D'Aulaire Books....

[mcconnellboys]

I've been looking for the D'Aulaire's book of Viking Myths, and I ran across this book of animals that they did for their own son. Has anyone used this? It sounds like it would make a great study of animals by continent!

http://www.nybooks.com/shop/product?usca_p=t&product_id=6773

[mcconnellboys]

Trying again before I buy these. Has anyone seen the Norse Myths or Book of Trolls by the D'Aulaires?

Thanks

[Ravin]

We've got D'Aulaire's Norse Myths. I think I ordered it from bn.com. I'm not terribly fond of the telling of the stories in it, but DD likes the illustrations, especially the front piece with all the Gods, so it's a keeper in our house.

[WABeth]

I saw it there and read the description on the back. It was covered in plastic so I couldn't open it up but from the description I thought my dd6 would love it. When I got home and unwrapped it I realized it was for a much younger child (2-4 year old I would say). There was very little text. It has beautiful pictures of different animals but was too simple for my dd6 who loves to hear in depth information about animals. I sent it to my 4 year old nephew. I don't remember a lot of detail about what it contained. It folded out to show a bunch of animals from a certain area, I believe. I'm sorry I don't remember more. I hope that is helpful.

[Lynn in WI]

This book has been read and re-read by my boys (9 and 11) too many times to count. They love these stories!

Highly recommended!

Lynn

[nmoira]

Trying again before I buy these. Has anyone seen the Norse Myths or Book of Trolls by the D'Aulaires?My highly discriminating 6yo ;) loathes both of these. She greatly enjoyed The Troll with No Heart in Its Body (http://www.amazon.com/Troll-No-Heart-His-Body/dp/0618354034/) and Colum's Children of Odin (http://www.amazon.com/Children-Odin-Book-Northern-Myths/dp/0689868855/) (also titled Nordic Gods and Heroes). But she doesn't like anything D'Aulaire.

[WABeth]

I saw it there and read the description on the back. It was covered in plastic so I couldn't open it up but from the description I thought my dd6 would love it. When I got home and unwrapped it I realized it was for a much younger child (2-4 year old I would say). There was very little text. It has beautiful pictures of different animals but was too simple for my dd6 who loves to hear in depth information about animals. I sent it to my 4 year old nephew. I don't remember a lot of detail about what it contained. It folded out to show a bunch of animals from a certain area, I believe. I'm sorry I don't remember more. I hope that is helpful.

I am referring to the Animal Book that you linked above. I realized I wasn't clear as I read all the other comments about the Norse myths.

[Catherine]

Trolls we borrowed from the library, and is for younger kids-preschool through second at the oldest, I would say. Norse Myths is pretty similar to their Greek Myths-written for more advanced readers, and with more depth and detail. *I* learned plenty from Greek Myths; Norse Myths, being similar, can be educational for any child who can read it-I'd estimate advanced first grade readers onward. A note-the Norse gods were a violent, bloody bunch, for any of you with sensitive children. A notch higher than the greeks, I'd say. My guys love these books.

Side note-I picked up their first published book, Ola, at a used bookstore recently. I think it's out of print. It's a beautiful story written for and about their son Ola in the northern lands. We are D'Aulaire fans here-love the illustrations.

[Malenki]

When I got home and unwrapped it I realized it was for a much younger child (2-4 year old I would say). ... There was very little text. It has beautiful pictures of different animals but was too simple for my dd6 who loves to hear in depth information about animals.

About the animal book... we also bought it thinking it would be neat but it was very basic. The 3 yo likes it just fine but he's not that interested in animals so we've only read it through once perhaps.

[mcconnellboys]

Yes, so do we, which is why I'm interested in learning more about all these. I'm also thinking of perhaps doing the National Mythology Exam and thought having a good Norse reference work would be helpful. I have other things, but they're really at an older, even adult, level.

Thanks so much for the info, everyone!

[Mamagistra]

Regena, there was a thread here recently about different retellings of Norse myths. Try a quick search...I think it was on this (K-8) board. :001_smile:

ETA: Here it is! (http://67.202.21.157/forums/showthread.php?p=111910#post111910)

[mcconnellboys]

Thanks so much for this! I will look for Colum's books as well as Green's (who I love) at our library, too,

[sweetbaby]

My sons don't care for any of them because of the wordiness if that makes sense but I have continued to incorporate a few of them into our studies.