title: Norse Myths: Tales of Odin, Thor and Loki
author:  Kevin Crossley-Holland 
description: Crossley-Hollands inspired text is straightforward and largely unadorned in a way that makes it timeless. Meanwhile, Loves eye-popping expressionist illustrations, rendered in acrylics and ink, decorate almost every page, beautifully creating an often sinister atmosphere that expands the tone of the text. Together words and pictures work to memorable effect, doubtlessly inspiring their young readers to yell and cry. The myths have seldom been better served.<br />Booklist (starred review)<br /><br />The brutal, mischievous, and fascinating stories of Norse mythology unfold in lively and dramatic retellings, which introduce the gods and goddesses of Asgard, as well as the dwarves and giants of Midgard and Jotunheim.<br />Publishers Weekly (starred review)<br /><br />Twenty tales of gods, giants, and dwarfs, of mighty feats and epic trickery...the tales are...powerful in emotional resonancenot to mention chock-full of bold deeds, glittering treasures, and scary monsters. Lavishly illustrated and strongly atmosphericas well suited for reading aloud as alone.<br />Kirkus Reviews<br /><br />Bold illustrations dominated by dark colors and intimidating shadows accompany each tale in this indispensable collection of Norse myths...Each story begins with a one-sentence summary of the myths message, providing a useful tool for engaging students in lessons about summarizing. This is an essential purchase for middle and high school collections.<br />School Library Connection<br /><br />Brute power seems to emanate from the pages of Norse Myths: Tales of Odin, Thor, and Loki (Candlewick Studio, 225 pages, $27.99), a collection of Viking stories retold with vigor and dash by Kevin Crossley-Holland. Jeffrey Alan Loves stunning illustrations here are so potent and menacing that they seem less to have been created with acrylic and ink than to have been hammered from iron.<br />The Wall Street Journal<br /><br />This stunning volume, heavily illustrated with somewhat gruesome, predominantly black acrylic and ink paintings in block print and silhouette style, provides an excellent introduction to Norse mythology. A good choice for middle and high school collections.<br />School Library Journal<br /><br />Crossley-Hollands stunning collection of Norse myths is gold for storytellers, educators, and Norse enthusiasts...This is a must have for storytellers and certainly a valuable classroom resource to begin units on mythology and culture; however youre using it, make sure students and listeners get a chance to view the gorgeous artwork.<br />Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
zlib_text: ### Annotation
  
  
  In Viking times, Norse myths predicted the end of the world, an event called
  Ragnarok, that only the gods can stop. When this apocalypse happens, the gods
  must battle the monsters--wolves the size of the sun, serpents that span the
  seabeds, all bent on destroying the world.The gods died a long time ago.Matt
  Thorsen knows every Norse myth, saga, and god as if it was family history--
  because it is family history. Most people in the modern-day town of Blackwell,
  South Dakota, in fact, are direct descendants of either Thor or Loki,
  including Matt's classmates Fen and Laurie Brekke.However, knowing the legends
  and completely believing them are two different things. When the rune readers
  reveal that Ragnarok is coming and kids--led by Matt--will stand in for the
  gods in the final battle, he can hardly believe it. Matt, Laurie, and Fen's
  lives will never be the same as they race to put together an unstoppable team
  to prevent the end of the world.
  
  
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