The Maiden of Northland : A Hero Tale of Finland
- Book Review,
by Aaron Shepard, Carol Schwartz (Illustrator)
From School Library Journal
Grade 3-7?A retelling from the Finnish myth cycle, the Kalevala, in which the aging hero Vainamoinen and the great smith Ilmarinen compete for the hand of Aila, the maiden of Northland. Aila has no intention of marrying either of them, but her mother decides to take advantage of the situation and sets the suitors a task. When Louhi asks each of them to bring her "...something never seen before," Vainamoinen returns with a kantele, a lap harp, that the woman is unable to play. Ilmarinen's sampo, a mill that grinds flour by itself, pleases her, but Aila refuses to marry the smith. The spurned men escape with their gifts, but lose them in the ocean. Shepard's use of free verse allows him more flexibility than the traditional poetic meter. While the text falters occasionally, it retains a sense of majestic rhythm and is most effective when read aloud. Shepard's retelling differs significantly from M.E.A. McNeil's prose version in The Magic Storysinger (Stemmer House, 1993), but both titles are well written and valuable, especially since there is little from the Kalevala available for young readers. Supporting information is detailed, including a pronunciation guide, notes, and references. Schwartz's gouache illustrations are vivid and appealing, with jewel-like colors and crisp lines. The book is nicely laid out, with an abstract folk-art design bordering each page and the verses set in two well-spaced columns. An unusual and appealing addition.?Donna L. Scanlon, Lancaster County Library, PACopyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Donna L. Scanlon, School Library Journal, Apr. 1996
Well written and valuable.... Retains a sense of majestic rhythm.... Schwartz's illustrations are vivid and appealing.
Glenn Giffin, Denver Post, May 12, 1996
Shepard's free verse telling has power and sparkle... Grandly illustrated.
Kate Frankel, Storyline, Winter 1997
All is bigger than life, as the mythic tale should be. A most handsome book.
Notes from the Windowsill, Dec. 15, 1996
The [free] verse reads aloud particularly well... This is an unusual and appealing book.
Card catalog description
An incident from the Finnish national epic, The Kalevala, in which two friends become rivals for the hand of the maiden of Northland.
From the Author
This was a 1996 Aesop Accolade winner, from the American Folklore Society.
About the Author
Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of numerous picture books from major American publishers, and his work appears often in Cricket and Australia's School Magazine. His specialty is retelling folktales and other traditional literature from around the world. Aaron's work has been honored by the American Library Association, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the American Folklore Society. His stories are enjoyed by the entire range of elementary grades -- as well as by older kids and adults -- and are perfect for reading aloud. Aaron travels widely from his home in California to visit schools and read his stories. He also offers free reader's theater scripts and many more treats and resources on his home page, Author Online!
Excerpted from The Maiden of Northland : A Hero Tale of Finland by Aaron Shepard, Carol Schwartz. Copyright © 1996. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved
Age-old Louhi, dame of Northland, sat on the floor before her mill, turning, turning the top stone, feeding grain through the hole, slowly grinding the day's flour. The millstone rumbled, the woman grumbled. Lovely Aila, maiden of Northland, sat at the loom, slinging the shuttle, banging the beater, weaving cloth for woollen garments. The shuttle rang, the maiden sang. Outside, the watchdog barked. Said Louhi to her daughter, "I have grain to grind, bread to bake. Look to the dog, see what bothers it." "Mother, I have cloth to weave, yarn to spin. I can't spare a moment, can't stop for an instant." Muttered Louhi, "Young women are always busy, even when they lounge in bed." She went outside, walked to the farmyard's edge. A red boat sped across the bay, a red sleigh coursed along the shore. Louhi rushed inside. "Daughter, good news! If my eyes don't fail me, Vainamoinen comes to court, Ilmarinen comes to wed. No maid ever chose from two such heroes -- Vainamoinen, rich and wise, Ilmarinen, skilled and handsome. Which do you prefer?" "Mother, why choose either? Do you wish me gone so soon? Let me stay here, to stroll through the wood and dance in the meadow. A wife's work starts before dawn, ends long after dusk. She has no time to sing to birds, no chance to pluck the berries." Said Louhi, "This is child's talk, not a woman's. You can't stay here forever, can't always be a girl!" "But can't I be a girl a little longer? Must every maiden be a wife before her fifteenth year?" "It's true you could wait awhile," said Louhi. "But even if you aren't ready, we might gain from the ardor of these heroes. I have a plan. Daughter, quick, dress in your finest. Wear ribbons of red, ornaments of gold and silver." Not long after, Vainamoinen landed, jumped from his boat; Ilmarinen pulled up, leaped from his sleigh. Shoulder to shoulder they rushed through the gate, strode over the farmyard, threw open the cabin door, pushed their way inside. Then both stopped amazed. Lovely Aila stood there, dressed in her finest, wearing ribbons of red, ornaments of gold and silver. Her cheeks glowed, her eyes danced. Said Louhi, "A greeting to the famous heroes! A welcome to the two great men! And what could you seek in Northland?" "Your daughter in marriage," said Vainamoinen. "The maiden as wife," said Ilmarinen. Said Louhi, "If only there were two of her, then she could go with both! But as things are, a contest must be held." "What is the contest?" asked Vainamoinen. "You each must make for me a gift, something never seen before. I'll decide whose gift is finest, whose present has greatest value." "And what is the prize?" asked Ilmarinen. "The winner asks the maid to marry, proposes to my fair daughter." Warmly smiled the maiden. Swiftly beat two hearts.
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