Introduction: There is no introduction

Organization: There is a table of contents but there is no apparent order to the stories. Leonard Weisgard's illustrations are traditional and have a Norse flavor. The main color is navy blue and red and green are used as accent colors. The stories stand well on their own, but the illustrations are a pleasant addition like froth on a cappuccino.

The stories themselves: Skimming through the stories gives me a feel for some conventions of Norwegian story tellers. For example, the "Snip, snap, snout. This tale's told out." Another ending seems to be a saying like, if they have not gone, then they are still there. Several stories in this collection are "Why" tales.

This is not an extensive collection of Norse tales, but it is an introduction that is obviously aimed at the young reader not the scholar.

The stories are filled out a little, and a teller might need to change some of the metaphors. For example, I think a young listener might not know what saucers and pokers are when used to describe the troll. These stories can also be enjoyed as read material.

These stories are probably suitable for six to twelve years old. There is some gore in this version of the Three Billy Goats Gruff.

Source Notes: The only note is in the verso. "Adapted from the 1859 translation by Sir George Webb Dasent of Norwegian folk tales gathered by Peter Christian Asbjornsen and Jorgen E. Moe."

Could use some cultural notes. For example, in the princess on the glass hill, St. John's Night is mentioned. I have no idea when St. John's Night is.

I wonder if these tales are typical Scandinavian stories or are they the quintessimal Norwegian stories.

The princess on the glass hill

Why the sea is salt

The three billy goats gruff

Taper Tom

Why the Bear is Stumpy-tailed

The lad and the north wind

Boots and the troll