the viking

Viking and Hermit Story Book: What Do They Think?

December 10, 2013 by C&B~Viking & Hermit

“Viking?”

“Yes, Hermit”

“Do you know what they are saying about our story books, Viking?”

“No. What are they saying?”

“I think they like them!”

“They do, Hermit?”

“It seems so, Viking.”

“One of our readers said we are ‘Simply Charming’.”

“Hermit, I think I am blushing.”

“Your face is red, Viking.”

“Is it? Now it is even more red.”

“Do you want to know what some of our readers said, Viking?”

“Oh yes, Hermit. Tell me!”

“Here are some customer reviews on Amazon about our Viking story book for children, Viking”…

Very Cute! 5 stars…Definitely an enjoyable read for kids. The storyline is very entertaining and the illustrations are adorable. Can’t wait to read more!

Simply Charming! 5 stars…I volunteer in a kindergarten class, and I’m always looking for books to read to the students. I found this storybook simply charming!

The story and the characters are wonderful, and the illustrations are so colorful and appealing for a children’s book!

I look forward to reading it to the students and following the series.

The Viking and the Hermit 5 stars…A good story for kids, very imaginative and colorful. It pulls the reader into the world of the Hermit’s island and the beginning of adventures to come.

The Viking and the hermit 5 stars…Interesting idea. I read it for my girls and than faced some questions about Vikings that ‘forced’ me to refresh my history lessons. It was fun and beneficial for both, girls and myself. I am looking forward to reading the Book 2 that was announced from the same series.

Super Book for Kids 4 stars…I read this book with my 5-year old… twice in fact as she enjoyed so much..!

Nice storyline and very creative..

What a cute story! 5 stars…I got this book for my niece. I wanted her listen to a story different from what she had already heard before. I’m glad I picked up this book. The story is very entertaining for kids and the illustrations are super cute! Great find!

“Wow, Hermit! I think they really do like us and our story book! Those are a lot of stars.”

“Those stars were all for our first story book, and they still have to read our second story book, Viking.”

“Oh yes. They must read our second story book to find out how I did with my spear fishing.”

“Yes indeed, Viking. Spear fishing here on Hermit Island is not like any other spear fishing, is it?”

“I will give you that, Hermit…indeed! I can’t wait to hear what they think of our second story book, and of course, our third story book is almost ready to tell as well.”

“Shh, Viking. Don’t give it away!”

“I know. They will have to find out, won’t they?”

“Yes, Viking. They can find out all about The Grabbas Are Coming next.”

“Let’s get back to Clam House Clearing, shall we Viking?”

“Sounds good, Hermit.”

Get The Viking and the hermit: Spear Fishing with Sasha & Kasha & The Viking and the hermit: The Grabbas Are Coming illustrated story books for children on Amazon Kindle today!

Stay tuned for the Viking Story Book 3: Shaku Riding, and its release this December, along with a special 3 Story Book Combo in print! Sign up for our newsletter to get a FREE Shaku Coloring Picture!

Courtney & Betina
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Lost Vikings: A Viking Story

October 28, 2013 by C&B~Viking & Hermit

A Viking Story About Lost Vikings…

Here is Viking walking through her favorite flower field on Hermit Island, over the path, and across the river past the meadow. She likes to go there to pick flowers to bring back to Clam House Clearing. They look so lovely on the center table in the stone vase Hermit made.

When Viking walks through this happy field, she remembers the story her father told of the lost Vikings from her village.

The Story of The Lost Vikings…

The lost Vikings left on a regular fishing trip, and took their longship out past the cresting waves into the deeper waters of the sea. These lost Vikings took their ship to a place well-known, and fished many times by many ancestors before them.

After many days passed, the Viking villagers grew concerned over their absence, and feared these Vikings were lost at sea.

It was strange that the Vikings were lost, as it was a common place to fish, and even Viking had been there with her father many times before.

One of the village Viking girls waited for her love to come back to her, and he sadly never returned. Each night, she stood out on the cold sand, and looked over the waters under the moonlight, hoping to see his ship appear in the distance.

She spent many nights waiting, and returned to the village only when she could no longer stand with exhaustion. She sometimes said she could hear the ship horn blowing over the wind, and carrying the sound toward her, and that the lost Vikings and her love were just around the bend of the rocks.

Each time nothing.

