Review - The Hiking Viking

The Hiking Viking
by Laura Gehl
illustrated by Timothy Brooks
Date: 2022
Publisher: Capstone
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

While the other Vikings love to holler and howl and battle and brawl, Leif prefers spending time by himself atop the beautiful fjord. But when it’s time for the Viking Games, everyone must participate. Will Leif let down his clan . . . or surprise them?

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I picked this book up mostly because of the title (who doesn't love a good rhyme?) and was pleasantly surprised by what was inside. The Hiking Viking is the story of young Leif, who prefers spending time in nature. All the other Vikings, though, keep telling him he needs to act more like them. It's a matter of honour, they say. If they lose the Viking Games, their clan will be thought weak and ripe for plundering. So Leif tries his best, but... he isn't very good at feats of physical strength. When it comes down to the final challenge, though, Leif just may have the key to winning it all.

This is basically a story about appreciating nature and taking time away from noisy pursuits to have a few moments of stillness. Introverts will be able to relate to Leif's desire for peace and quiet. Nature lovers will delight in the illustrations, which are luminous and celebrate the natural world. The characters are stylized, but Leif is a standout, with great facial expressions and a charming vulnerability.

Fans of Viking stories will probably want to check this one out. So will those who appreciate nature and all the precious treasures it has to offer.

Thank you to NetGalley and Capstone for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4 out of 5

Review - My Pillow Keeps Moving!

My Pillow Keeps Moving!
by Laura Gehl
illustrated by Christopher Weyant
Date: 2018
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

A lonely man tries to buy a pillow... and ends up with a new best friend in this silly and sweet doggy tale, perfect for fans of Officer Buckle and Gloria.

Dogs make good pillows, don't they?

A clever pup ends up in a cozy home, and she'll do anything to stay there. She impersonates everything the lonely homeowner needs--a pillow, a footstool, a jacket. But in the end, being herself works best. Laura Gehl's spare, humorous text and New Yorker cartoonist Christopher Weyant's expressive characters will leave young readers giggling and begging for more.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This surprisingly funny book is a treat to read. The story starts out with a dog and a cat watching a man go into a pillow store. The dog steals inside, and the man buys the dog, thinking it's a pillow. Of course, the dog keeps moving, so the man returns the dog, saying, "I bought a pillow here and I think it is broken." As he's interacting with the clerk, the dog leaves the store... so it can be ready and waiting at the footstool store when the man goes in there next.

The clerk in each store seems to be a variation on the same man, which is kind of amusing since each one is wearing a badge that declares him EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH. (Is he even able to keep a job?!) The structure of the story proceeds in a steady fashion, and once you see the first iteration, you can guess at the rest. Eventually, though, the man gives up on his shopping excursions and just accepts that the dog is a dog--not a pillow, a footstool, or a jacket. But the story isn't over yet. Remember the cat...?

The illustrations are simple but effective. Weyant's experience as a cartoonist is evident. The pictures work with the story.

All in all, I quite enjoyed this one. It will probably keep kids anticipating what will come next, as well as laughing at the absurdities of the dog's attempts to impersonate different objects.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.67 out of 5