Customer Reviews

The Children of Odin

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

You will find not only Norse myths in this book, but Teutonic tales as well. The drawings are incredible, as in all children's books. Adults will not be disappointed with this one, and children will be pleased to hear the exciting stories within. A MUST have for Norse mythology book collectors. An oldie but GOODIE! Classic and captivating. What else can I say? . . . I'm buying another one incase I lose my present copy-THAT IS HOW GOOD IT IS! I also reccomend My Viking Book by Ruth Harshaw. Hard to find and quite old, but it is THE best children's book EVER! Don't miss either of them.

This book is different than many mythology texts, it is a good read. The stories are more like stories, and they carry on from one story or chapter to the next. It holds the attention.

Buyer beware ! This Alladin Publication is the same as the Dover Publication Nordic Gods and Heroes. However, it is lacking much of the original artwork, especially that which introduces each of the four parts.
The first 3 parts are Norse mythology and the 4th is the Teutonic Ring of the Nibelungs. This book was written for children and young adults and gives only a bare bones telling of the myths. Be prepared for some archaic language : "dost", "spake", "knowst", etc.

Why Amazon chooses to sell these two books as a pair is beyond me as they are essentially identical. I recommend the Dover edition because of the extra artwork.

This book was (and still is) one of my childhood favorties. As I was growing up I found most texts boring and lost interest in mythology books that concentrated on being specific and complex. I stumbled upon this book in my Junior High library and was instantly hooked. It is full of wonderfully told stories that constantly entertain while providing an imaginative way of getting the stories' points across. It is a great book for children and I would suggest it for parents too

This book is definatly one of the best books i've seen. The tales of Odin, and the other Norse gods, has never been told in a more imaginative way (in my opinion, of course). The stories were intriging and filled with lush discriptions. If you like mythology, Norse or other, then this book is a must have!!

If you want details, you're not going to find them here. But here you WILL find connected, flowing storytelling and a sense of BEING there when stuff happens. You won't find drama and excitement here.

Buy and read a copy to you grandchildren; They will remember the experience forever. I actually reference back to this book when I do studies on philosophy and religion. There is much more here than meets the eye, and the stories have survived for millenia.

Simplified watered down versions of stories from the Eddas. This book seems to be aimed at a late elementary or jr. high school age reader. For that target audience this is a great introduction and would probably be the best thing you could buy if you were trying to picque a young persons interest in the Norse "Myths". If your an adult there are several other books on this subject that I would recomend over this one though.

Other than Thor and Odin, I had almost no familiarity with Norse mythology, but decided I wanted to learn more about it. This ended up being one of the best introductions to a new mythology that I have ever read. Written as a narrative (rather than a dictionary of mythological beings, which is what you find in most mythology books), you are able to get a much better picture of the Norse pantheon. I got the Kindle version, so there was none of the artwork mentioned in some of the other reviews, but the storytelling is so good, you don't even really need the pictures.

When I was a kid, my dad read me the most fantastic stories of the gods of the norse. I have continued to learn what I can ever since, but until now had not found a good introduction for my own children. My 7 and 13 year old girls beg for more every night, and I wonder what I am to do when I finally finish. My 16 year old son, of course, won't let me read to him :( , but he can read it on his own.

It is, of course lacking in some of the more adult aspects of the myths, but I find it doesn't take anything away from them rather it keeps it just a little simpler to grasp.

All in all, it's a great starting point!