Book Review of Freya Takes Charge
The Children’s Book Review
What to Expect: Vikings, humor, kindness, leadership, cultural exchange.
In this delightfully subversive and laugh-out-loud picture book, Ariane and Todd Erickson reimagine Viking conquest through the eyes of a cheerful peacemaker determined to change the rules.
Freya the Friendly is ready for adventure. It’s “Take Your Daughter to Work” week, and her dad, Gerhard the Red-Faced, just happens to be a traditional Viking raider. As their longship sets sail for Scotland, Freya dreams of friendship and fair trade—but Dad and the crew have other plans: yelling, growling, and grabbing the loot. With charm and wit, Freya offers alternatives to the old “howl and take” way of doing things—starting with knitting, compliments, and smiles. Can she teach her fierce crewmates to embrace kindness, kilts, and bagpipes?
Beyond the laughs, Freya Takes Charge models emotional intelligence, creative problem-solving, and the power of leading by example. The tale’s pacing is energetic, the dialogue zingy, and the finale—a bagpipe-blowing Viking dance party—is utterly satisfying. Freya may be small, but her voice is mighty.
Iya Voinich’s playful, expressive illustrations heighten the humor with wide-eyed characters, slapstick moments, and cozy details (yes, there are Viking-knitted gifts!). From grumpy warriors to tartan-clad celebrations, each page is packed with visual gags that kids will eagerly pore over.
Funny, fresh, and full of heart, Freya Takes Charge proves that even the fiercest Vikings can learn to trade, not take—if someone brave enough leads the charge. Perfect for read-alouds, social-emotional learning, or classroom discussions on kindness and cultural respect, this rollicking adventure is sure to become a favorite.
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About the Authors
Ariane and Todd Erickson founded Norse-Gael Books in 2023 and celebrated the launch of their first book, BAXTER AND JEFFREY, with a giant slice of chocolate cake and an ice-cold glass of milk. Ariane and Todd are committed to creating children’s books that root for the underdogs, promote kindness and empathy, welcome and affirm all readers, embrace characters that are flawed but lovable, create feelings of satisfaction, security, and belonging, elicit uproarious laughter from children and adults alike, and are worth reading again and again.
When not publishing children’s books, Ariane enjoys sneaking in a daily chocolate treat before her family comes home, worrying about whether she is under- or overwatering her plants, and buying new pillows for the couch. Todd enjoys playing basketball, eating any food that contains chocolate, and trying to figure out how “wallpaper, Uff Da, gnocchi, and Guardians of the Galaxy” form a group of four in Connections.
Follow Ariane and Todd at www.norsegaelbooks.com to learn more about their favorite brand of chocolate, where to buy decorative pillows, and how to make friends when you’re a Viking.
About the Illustrator
Iya Voinich is a children’s book illustrator based in the enchanting city of Verona, Italy. She infuses her whimsical drawings with a love for vintage clothes, chocolate, Halloween, and spooky stories. Iya delights in old movies, breaking the crust on crème brûlée, and compulsively buying illustrated books. Her two daughters, Xana and Agata, and her dog and cat (who believe they are the stars of her illustrations), fill her with inspiration and bring magic to her art.
Connect with her at www.voinich.art and on Instagram @voinich.
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