it's no secret that i love neil gaiman and he didn't disappoint.

this book is aimed at the younger ones so it's a more straight-forward story: very mythic/legends type stuff. in fact, many of the characters are norse gods, and live up to their reputations. odd (sounding alot like the endearing 'bod' of the graveyard book) is the boy that grows in more ways than one when he conquers a giant.

i read this aloud to my children, and ds - himself a fan of all thing mythology - knew alot of the side plots that were only hinted at. consequently, i think this book would serve as a great gateway to starting norse mythology with somewhat reluctant children.