and the end of all things.
(Although when I was reading it, it was called Norse Gods and Giants and I think it had a different cover.)
Yes, this is written for children, so there's probably a lot of ... elision ... going on, but it still manages, in about 150 heavily-illustrated pages, to give stories of the making of the universe, most of the major gods, giants, etc., some of their more memorable deeds and, eventually, Ragnarok and the end of all things.
October 4, 2017
So hard to keep all these names straight!! But these gods and creatures were all so selfish and self-centered that it's no wonder they brought an end to the world. I now know so much more about the myths that I've only heard mention of over the years--Thor, Odin, Freya, Valhalla and the Valkyries, and Ragnarokk. But there were dozens of others that just slipped out of my mind because they were so confusing.
The book ends with a new world, a rebirth, and a pair of humans who believe not in the Aesir gods but rather in the god of everything and it reminded me of what is happening now, how we are perhaps worshipping the wrong gods, how we might need to pull back and get another perspective. The Ragnarokk description is eerily like the past few weeks or months--the gods selfish and fighting and boastful and vengeful like Trump and other world "leaders" who think they're gods but who in fact are destroying the world and humanity...
The book ends with a new world, a rebirth, and a pair of humans who believe not in the Aesir gods but rather in the god of everything and it reminded me of what is happening now, how we are perhaps worshipping the wrong gods, how we might need to pull back and get another perspective. The Ragnarokk description is eerily like the past few weeks or months--the gods selfish and fighting and boastful and vengeful like Trump and other world "leaders" who think they're gods but who in fact are destroying the world and humanity...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2011
I love mythology and Norse mythology especially. But, I never really knew the backgrounds and had the familiarity with the norse myths like I do greek and egyptian mythology. I wanted something that simply told the stories of Norse mythology without being technical. I wanted the "fairy-tale-esque" type of story and that's exactly what I got with this book.
Great for introducing children to the myths too!
Great for introducing children to the myths too!
May 22, 2018
Bel libro che sintetizza in modo gradevole e ordinato alcuni dei più importati miti legati alla tradizione norrena.
Colpisce sempre la differenza tra la spensieratezza della mitologia greco-romana e la cupezza di quella nordica che prevede anche per gli dei la possibilità di morire.
Adatto anche ai bambini.
Colpisce sempre la differenza tra la spensieratezza della mitologia greco-romana e la cupezza di quella nordica che prevede anche per gli dei la possibilità di morire.
Adatto anche ai bambini.
Want to read
July 9, 2019Good book to start Norse (as Rachel said).
September 11, 2020
At first I was iffy about it, then I grow to like it a bit more more, then I just fell in love with the story!! They were so interesting and I could not put the book down! There isn’t really a plot but it tells little Norse story’s and they all kinda connect but the story’s are either funny, serious or straight up insane! I highly recommend it if you read the whole thing!
Read
January 27, 2024Because my imagination has not been cultivated on fairy tales, folk tales and myths, books about mythology are... hard for me. Real talk: My oldest child had to help me! That said, I am thankful for this tiny baby step into an unchartered category.
January 30, 2008
[Addendum: After posting this review the other day, Mark sent me a comment pointing out that my praise of this book was a bit tepid. I replied that the text seemed a little tame. In any case, I've perused this book again and have to say I was dead wrong. This is as intellectual as a children's book gets and it remains entertaining. There is a fine glossary and, I must say, I now know why I always wished I'd read more than the three or so chapters I read as a child. These myths are given tremendous life by the text. Again, the drawings have an almost primal pull. When I got this book I learned a word I don't think I'd have ever really noticed later on: "Lithography." The D'Aulaires' method of illustration is described at the back of the book. Lithography involved carving in stone. I continue to think this book is important, in that it brought young people to a knowledge of a mythology which is generally not taught, but now I think this is an excellent book for adults. Would that publishers aimed this high today. I still think the original edition, published in 1967, had sturdier paper and that the colors were more vibrant, but the New York Review of Books deserves respect for preserving this treasure -- Fred Wemyss, January 30th, 2008.] Here is the review I posted on January 29th: I was given this when I was eight or nine. It was called NORSE GODS AND GIANTS then. At the time, it didn't have the wonderful introduction by a fellow who is a couple of years younger than I: Michael Chabon. Now, of course, it does.
The New York Review of Books has been reprinting children's books and it also has been reprinting classics for grown-ups. The Review's selections always intrigue me up to a point, then I start reading one and put it aside. Glenway Wescott's THE PILGRIM HAWK was one. For all of the force of the introduction (because all of these books have new introductions, which is a thing I find great) I couldn't deal with THE PILGRIM HAWK after thirty pages or so.
Henry James's THE OTHER HOUSE is another example of a New York Review of Books re-discovery. Good old Henry. I have more tolerance for him than 99 per cent of people who've ever finished a short story of his. But there's a reason THE OTHER HOUSE has had to be re-discovered: It needs to be re-buried.
