D'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths

The D'Aulaire's book is a visual feast of stories from the land of ice, fire and Viking culture. The tales are well-told and exciting. It comes with lively illustrations which offer children who haven't encountered Thor, Odin, Freya or Loki before, a panorama of this marvelous world and the many adventures of the Norse Gods.

Why am I including a children’s book? Because this is where it all started for me, with these beautifully illustrated stories of Thor, Oddi, Freya, Sif, frost giants, dwarves and gods. My father read this book to me before I could read it myself: a wonderful distillation of the myths from the Eddas, full of evocative drawings of its characters and settings, from the opening view of the nine realms, to their fall at Ragnarok.

It might seem strange to include a children’s picture book on a “Best Books in Norse Mythology” list, but D’Aulaires’ Book of Norse Myths was my first exposure to the old Scandinavian tales when I was a young adult, and it stuck with me through the years. Not only are the illustrations wondrous, but the stories are told in a simple way that anyone can understand. I’ve found it hard to visualize concepts like Yggdrasil, aka the World Tree that supports the cosmos and the Nine Realms, but this book brought the World Tree to life in my mind’s eye.… show more.

Though a children’s book, D’Aulaires’ Book of Norse Myths gives a reasonably comprehensive retelling of Norse mythology and is considered a classic for good reason. The lively and magical illustrations create a sense of innocence and wonder.

Originally titled Norse Gods and Giants, for many people this book will have been their first exposure to Norse mythology. It may be aimed at children, from the plain, precise text by Norwegian-born Ingri D’Aulaire to the vivid, earthy pencil illustrations by her Swiss-born husband, but the telling of the tales is wonderfully rambunctious and has an all-ages appeal.