The Accidental Vikings
by Karen McCombie, illustrated by Anneli Bray
Interest age: 7 to 11
Reading age: 7+
Published by Barrington Stoke, 2026
About this book
Alfie and Kat are on a school trip to a Viking museum when the models around them suddenly come to life, and talk to them. Kat thinks they're being pranked for a TV show, and gets Alfie to play along. They spend several days there, weaving and feeding chickens. Alfie even digs a toilet pit! Perhaps somehow they've time-travelled back to an actual Viking village? How will they get home?
This time-travelling adventure packs in many facts about Viking life into a slim volume. It doesn't shy away from the more uncomfortable elements, such as slavery and young marriage, but the emphasis is on daily village life. Presented in a dyslexia-friendly format, with space around the text and illustrations throughout, this is a very readable adventure.
About the author
More books like this
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Time Travel Twins: The Viking Attack
by Josh Lacey, illustrated by Garry Parsons
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What it was like to be a Viking
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Two Terrible Vikings
by Francesca Simon, illustrated by Steve May
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The Boy Who Stole the Pharaoh’s Lunch
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Lists of recommended reads
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Dyslexia-friendly books for 6+
This list aims to provide a range of books that may appeal to children of 6+ with reading difficulties. The list includes books that are particularly dyslexia-friendly and/or have a high interest level and low reading age.
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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.