Three little vikings

K-Gr 2--The Viking men have returned with treasure and they are all busy celebrating their spoils. All, that is, except for three Viking girls who are playing and hear a strange noise from outside. When they run to tell the chieftain that they think there is a monster outside, he says "Nonsense…I know that is just a thunderstorm…and I know best!" This is the same response they receive each time they come to the chieftain for help: when the town has been destroyed; when the trees mysteriously fall in the woods; when the Vikings' newly acquired treasure disappears. They realize that their monster is actually a troll, and that it is up to them to make a plan that will save their town. This Nordic fairy-tale with a feminist twist promotes how sometimes the smallest voices have the most important ideas. Bright blues, yellows, and greens provide disarming contrast to snow-covered paths and the dark shadows caused by a menacing troll. Although the story line follows a predictable pattern, making it well-suited for reading out loud, children will need some background on trolls, specifically their biggest weakness, to understand the conclusion to the story. In general, more information on the setting could bring more meaning to a sweet story with a message of female empowerment. VERDICT An additional purchase for larger picture book collections.--Louie Lauer

How to handle a troll? Just ask three Viking girls. In a Viking village live three friends, Ebba, Helga, and Wren. One is a redhead and carries an ax, one is blond with braids and glasses, and one is dark-haired and sports a crossbody bag. The girls report to their gold-loving Chieftain that they hear something scary. No, he replies, it is a storm. But they awaken to find that something has gone through their village upending trees and homes. The Chieftain says that it is nothing more than a fox. More damage comes the next night as forest trees are uprooted. Their Chieftain blames some ravens. The three intrepid and determined Vikings turn to a reference book for answers, and on their hunt they encounter a very big troll. Their chief denies that trolls even exist. The three then take matters into their own very capable hands, deciding to use a pot of gold to lure the troll--until finally the creature meets an untimely end. Bright blues, greens, and purples with appropriate splashes of golden yellow, rendered in gouache and digitally, flash from every page. Though peppered with references to folklore, this fun tale is updated for modern sensibilities, with a resonant message about questioning authority. Characters' skin color is the white of the page. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Female smarts and planning save the day, a village, and its treasure. Clever and timely. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.