This Viking girl eventually stopped waiting on the beach, but would walk through the marketplace, with her clothes dirty, her hair uncombed, and mumbling to herself. She didn’t even wear her Viking helmet anymore out in public.

This girl was the same village girl Viking saw often in that marketplace, and she never knew why she acted the way she did, until her father told her the story of the lost Vikings and her broken heart.

The other Viking girls would laugh at this girl, and tease her, and were so mean.

One time, Viking became so angry at the constant taunting and teasing, that she drew her sword and shield, pointed her sharp blade at the throat of the tallest mean girl, even taller than Viking, and said…

“If only I get the chance some day to bear the burden of this girl, but I shall not bear your words one moment more!”

Viking held her sword steady, squinted her eyes, pursed her lips, and readied her movements.

The taller Viking girl stepped back away. Her face was red with embarrassment, and she looked around the marketplace to see who was watching. She left with the other mean girls, but oh how they gave Viking such looks.

Viking knew that was the day she made enemies.

As she picks the purple flower, and places it behind her ear, she wonders if her father is waiting on the beach each night…looking out over the water for the lost Vikings and his lost Viking?

She smiles thinking of her father, and the love story he told her of the Lost Vikings.

~Courtney & Betina
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How to Ride a Horse or Seahorse-Hermipedia: The Viking and the Hermit

August 23, 2013 by C&B~Viking & Hermit

Today’s Hermipedia Feature: How to Ride a Horse or Sea horse on Hermit Island…

The sea horses in our children’s story, The Viking and the hermit: Spear Fishing with Sasha & Kasha, are not like other seahorses, but you can ride them very similarly, just like a regular horse.

The Difference Between a Horse and Our Sea horses

First, we need to point out some differences on how to ride a horse from one of our sea horses in our story. A sea horse is more upright than a horse, but is similar in height. Instead of holding reins like on a horse, you hold around the neck of the sea horse.

Horses Gallop vs. Sea Horses Skip

The sea horse does not gallop or trot like a horse, but a ride on one springs and bounces much like a pogo stick instead.

There is a rhythm of movement while riding a sea horse as well. It is both forward, and riding over a hump, like a horse on land, but the hump is bigger and more vertical in riding, as the sea horses spring, skip and jump.

A horse can navigate over land of course, and water too, but the sea horses of our story are supreme swimmers as well as mobile on land for riding.

Similarities Between Riding a Horse and Our Sea Horses

Our sea horses have a saddle area or curve of their backs for riders to sit, although the ride is bare back, and without any stirrups.

Mount a Sea Horse

To mount a sea horse for riding, a rider must hold to the sea horse neck, and lift and swing up onto the sea horse. The sea horses are very good at sitting still to make this easier if you first pet them, and rub their long noses. You can then rub between their eyes, and stroke their head comb, over and down to the back of the neck, where you need to place your hand to lift yourself up for riding.

How to Ride

A rider sits upright and straight on the back of the sea horse, much like a horse. To ride, you want your shoulders straight and not rounded. For riding, you need your lower back to not be curved, but lined up under your shoulders.

To ride like Viking, and because she is so tall, she does not need to swing up onto the back of the horse like Hermit. She can just scoot up, and keep both legs to one side, like side-saddle on a regular horse.

The Difference Between How to Ride and Stop a Horse from a Sea Horse

Since there are no reins with our sea horses, to stop the skipping, hopping or jumping, riders need to lightly squeeze with their legs to first let the sea horse know. Then, a rub on the neck where riders hold, will tell the sea horses to come to a stop. It also helps to just say, “Whoa Kasha.”, or “Let’s stop Sasha.”

Our sea horses in our story, and particularly Kasha and Sasha are very smart, and will hear voice commands well. Especially if they have gotten to know you, like Hermit, and know that Hermit likes Viking, and it’s OK to like Viking too.

How to Ride a Horse or Seahorse-Hermipedia: The Viking and the Hermit

Courtney & Betina
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Viking Ship-Hermipedia

July 15, 2013 by C&B~Viking & Hermit

Today’s Hermipedia Feature: Viking Ship

Viking set sail, leaving her village in the dark, stormy night on her Viking Ship. She didn’t know where she was going, except away, and sailed many days and nights before seeing a lone island in the distance.

There were many times repeated on the sea in her Viking Ship, as if she sailed in circles. It was after the worst stormy night, when she thought she may perish into the tossing waves, that the sun appeared, and she caught a glimpse of Hermit Island on the horizon.

Thanks to her sturdy Viking Ship with overlapping planks of flexible wood, and a single spine or keel foundation, she survived to see her refuge over the wave caps in the distance, before taking on too much water.

Types of Viking Ships

Viking ships came in various sizes, and were used for different functions. For example, a Karve was a smaller type of Viking ship that was used for human or livestock transport, and could handle very shallow depths. Other types of ships were Knarr, Faering and Longships used by the Vikings.

Viking Ships: Longship Construction

Viking’s ship was called a longship that is designed for speed, exploration and warfare for Vikings, and can even land on beaches. It is double-ended, so that it can change directions easily, and travel both directions without turning the boat.

The overlapping split-oak planks are just one inch thick, and are stronger than any sawed plank of wood. They form layered ribs riveted together, that make the hull of the ship both strong and supple.

Ship Navigation for Vikings

Vikings were very precise in their navigation, and knew the tides, landmarks and sailing routes well. They used routes passed down from ancestors, and could even spot the position of a whale in the water, to know the proper direction and navigation of their Viking ships.

Hermipedia Feature: Viking Ship

Courtney & Betina
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Viking Helmet-Hermipedia

July 6, 2013 by C&B~Viking & Hermit

Today’s Hermipedia Feature: Viking Helmet

Viking Helmets, Arms and Armour:

Much of the arms and armour used by Vikings indicated a Viking’s social status, and a Viking helmet is thought to have been limited to the very richest of their society. As war was a very prestigious activity, the nobility and professional warriors were likely to have worn a Viking helmet. The average Viking might have just a spear, shield, an axe, large knife or hunting bow.

Beautifully finished and refined weapons showing quality and color were a way for a Viking to present her wealth and place in society.

The end of the 8th to the mid 11th century marks the Viking Age, and there are very few archaeological finds to tell a definitive story. Much of what we know and think of Vikings comes from Old Norse tales that were written in the 13th century.

These tales are called Sagas, which are stories about ancient Scandinavian and Germanic history, voyages and battles, and they were written in Old Norse, which is an Icelandic language.

Viking Helmet:

There is only one known complete Viking helmet in existence today that came from a village in central Norway. It has a rounded cap and a guard for the eyes and nose made of iron. This helmet does not display any refined finishes or color. Helmets were made of iron, as well as hardened leather and iron strips.

A Viking helmet may have been inherited, and passed down from generation to generation instead of being buried, giving reason to the limited archaeological findings. The helmets were likely passed from father to son.

The horned Viking helmet we think of today, and that Viking wears on Hermit Island, may have been used for ceremonies or rituals, and less likely in war or battles. These helmets likely displayed distinctive color and style of workmanship.

Romantic Viking Helmet:

The horned helmet came from Romantic artists in the Romantic Age from the late 1700’s to the mid 1800’s. These artists gave Vikings winged helmets in their artwork. It wasn’t until 1820 that a Swedish artist illustrated a Swedish poem showing horns instead of wings on the helmets. This picked up in artistic expression, and stayed with the common depictions of Vikings in art.

The horned helmet didn’t completely take over the winged artistic expression until the 1890’s, through German and English illustrated children’s books.

The Viking & the hermit Viking Helmet:

Viking’s horned helmet is made from exquisitely dyed hardened leather in deep, emerald green color with welting detail and golden dyed leather trim. It was a special gift from her father…custom made and dyed with the finest care from the best hatter of helmets in the village, and the most prized oxen.

“Viking often grabs her helmet horn while thinking, especially while listening and learning from Hermit, and taps her finger on the tip of the horn. One of the bone tips is slightly worn, and less sharp, because of her habit. She finds herself thinking of her father at those moments, and how he taught her so much, just like Hermit.”

Hermipedia Feature: Viking Helmet

Courtney & Betina
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What is Hermipedia?

June 26, 2013 by C&B~Viking & Hermit

What is Hermipedia exactly?

It’s the encyclopedia of all things on or about Hermit Island, its inhabitants, the wild life, plant life, sea life and everything encompassing your reading adventure of our Children’s Book Series: The Viking & the hermit.

What are some of the features of Hermipedia that you can expect to read and discover?