Thor and Loki aren’t just characters in the Marvel Universe—they are prominent figures in Norse Mythology, which includes the myths of Scandinavia from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Did you know Philadelphia is home to the oldest Swedish Museum in the United States? The American Swedish Historical Museum, founded in 1925, is located in South Philadelphia. They have partnered with the Walnut Street West Library this summer to explore the art of Scandinavian storytelling.

On August 11, children in K-6th grade are invited to learn about story structure and common themes through Scandinavian folklore and fairytales. Families will explore Norse Mythology and Viking sagas to compare how different cultures create origin stories to understand the natural world. We will then create new characters and plots to act out our own fairytale! Be sure to get ready for the Zoom program by dressing up as your favorite fictional character, or one that you create yourself!

In the meantime, check out a few picture book versions of traditional Scandanavian tales, like The Three Billy Goats Gruff or The Runaway Pancake. It’s fun to compare and contrast the storytelling style and illustrations in these well known and well-loved stories. Norse Myths is a stand out collection of stories lyrically retold and accompanied by atmospheric illustrations by Jeffrey Alan Love that pull the reader into the realm of the Viking gods. For older kids and adults, check out the audiobook version of Norse Mythology written and read by Neil Gaiman.

Explore ebooks, graphic novels, and more Stories From Scandinavia in our catalog!

Space is limited to 25 attendees. Please email Echo Phillips at phillipsec @ freelibrary.org to register. Once you register, you will receive a Zoom program link with directions and a pre-program fun guide. We look forward to Zooming with you!