Across the Rainbow Bridge: Stories of Norse Gods and Humans

Gr 5 Up–Crossley-Holland delivers a new title consisting of five short stories based on Norse mythology. Readers are introduced to Middle Earth and the Norse gods in the foreword, followed by the stories of these gods and humans. The first tale centers three gods trying to outsmart a troll. The second follows a man who seeks information only belonging to a ghost. In the third, readers learn about creating beauty from little through hard work. The fourth tells of a surprisingly tricky god out for a fun jaunt over the rainbow bridge. The final story explores how the gift of lyrical poetry gets passed down through generations. Readers do not need any previous knowledge of Norse mythology to enjoy this book. At a short 96 pages (many of which are full of gorgeous illustrations), this will be a quick read for an older child or teen. However, be aware that some of these stories end as many myths do, with violence. With the caveat in mind to deliver this to readers mature enough for such content, this is a beautiful and lyrical book that will be enjoyed by many older children and teens.