So: About NORSE GODS AND GIANTS, or, as it is now being called, D'AULAIRES' BOOK OF NORSE MYTHS -- I still love the drawings and still can't read the text.
I bought it to give to my nephew, who just turned a year old last week. When he's in third grade or thereabouts he may take an interest in it. If he's like me he'll wish he could care, and he'll think the pictures excellent.
It's the PBS effect. It's good for you. It's tasteful. If it is effective, it will lead the reader to seek more material on, of or by Norsemen.
The edition I had as a child had thicker, sturdier paper than this one, but this one does have very good paper. I liked the jacket of my old one better. It looks as if museum curators prepared the new jacket.
Michael Chabon points out that this book champions Loki, a playful Norse entity. I remember my father pointing to one of the pictures of the little creature who resembled the devil in salt water taffy form. He said, "I didn't think they'd have Loki!"
I feel about this book the way I feel about putting on a record by The Kingston Trio. It's interesting. It's gentle. But I'd rather hear Dylan. And when it comes to D'AULAIRE'S BOOK OF NORSE MYTHS I'll take CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. Roald Dahl was at least as savage as Odin.
The New York Review of Books has been reprinting children's books and it also has been reprinting classics for grown-ups. The Review's selections always intrigue me up to a point, then I start reading one and put it aside. Glenway Wescott's THE PILGRIM HAWK was one. For all of the force of the introduction (because all of these books have new introductions, which is a thing I find great) I couldn't deal with THE PILGRIM HAWK after thirty pages or so.
Henry James's THE OTHER HOUSE is another example of a New York Review of Books re-discovery. Good old Henry. I have more tolerance for him than 99 per cent of people who've ever finished a short story of his. But there's a reason THE OTHER HOUSE has had to be re-discovered: It needs to be re-buried.
So: About NORSE GODS AND GIANTS, or, as it is now being called, D'AULAIRES' BOOK OF NORSE MYTHS -- I still love the drawings and still can't read the text.
I bought it to give to my nephew, who just turned a year old last week. When he's in third grade or thereabouts he may take an interest in it. If he's like me he'll wish he could care, and he'll think the pictures excellent.
It's the PBS effect. It's good for you. It's tasteful. If it is effective, it will lead the reader to seek more material on, of or by Norsemen.
The edition I had as a child had thicker, sturdier paper than this one, but this one does have very good paper. I liked the jacket of my old one better. It looks as if museum curators prepared the new jacket.
Michael Chabon points out that this book champions Loki, a playful Norse entity. I remember my father pointing to one of the pictures of the little creature who resembled the devil in salt water taffy form. He said, "I didn't think they'd have Loki!"
I feel about this book the way I feel about putting on a record by The Kingston Trio. It's interesting. It's gentle. But I'd rather hear Dylan. And when it comes to D'AULAIRE'S BOOK OF NORSE MYTHS I'll take CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. Roald Dahl was at least as savage as Odin.
November 11, 2015
Because the boys were a lot less familiar with these myths, and because they seemed to be written a bit more densely the text itself was quite a bit less successful for them than the Greek one was, bringing the book down to two stars. Then again, the art is so much better than the Greek one, that we come back up to four stars based on that. And then the authors had to go and staple an explicitly Christian epilogue after Ragnarok which pulled us back down to three stars again.
July 8, 2012
A wonderful book from my childhood with spirited storytelling and beautiful illustrations. Enjoyable for adults as well as children, and not at all dated. Five stars overall.
For the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_D...
For the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_D...
May 23, 2017
the Greek mythology was far more interesting but this book was an ok book for school
May 21, 2019
Homeschool book. A delight.
March 2, 2025
Not for every child at every age; I don't think I ever did more than glance at it myself until I was an adult. It's intricate, improbable, and (often) very strange, even in a toned-down version. Do the illustrations help or simply frighten? Is the Christian ending tacked on, as some have accused, or simply the next logical step? These are things that parents need to consider before handing the book to a child.
However, the best parts tell some of the oldest and most wonderful stories in the world, including those that deeply influenced later artists and writers; and the D'Aulaires' book is as good a place as any to hear them for the first time.
"I knew nothing about Balder; but instantly I was uplifted into huge regions of northern sky, I desired with almost sickening intensity something never to be described (except that it is cold, spacious, severe, pale, and remote) and then, as in the other examples, found myself at the very same moment already falling out of that desire and wishing I were back in it." (C. S. Lewis, recalling his first encounter with Longfellow's poem "Tegner's Drapa")
However, the best parts tell some of the oldest and most wonderful stories in the world, including those that deeply influenced later artists and writers; and the D'Aulaires' book is as good a place as any to hear them for the first time.
"I knew nothing about Balder; but instantly I was uplifted into huge regions of northern sky, I desired with almost sickening intensity something never to be described (except that it is cold, spacious, severe, pale, and remote) and then, as in the other examples, found myself at the very same moment already falling out of that desire and wishing I were back in it." (C. S. Lewis, recalling his first encounter with Longfellow's poem "Tegner's Drapa")
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