Synopses & Reviews
When they went into battle they wore no costly armor, just birchbark wrapped around their legs, and so they were called Birkebeiners, which means Birchleggers.” It is the year 1206, and deep in the snow-covered mountains and valleys of Norway the fiercest warriors in the land struggle to ski a baby to safety. They race against the greed and inequity of the rich, against the very weather of Norway. They race as the only way to save a child prince and bring peace to their country.
Here is a true, untold story of both bravery and tenderness. Mary Azarians strong, sure woodcuts capture the warmth and ruggedness of medieval life, while Lise Lunge-Larsens dramatic telling is direct and mesmerizing.
Review
"Set in old Scandinavia, this exciting, snow-swept folktale comes to life in beautifully composed woodcut illustrations. . . . The simple, dramatic language captures the storys danger and characters courage with pacing that is well-suited for read-alouds, but its Azarians richly colored woodcuts that children will connect with most." Booklist, ALA
Review
Reprint Review: "direct and compelling prose." PW 12/17/07 Publishers Weekly, Starred
Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
Strong, sure woodcut illustrations capture the warmth and ruggedness of medieval life in this true story of the "Birchleggers" of Norway in 1206 as they struggle to ski a child prince to safety. Full color.
Synopsis
*and#147;Engaging . . . Azarianand#8217;s finely detailed woodcut illustrations, hand-tinted with watercolors, capture the serene snow-covered landscape. . . . In direct and compelling prose, Lunge-Larsen recounts how the two Birkebeiners most renowned for their skiing ability forge ahead.and#8221;and#151;Publishers Weekly, starred review It is the year 1206, and deep in the snow-covered mountains and valleys of Norway, the fiercest warriors in the land struggle to ski a baby to safety . . .
This is a story of the Birkebeiners and how they saved the infant Prince Hakon by skiing across the mountains in the dead of winter. It is an untold story of bravery and tenderness.
About the Author
Lise Lunge-Larsen is an award-winning author and a professional storyteller. Born and raised in Norway, she lives with her family in the hills of Duluth, Minnesota.Caldecott Medalist Mary Azarian is a consummate gardener and a skilled and original woodblock artist. Many of her prints are heavily influenced by her love of gardening, and her turn-of-the-century farmhouse is surrounded by gardens that reveal an artist's vision. Mary Azarian received the 1999 Caldecott Medal for SNOWFLAKE BENTLEY, written by Jacqueline Briggs Martin. She lives, skis, and gardens in Vermont.