In the Hall of the Mountain King by Allison Flannery

Hi gang!

Thanks for stopping by Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers and making reading a part of your day.

We’re rolling out the red carpet today for a Children’s Storybook pick.  It comes to us on the wings of inspiration from across the seas, Norway to be precise, and was inspired by other works of greatness in various fields of creativity…namely music and theater.  Curious?  As was I, and once I saw the cover, that feeling only grew.  Ready to dance with royalty and be dazzled by the unimagined?  Grab your scarf and hat, it gets mighty cold on those mountain tops.  Today’s book of choice is…

In the Hall of the Mountain King

By

Allison Flannery

Illustrated by

Vesper Stamper

9781938633133

Samizdat Publishing

Combining music, lively illustrations and a story simple yet adventurous, this tale has a folkish feel that is sure to enchant readers of all ages.

The story stars young Peer out for a walk turned expedition with his four-legged friend.  While wandering here and there and further than they’ve been before, they stumble upon the Mountain King’s castle.  *cue dramatic music* Never before has he seen the likes of this place, nor will he probably ever again; such a tragedy and yet lucky for our young lad.  How so?  Well, let’s just say that the King of the castle doesn’t exactly take kindly to uninvited visitors which leads to a rather interesting reception when the two come face to face.  *-*

Aside from the excitement built in the story itself, we have the wonderful artwork to dazzle our eyes.  The sharp edges and mix of earth tones and livelier colors such as found in a field of flowers, make for interesting pieces that really bring the Norwegian feel of it all to life.  Don’t know what I mean?  Well, take a look at some of the classic images of Norway, or rather the way it’s depicted; my own mind is wandering back to the World Showcase at Epcot.  Think trolls and rough edges, high peaks and shadowy valleys, sea passages and Vikings.  It mixes the mythical with the magical from the past and presents it in a package easily accessible to today’s reading audience.  Speaking of that audience…

This is not going to be your average sedentary read-along.  No siree.  The author has made sure of that.  How so?  Well, seeing as her other calling in life is as a teacher, Ms. Flannery wanted to invite young minds in for a great story, but also to take part in the adventure.  The included audio CD featuring Edvard Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King” as well as four other selections from the “Peer Grynt” suite, ensures that not one but two senses are engaged.  We also have the suggested variations on how to present the story at book’s end to keep things lively courtesy of the author herself, and when combined with the downloadable activities from the official website, what can I say….you’ve got a winner whether read in a classroom or family setting.

Author Allison Flannery

Review copy received courtesy of author Allison Flannery.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, be sure to stop by the official site.  To pick up a copy to call your own, shop from the site directly, or click on over to the big A (< - That’s Amazon…). 

Until next time…happy reading!