King Alfred and the Ice Coffin by Chris Riddell, Kevin Crossley-Holland ISBN: 1536238805
Genres: Adventure, Historical Fiction
Format: Middle Grade Fiction, Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
King Alfred loved stories and had a wish for his people to read books in their native language. So, he learned Latin in order to translate important texts and stories into English. One day, a sailor named Wulfstan comes to the King’s court to tell a tale from the northern seas. After enduring a terrible storm, Wulfstan and his crew had become shipwrecked in Maarahvas. During their stay, they witnessed the celebration of life of one of the town’s leaders, which included viewing the deceased leader in an ice coffin, and dispersing his riches in a horse race. Captivated by the story, King Alfred pledges to record it so that it will never be forgotten. This book is formatted as a long picture book, with stunningly detailed monochromatic illustrations. Recommended for ages 9-11 (4th to 6th Grade).
Reviewed by: Jenn Mead, Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell