Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

Alfred, the great West Saxon king, adores stories. He prizes them so highly that he takes up Latin in order to translate and add to classic texts, making them interesting and accessible to his subjects. He’s thrilled when Wulfstan, an adventurous sailor, finds his way to court with a harrowing account of a terrible storm that sends his crew to a far-off Scandinavian settlement. Wulfstan enthralls the court with tales of this strange new land and its unusual government, cuisine, and customs, including the internment of a ruler in a coffin carved from ice. The king, captivated by Wulfstan’s “wonder-journey,” vows to add the tale to the history book, and an author’s note reveals that the whole thing was an actual account recorded by Alfred centuries ago. The sweeping story brilliantly blends historical details with adventure, utilizing a lovely lyrical text to tell the appealing tale, while Ridell’s illustrations elegantly conjure the coziness of a fire-lit hall and the vastness of a sweeping sea. An enchanting ode to stories and their power to educate and inspire.

Publishers Weekly
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Previous collaborators Crossley-Holland and Riddell (Arthur, the Always King) reteam in this mythic reimagining of pre-Arthurian legend. Desiring for his people “to be able to read and hear great books in their own language,” King Alfred of Wessex translated tales of ancient cultures from Latin to English. He soon began recording the stories of his own people, one of which the author retells here. Unembellished prose details King Alfred’s meeting with a traveler who had “a tale to tell,” and Riddell’s richly expressive illustrations, initially in sepia tones, shift to moody indigo as visitor Wulfstan of Ravenscar spins a story of shipwreck, adventure, and romance for the host’s court. Following a violent storm, rendered in vivid and strikingly impressionistic artwork, Wulfstan and his crew are stranded among an unfamiliar but welcoming people. After the passing of a local town headman, the visitors are introduced to the peoples’ customs, including the titular ice coffin, used as a means of preserving the recently deceased, and a treasure hunt that spells love for the narrator. Finely wrought drawings elevate this short story-within-a-story that exemplifies the sort of fable King Alfred sought to preserve. All characters are white. Ages 10–up. Author’s agent: Jessica Hare, the Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Philippa Milnes-Smith, Soho Agency. (Nov.)