Sister Bear: A Norse Tale
In a lush, forested setting called Finnmark, fair-haired Halva finds an abandoned bear cub and discovers the bear enjoys dancing. Traveling to show off the bear’s talents to the king, Halva stops at a cottage, seeking shelter for the night. Undaunted by the owner’s warnings that Christmas Eve trolls will make their annual visit, ransack the place, and threaten their lives, the brave lassie and Sister Bear rise to the occasion. The once-cuddly cub stands at her full height, snarling at the frighteningly gruesome trolls. Much of the charm of the story lies in the richness of the paintings, which exude a Scandinavian feel. The text is framed by intricately patterned borders, the characters’ clothing and animals’ fur are real enough to touch, and the protagonist’s changing hairstyles and many outfits have total girl appeal. Yolen notes in an afterword that though the original Norse folktale starred a boy, she reimagines the brave deeds to be those of a girl. Grades K-2. --Patricia Austin