Voyage with the Vikings (AIO Imagination Station Books) [Paperback]

Marianne Hering (Author), Paul McCusker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 22, 2011 | Age Range: 6 - 9 years | Series: AIO Imagination Station Books (Book 1)

While visiting Mr. Whittaker at Whit's Soda Shoppe, Beth and Patrick find a mysterious letter in the Imagination Station requesting a Viking sunstone. The letter is old and says that someone named Albert will be imprisoned if the sunstone isn't found. Mr. Whittaker sends cousins Patrick and Beth to Greenland circa 1000. On their quest for the sunstone, the cousins meet Vikings Erik the Red and Leif Eriksson--and find the sunstone as they join Leif on his first voyage to North America. But the adventure is just beginning, for when they return to Mr. Whittaker's workshop with the sunstone, there is another note waiting for them, requesting a silver goblet.
Join Patrick and Beth as they continue their travel to various lands and time in the Imagination Station book series.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Watch for falling ice and flying spears!
“Your Christ is a God of peace—not war!” Erik the Red said. “He has no place in Greenland.”
Mr. Whittaker, a kind but mysterious inventor, has sent cousins Patrick and Beth to Greenland through the Imagination Station. It’s the year 1000, and they meet Viking Erik the Red, who is angry about the new God. Mr. Whittaker wants the cousins to find a Sunstone, but what does one look like? And what does it have to do with the mysterious letter found in the inventor’s workshop? Most important, can Patrick and Beth find a Sunstone before Erik’s son Leif sails away with the Imagination Station on board his ship?
The key to adventure lies within your imagination! What to join Patrick and Beth on their adventures? Visit www.TheImaginationStation.com. You’ll find out more fun facts about Vikings and the animals of Greenland. Plus you’ll get the scoop on the next book, and much more!
Recommended for ages 7 and up
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 1.7

Product Details

• Age Range: 6 - 9 years
  
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (March 22, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589976274
• ISBN-13: 978-1589976276
• Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 0.4 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #34,094 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #25 in Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction > Historical Fiction > Medieval
  • #82 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Literature & Fiction > Science Fiction & Fantasy

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Imagine yourself amongst the Vikings! March 17, 2011

By Noelle the Dreamer

Format:Paperback

The possibility to review Children books is something I have enjoyed greatly. My nose was always in a book as a child after all!
There is such a wonderful world to explore betwixt the pages of a good book and what a way to travel! One day you can be a Knight and riding with Richard the Lionheart, another you can be Kim and walk along the Llama in India... Marco Polo was definitively my favourite and my imagination led me to travel along the Spice Road with him...

Voyage with the Vikings is the first adventure of a series called The Imagination Station Focus on the Family. In this series we are introduced to the main characters Beth and Patrick and an inventor named Mr. Whittaker. As the story unfolds the two children are transported back in time in search of a precious Sunstone.
Their adventure takes them to the Year 1000 in Viking country. There they meet Erik the Red, Leif Erickson and many other Vikings, including a host of characters such as Polar bears and Reindeer.

This soon to be released series (21 March 2011) is written by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker and designed for Readers age 7 and up, is fun to read and an excellent way to involve children in History and Geography. It is also very nicely illustrated!
Best of all, as part of Focus on the Family, it will also teach them some great Christian values.

Psst...Don't forget to check out the puzzle at the end of the book, then go to this site and enter the secret word for a surprise!

I give it 4 stars!

I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not asked to write a positive review and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.... I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Read more ›

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars History, Reading and Adventure - a sure hit! April 4, 2011

By Tina Peterson

Format:Paperback

Mr Whitaker has done it again! For years he has been tinkering on the Imagination Station and sharing it with kids of all ages in his Ice Cream Shop Whit's End! Now kids 7 and Up can take a ride on The Imagination Station since a series for younger kids has been released, starting with "Voyage With The Vikings" and "Attack At The Arena".

Written for early readers, ages 7 and up, the new series features the virtual reality device, the Imagination Station, which is one of the major plot devices used in the Adventures in Odyssey radio series. Nobody knows the inner workings of the mysterious device, invented by Odyssey's Mr. Whittaker, but with a push of a button, it launches users back in time to experience historical events in-person.

In this new series of books Patrick and his cousin Beth go on a series of trips into the past where they learn about history, who Eric the Red was, have props that only Whit knows they need and have to find an artifact to bring home with them. In Voyage of the Vikings your kids will learn about the Vikings, how they lived, what their society was like and more.

Beth and Patrick then meet a monk named Telemachus in Attack in the Arena, roam through Roman History and meet a Roman Emperor. You will receive a Family Devotional with this book which is a great way to get kid's thinking about Rome's purpose in the spread of the gospel. There are family activities and a parents page included with each book in the series too!

Each of The Imagination Station books are $4.99 and could easily be added to your homeschool, church or school library at a great price! Other books coming out are: Revenge Of The Red Knight (15th Century England & the Crusades) and Peril In the Palace (China & Kublai Khan).... Get the first three books in this series for $14.97 - what a great Easter Basket addition!

My thoughts: This series of books will be a wonderful addition to any beginning reader's library. Due to some of theme's in the books (the Roman Arena) you may want to read through or at least scan through before you read the book with your younger children (say 5/6 and up) as there is mention of violence and sacrifice. You may want to use this as an opportunity to read WITH your children during family devotions, before school starts, in the car, etc - just be aware of your child's emotional maturity and that they will have questions for you. Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars on vikings, VIKINGS... August 1, 2012

By brenten gilbert

Format:Paperback

Read this as part of the Tyndale Summer Reading program and because my son (9), who has a summer reading challenge of his own, checked it out of the library. It's a bit below his reading level (and, for an adult shouldn't take more than about an hour to fully digest), but there are some nice moments of adventure, intrigue, and action.

Essentially, the Imagination Station is a time machine and our two main characters are kids, so the book is a bit reminiscent of a Magic Tree House book minus the wizards and sorcery. In this "episode," our travelers journey back to the days of Leif Erikson and his vikings. They learn about religious persecution, forgiveness, and God's love, while playing chess, dodging reindeer, and avoiding polar bears. Pretty fun book and, like I said, a quick read for your summer reading fix.

Another quick read and enjoyable story for younger readers and fans of Magic Tree House or Secrets of Droon books who are looking for (or at least don't mind) a Christian twist.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Series! April 5, 2011

By GuidingLight

Format:Paperback

I had the opportunity to reveiw Voyage with the Vikings and Attack at the Arena which were released last month. If you are familiar with Focus on the Family and / or Adventures in Odssey, you will recognize these books! They are the new Imagination Station book series! I am a LONG time fan of Focus on the Family and a new fan of Adventures in Odssey, so when I was asked if I was interested in reviewing these - I jumped at the chance - and of course, I was not let down! This series is focused on ages 7 and above, but let me say - I am much older than that, and I enjoyed them! *wink*

The plots are exciting - especially for young boys (but also young girls, don't let the title fool you, there is a girl as one of the main characters) - with the kids taking a trip back in time to find a sunstone and then a monk's cup. Both books were wonderful to read! They had adventure filled plots that taught useful history as well as come geography. There are even scripture references (and a fun game in the back of the book too!). I love the large type, plenty of space between the lines and the pictures places throughout - all these are definate helps for younger readers!

There is NOTHING inappropriate in these books. They are easy to read, understand and they hold your attention. I, as a homeschooling mother, really appreciated the additional learning lessons for Social Studies and Geography!