30 review for Flumbra: An Icelandic Folktale

1. 

   4 out of 5

   Melki – Jun 04, 2018

   I love it when folk/fairy tales truly reflect their country of origin with settings in deep, dark forests, or villages by the seaside. Flumbra's story is indeed part of Iceland's volatile landscape. It is the tale of two giants in love, and their long distance relationship. Keep in mind that giants cannot be caught out in the sunlight or they will turn to stone, so that makes for some rather tricky booty calls. Brian Pilkington's illustrations are fun, making the giants more silly than fearsome. I love it when folk/fairy tales truly reflect their country of origin with settings in deep, dark forests, or villages by the seaside. Flumbra's story is indeed part of Iceland's volatile landscape. It is the tale of two giants in love, and their long distance relationship. Keep in mind that giants cannot be caught out in the sunlight or they will turn to stone, so that makes for some rather tricky booty calls. Brian Pilkington's illustrations are fun, making the giants more silly than fearsome. Almost everything is played for laughs, and then . . . (view spoiler)[I was not prepared for that sad, sad ending. Sob! (hide spoiler)]

2. 

   5 out of 5

   Eloise Sunshine – May 15, 2017

   Tore vanaemade veimevakast võetud stiilis jutustus selgitamaks lastele Islandi loodusnähtusi, miks vulkaan purskab või maa väriseb, ja et tegelikult pole seda vaja karta, need on kõigest trollide armumängud... ;)

3. 

   5 out of 5

   Britt Suits – Dec 28, 2019

   „Islandi trollilugu“ on väga vahva raamat lastele, mis jutustab erinevatest Islandi loodusnähtustest trollide võtmes. Mulle meeldis ja arvan, et ka lastele võiks meeldida.

4. 

   4 out of 5

   Krista the Krazy Kataloguer – Dec 14, 2010

   I interloaned a copy of a book by Helgadottir called A Giant Love Story only to discover that it and Flumbra are one and the same. Apparently the title was A Giant Love Story when it was published in English by Vaka-Helgafell, in Iceland, in 2002. Later, when Carolrhoda Books published it in 1986, the title was changed to Flumbra. I'm fond of Icelandic literature because I have a friend who is from Iceland and who has regaled me with some of the traditional children's tales. The story of Flumbra I interloaned a copy of a book by Helgadottir called A Giant Love Story only to discover that it and Flumbra are one and the same. Apparently the title was A Giant Love Story when it was published in English by Vaka-Helgafell, in Iceland, in 2002. Later, when Carolrhoda Books published it in 1986, the title was changed to Flumbra. I'm fond of Icelandic literature because I have a friend who is from Iceland and who has regaled me with some of the traditional children's tales. The story of Flumbra is told within the story of a father talking about giants to his son. I like the way that was done. The story describes how earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic activity are traditionally attributed to giants, and in this case Flumbra and her eight boys. The illustrations depict the giants looking easy-going but rather homely. They are also a bit graphic in a couple of places for a children's book; one picture in particular shows Flumbra with both breasts bared suckling a baby, while one of her boys sits on the steps with no pants on and genitals explosed. As I've noticed in the past, European standards for what can be depicted in children's books seem to be a bit more lax than in American publishing. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this story very much and only wish that Flumbra and the boys could find some way to return to flesh and blood again. Recommended!

5. 

   4 out of 5

   Bhunter2012 – Sep 04, 2012

   Folktales are a good way to learn about history and the way people entertained themselves with stories. The father who grows up in the older generation tells his son of his fears and what villagers were afraid of in the old days. The father then puts a sweet twist on things to help his son get over his fears, that are a little more modern.

6. 

   5 out of 5

   Anshuman Gupta – Nov 01, 2009

   It was funny. I liked the characters and their funny names. I learnt that not all giants are cruel.

7. 

   5 out of 5

   Lily Alice – Sep 24, 2016

   I don't like when the giant is turned into stone. I don't like when the giant is turned into stone.

8. 

   5 out of 5

   Ásrún –

9. 

   4 out of 5

   Pioup –

10. 

    4 out of 5

    Oneiriad –

11. 

    5 out of 5

    Sólborg –

12. 

    4 out of 5

    benxander –

13. 

    4 out of 5

    Oscar –

14. 

    4 out of 5

    Lukas –

15. 

    4 out of 5

    Chelsea – Apr 14, 2018

    A unique, heart-warming Icelandic children's tale. The artwork is gorgeous. A unique, heart-warming Icelandic children's tale. The artwork is gorgeous.

16. 

    4 out of 5

    Hiko Murs –

17. 

    5 out of 5

    Marlene –

18. 

    5 out of 5

    Janita Andrijevskaja –

19. 

    5 out of 5

    Wan Ting –

20. 

    5 out of 5

    Hjördís Brynjarsdóttir –

21. 

    4 out of 5

    Elar –

22. 

    5 out of 5

    Marineke –

23. 

    4 out of 5

    Eric Hinkle –

24. 

    5 out of 5

    Stefanie –

25. 

    5 out of 5

    Karisweetheart –

26. 

    5 out of 5

    Iphigenia –

27. 

    4 out of 5

    Calvin –

28. 

    5 out of 5

    Su –

29. 

    4 out of 5

    Leanne Ellul –

30. 

    5 out of 5

    Ksenia Roeder –