Adventures with the Vikings

Alison Mews is co-ordinator of the Centre for Instructional Services at
Memorial University of Newfoundland.

The Binkerton kids have inadvertently time-traveled again—this time to
Scandinavia circa 800. Following on their highly successful Adventures
in Ancient Egypt and Adventures in the Middle Ages, Bailey and Slavin
have again teamed up to show the lighter side of history, dispensing
comic quips and kid-pleasing trivia along the way.

By opening a guidebook to the Vikings, the three children are
transported to an actual Viking village where they are readily accepted
and expected to contribute their labor. They learn about Viking domestic
life and social interactions, dispelling many common misperceptions as
they go. The adventure quickly becomes a misadventure before they manage
to get back home, with a few surprises in tow.

Cartoon illustrations follow the Binkertons on their fateful adventure,
with speech balloons adding to the fun as the kids comment on the events
from a 21st-century perspective. Meanwhile, the guidebook remains open
at the bottom of the page presenting relevant factual information in a
chatty, informal style. The book ends with a one-page informational
synopsis and a map that provide historical context for the story. There
is also a list of the different topics covered by the guidebook in the
order in which they appear.

Bailey and Slavin each have a quirky sense of humor that complements
the other so that text and illustrations are a perfect match. This book
will grab children’s attention and hold it while imparting offbeat but
accurate facts about Viking life. Highly recommended.