Naughty Norse gods and kings – Loki twist for Bloodaxe Book Challenge

Launched on the 25 November 2023.

Ready, steady, read!  Children across York are being invited to give their reading a kickstart this winter as Explore York Libraries and JORVIK Viking Festival launch this year’s Bloodaxe Book Challenge.

The annual reading initiative this year gives children a chance to meet author of the award-winning Loki: A Bad God’s Guide series Louie Stowell during JORVIK Viking Festival at a special event to be staged at York Explore Library.  Children sign up to the initiative at any of York’s libraries, pledging to read four books before the end of the challenge on Saturday 27 January 2024.  For each book they read, they will receive a special sticker which they collect on the Bloodaxe Book Challenge bookmark. 

 “We are delighted to be running the Bloodaxe Book Challenge with JORVIK Viking Festival again.  Children choosing their own books, receiving themed stickers and a certificate, as well as being invited to join us for a very special session with Louie Stowell make this Challenge a wonderful way to encourage even reluctant readers to pick up a book,” comments Lyndsay Glover of Explore York Libraries & Archives. 

 Louie Stowell’s latest book, Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Taking the Blame, is the third book in the bestselling Loki: A Bad God’s Guide series, published by Walker Books. She has also written a number of other magical books for children, including Otherland and The Dragon in the Library.

“This is the 11th year we’ve worked with Explore York on the Bloodaxe Book Challenge, and we’re always delighted by how many children take up the challenge,” comments JORVIK’s interpretation and learning officer, Erin Tattersall, who is leading this year’s initiative. 

 The challenge was launched at Acomb Explore Library with children from Acomb Primary School. Historic interpreters from JORVIK Viking Centre ran a saga-based session featuring Loki with local children, including a question and answer session and object handling to mark the launch of this year’s scheme.

 Children were able to sign up for the Bloodaxe Book Challenge at any Explore York Library from Saturday 25 November.