
Leif the Unlucky Viking: Saga of the Shooting Star
by Gary Northfield
Interest age: 9 to 11
Reading age: 8+
Published by Walker Books, 2023
About this book
Leif is an enthusiastic Viking wolf pup, who is desperate to be a brave warrior, just like his dad, Erik the Red. However, misfortune seems to follow Leif, and if he’s not splitting his trousers or toppling off ladders, he’s falling down holes or getting lost.
Determined to prove his worth, Leif embarks on a secret mission to locate a missing shard from Thor’s hammer, which has landed far away in polar bear territory. Thorbjorg the Witch provides him with a map of the route and a magic cloak. The hapless pup sets off on his quest, accompanied by fellow adventurers Olaf the duck, Toki the puffin and Flora the stinky musk ox. As they attempt to navigate across vast, dangerous lands, they must contend with hungry giants, fearsome polar bears and a sea beast as old as the gods themselves.
This hilarious Viking adventure has oodles of laughs on every page. The dynamic black-and-white illustrations are full of humour and there is a fun board game to play in the middle of the story. An informative glossary and some interesting Viking facts can be found at the end of the book.
About the author

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Lists of recommended reads
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Books about Vikings
The Vikings are fascinating, with their many raids on other lands, their thirst for exploration and the various Norse gods that were so important to them. This selection of books shows what Viking life was like, with all the action and humour you might expect. It includes fiction and non-fiction and is suitable for primary-aged children.