If you read a previous post of mine back in April concerning me tricking my eight-year-old into reading poetry and (gasp!) enjoying it, you know that there is no shame in my game. I will use whatever mind manipulating necessary to get my kids reading. This amazingly illustrated collection of norse mythology is another one of those books that when presented point blank, kids are not too thrilled about. HOWEVER, with a little salesmanship on my part, I got my eight year old reading and loving these tales. Kind of like when you bake homemade, healthy brownies with spinach puree and carob hidden inside but leave the empty box of Betty Crocker double fudge brownies on the counter top for the kids to see, this isn't a collection of stories passed down for a thousand years indicative of the culture and concerns of an ancient people. This is a book about Thor from the Avenger movie!
Everyone at our house along with everyone living in the world right now for that matter has Avengers fever. We saw the movie. We have the comic books. We bought piles of the merchandise. When my toddler gets angry, (and I'm not one hundred percent proud of this) he growls, pounds his fists, and yells "HULK SMASH!" Why not capitalize on this mania and get your kids reading stories of intrigue, adventure, and family drama all packaged up in myths that are the basis for a lot of what we consider to be the classics of the literary world? Plus this edition contains lively pictures and an introduction by the legendary Michael Chabon - two more for the win column.
