Charming representation of Icelandic culture –TheChildren’s Book Review

While each story stands alone, they vary in length from very short tales to longer ones, with established characters and more intricate events. Iceland as the backdrop to all the folk tales, with Heidi Herman describing vivid landscapes and scenes that deftly transport readers to the time and place of each story. Readers will feel the cold, harsh winters and see the rugged Icelandic mountains as they enjoy stories of trolls, mermen, and Hidden People.

As a historical collection, the book is able to present different types of tales – some with fable-like messages at the end and some that are simply amusing stories passed down through the generations. Some of the legends end by informing the reader about a location or event: “On that day, the canyon was renamed for her, and has been known ever since as Trollwife’s Canyon.” And others present an outcome that has gone on to inform modern Icelandic culture: “To this day, any time an Icelander meets a stranger, they make sure to always be polite and courteous, sharing food and lodging freely, especially if the stranger is unusually beautiful. You can never be sure if it’s one of the Huldufolk.”

Herman also ensures Icelandic terminology is used and includes phonetic spelling for many of these words, enabling readers to find it seamless to move through unfamiliar language and spellings. To supplement this, Herman also provides a brief Icelandic Pronunciation Guide in the back that serves as a reference.

For teens and older readers, this book is a charming representation of Icelandic culture. It provides a glimpse into the fairy tales that inform many traditions and modern folklore in Iceland. It can be read from front to back, or picked up at any point in the middle to uncover a new magical legend from the early days of Iceland.

—The Children’s Book Review