Vikings

Following on from the success of Warriors and Pirates in the same series, this new title focuses on the fierce Norse invaders who reached our shores some 1000 years ago. ‘Never before has such terror appeared in Britain,’ wrote the Anglo Saxon scholar Alcuin in 793. The Viking warriors were rightly feared as they launched lightning attacks all along the coasts of Europe, ruthlessly seizing goods and showing no mercy. Philip Wilkinson ensures that we also understand their remarkable skills as shipbuilders and sailors who travelled huge distances to seek new lands and trade goods. They were also wonderful craftsmen who produced intricate jewelry and carved sculptures. Dramatic artwork lends atmosphere to this volume, while paper engineering is used to good effect to reveal a Viking ship, complete with sail, oars and shield. Other covetable extras include a poster, a mini book on Viking sagas and a turning wheel to decode Viking runes. There is plenty of historical detail on medieval Europe to set the events into context and a wealth of information on Norse mythology, gods and goddesses. A rich source of information for children studying Vikings at KS1 and 2.