Adventures with the Vikings

The Binkerton twins, Josh and Emma, and their little sister, Libby, unwittingly stumble into the Good Times Travel Agency and are carried off on a trip they'll never forget. First, the kids are stowaways on a Viking longship. Then, the Berserker, the most feared of Norse warriors, drags Josh along on a Viking raid. And Emma makes a plunder blunder that turns the siblings into slaves! Will the Binkertons' latest saga come to an untimely end? Adventures with the Vikings mixes fact and fiction for fast, funny and fascinating romps through the past. Kids will adore the contemporary comic-book look, while parents, teachers and librarians will love the well-researched story lines and solid factual information.

An exciting blend of fact and fiction and comic-book style illustrations make learning about the Vikings fun in this book in the Good Times Travel Agency series.

Children's Literature

The Binkerton siblings, Josh, Emma and Libby, literally stumble into the Good Times Travel Agency. The gnarled owner hands Libby a guidebook, to the dismay of Josh and Emma, and in a flash the three are transported back 1000 years to the land of the Vikings. They must finish the book in order to get home. They know this as they have already been to Egypt and the Middle Ages in two other books in the "Adventures" series. As they stumble through some rough times with their Vikings hosts they learn much about the culture. "If you take a Viking cruise, there's a good chance you'll end up in a raid. Be prepared." Viking entertainment is not for the faint-hearted and by all means try to avoid the Berserker. Remember the phrase "going berserk?" In a rollicking tongue-in-cheek style, the reader will learn many interesting facts about the Vikings. They arrived in America centuries before Columbus without the aid of navigational tools. They conquered by surprise and terror, and some people made a Danegeld payment to bribe the Vikings to stay away. Some days of the week are named after Viking gods. The colorful watercolor and ink drawings will also entertain young historians. 2001, Kids Can Press, $14.95. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer:Laura Hummel

Linda Bailey is an award-winning author of many books for children, including Goodnight Sweet Pig, Stanley's Party, the Stevie Diamond Mysteries, and the Good Times Travel Agency series. She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Bill Slavin is an award-winning children's book illustrator with over 50 books to his credit. His works include Stanley's Party and The Bear on the Bed. He lives in Millbrook, Ontario.