While I typically review theology books, I also live in Norway. Having grown up in the US with our own folktales and fairy tales, I enjoy learning about the sorts of folktales my wife grew up with. Nordic Tales brings together seventeen stories from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and Denmark. Each tale begins with a lovely illustration by Ulla Thynell and a note telling you from where that tale originated.
These tales were translated by folklorists in the 19th century, and they haven’t been updated since then. Some translations, therefore, will sound odd, such as reading “Once on a time” instead of “Once upon a time” in the Norwegian tale “The Way of the World” (79).
The book contains three sections focusing on transformation, wit, and long journeys. The first section focuses on how its main protagonists undergo either physical, spiritual, or emotional transformations. In the second section, characters have to use cleverness, cunning, or humor to outwit tricksters, monsters, demons, or the rich. The third section focuses on epic quests, where characters grow (transform?) through their trials.
If you’re interested in fairy tales from other parts of the world, this is a really fun book. Younger kids (no younger than 6, I’d say) will catch some of the stories, though some will be too scary. There are some dark elements, such as curses, death, supernatural danger. The Icelandic “Hildur, the Queen of the Elves,” deals with some mysterious deaths. However, elements like this are typical of folk tales (consider H. C. Anderson’s stories, and note that the scare factor here is much less than in the Brothers’ Grimm’s tales). These elements also serve moral purposes such as resilience, kindness, and courage (and all of this depends on what your kids are actually used to reading or watching on TV). Older kids, however, will catch more of the humor, irony, or ambiguity that runs throughout, though it will be helpful for parents to be ready to help explain some of the difficult language or moral ambiguity (such as the more ironic and trickster tales—“Mighty Mikko”—from Denmark).
Recommended?
Some modern brushing-up of the language would have prevented it from not feeling as archaic as it does in some places, yet that very quality also lends these stories a sense of belonging to another time. While it is likely not the best option for a light bedtime read, Nordic Tales is best viewed as a treasure trove of cultural lore for curious, imaginative children ready to explore the fjords of Scandinavian folklore.
Buy it on Amazon or from Chronicle Books!
Lagniappe
- Illustrator: Ulla Thynell
- Hardcover: 168 pages
- Publisher: Chronicle Books (August 2019)
Review Disclosure: I received this book free from Chronicle Books. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html.
Amazon Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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