Baldur and the Mistletoe: A Myth of the Vikings

by Margaret Hodges

Baldur, a young Norse god, is protected from all things except mistletoe

Based on the Norse myths contained in The younger Edda

Genres: Childrens, Mythology

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Margaret "Peggy" Hodges was an American writer of books for children.

She was born Sarah Margaret Moore in Indianapolis, Indiana to Arthur Carlisle and Annie Marie Moore. She enrolled at Tudor Hall, a college preparatory school for girls. A 1932 graduate of Vassar College, she arrived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her husband Fletcher Hodges Jr. when in 1937 he became curator at the Stephen Foster Memorial. She trained as a librarian at Carnegie Institute of Technology, now Carnegie Mellon University, under Elizabeth Nesbitt, and she volunteered as a storyteller at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Beginning in 1958 with One Little Drum, she wrote and published more than 40 books.

Her 1985 book Saint George and the Dragon, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman, won the Caldecott Medal of the American Library Association.

She was a professor of library science at the University of Pittsburgh, where she retired in 1976.

Hodges died of heart disease on December 13, 2005 at her home in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. She suffered from Parkinson's disease.

She wrote her stories on a notepad or a typewriter. "I need good ideas, and they don't come out of machines," she once said.

Reviews

[Carfig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always interesting to read the Norse myths, even such a simplified version. Loki is at it again, causing Baldur's downfall, despite his mom Frigga and dad Odin's efforts. The mistletoe is the only thing on earth not sworn to protect Baldur.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baldur and the Mistletoe: A Myth of the Vikings, retold by Margaret Hodges, illustrated by Gerry Hoover is the tale of how Loki, the mischief maker, plots the death of Baldur, brightest, kindest, and most beloved of the Norse Gods. The book includes an introduction explaining Norse legends and introducing Baldur.

Hoover's detailed illustrations are impressive. Using just yellow, blue, black and gray, he portrays the golden city of Asgard, Hel and demons, and the many guises of Loki. Illustrations of note include the cover, title page, Baldur, Odin, Frigga and Loki, shot, Hermod, pyre, and final image.

I enjoyed this stirring myth of jealousy, death and hope. Hodges tells the tale with skill and style, making this a good read-aloud choice. This is recommended for school and public library collections where myths are of interest.

For ages 9 to 11, myths, Norse, Vikings, and fans of Margaret Hodges and Gerry Hoover.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this book was published in 1974 when attribution was not as important as it is today, the beginning of the book contains an explanation of the stories of the Norse gods that goes back to the 1100s. I was not familiar with the story of Baldur and truly enjoyed it. The illustrations that accompany the story are spot on, and I found myself wondering if the writers of Charmed had used this book to create their "Elders" world.