Explore Nordic Folklore

Stories

• Askeladden and the Troll — Read how Askeladden outwits a troll in this Norwegian folktale for children, with cultural background and three reading levels.
• Freya and the Lost Necklace — Discover Freya's quest for her lost necklace in a child-friendly retelling of Norse mythology about kindness and generosity.
• Holger the Dane — Explore the Danish legend of Holger the Dane, the sleeping hero beneath Kronborg Castle, retold for children with cultural context.
• The Magic of the Sampo — Meet Väinämöinen and Ilmarinen in a Finnish tale of the magical Sampo, retold for children with themes of community and shared work.
• Näcken and the Golden Violin — Meet Näcken, a lonely water spirit with a golden violin, in a Swedish-inspired tale for children about courage, music and understanding.
• Thor and the World Serpent — Join Thor at sea as he encounters Jörmungandr, the World Serpent, in a child-friendly Norse myth about strength and understanding.
• The Hulder of the Waterfall — Discover a hulder living behind a waterfall in a Norwegian-inspired tale for children about friendship, honesty and respect for nature.
• The Seven Sisters — Explore the Norwegian legend of the Seven Sisters mountains on the Helgeland coast, retold for children as a tale of courage and solidarity.
• The Draugen's Warning — Follow Eirik as he hears the draugen's warning in a Norwegian coastal tale for children about courage, old stories and a storm at sea.
• The Brave Tin Soldier — Read a child-friendly retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's steadfast tin soldier, with cultural background and three reading levels.
• Odin's Wild Hunt — Meet Odin's Wild Hunt in a Nordic winter tale for children. Follow Solveig through a stormy night, with cultural background and reading levels.
• The Three Billy Goats Gruff — Read how three billy goats named Gruff outwit the troll under the bridge in this Norwegian folktale for children, with three reading levels.
• The Pancake — Read the Norwegian folktale of the runaway pancake, first printed by Asbjørnsen in 1866, retold for children about thinking twice before you trust.
• Why the Sea Is Salt — Discover a little mill that can grind anything in a Norwegian folktale for children about knowing when enough is enough, from Asbjørnsen and Moe.
• The Ugly Duckling — Read a child-friendly retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's ugly duckling, a tale about belonging and not judging anyone by how they look.
• The Emperor's New Clothes — Read a child-friendly retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's The Emperor's New Clothes, a tale about honesty and daring to say what you see.
• Idunn and the Golden Apples — Follow Loki as he sets out to bring back Idunn and her golden apples in a child-friendly Norse myth about gratitude and caring for others.
• The Theft of Thor's Hammer — Join Thor in a bridal veil as he wins back his hammer Mjölnir from the giant Thrym in a funny Norse myth for children about respecting a no.
• The Nisse and the Christmas Porridge — Meet the farm nisse who loses his temper over his Christmas porridge in a Danish legend for children about patience and making things right.
• Thordur and the Hidden People — Follow Thordur through an Icelandic snowstorm to the hidden people in a legend for children about doing right even when you cannot see who it helps.
• The Wonderful Adventures of Nils — Fly with Nils Holgersson, the gander Mårten and Akka's wild geese in a child-friendly retelling of Selma Lagerlöf's Swedish classic about kindness.