Vognox is a Viking, but he doesn’t like adventures and has no intention of going on one.
Unfortunately for Vognox, his existence is controlled by the Awful Awfa, whose giant hand and pencil can draw him into the adventures he wants to avoid.
When the Awful Awfa’s pencil gets taken by a dragon, he tells Vognox he won't be able to draw him at all if he doesn’t get it back, forcing Vognox on an adventure to retrieve it.
But the Awful Awfa is kind of awful. He doesn’t make it easy for Vognox along the way, putting holes in the long boat he draws for him and equipping him with some very interesting weapons and tools.
Vognox the Viking and the Island of Skeletons is a fantastic metafiction junior novel that breaks the fourth wall in a very cool way. Vognox chats to the reader throughout the book and engages with the Awful Awfa who appears as the giant hand and pencil.
Packed with brilliant illustrations on every page and loads of giant ploops!, Yikes! and Phews!, the book is visually engaging from start to end, which is sure to lure in a junior reader looking for an easy book to read independently.
It’s also a brilliant book for reading aloud. With heaps of drama, dramatic tension and onomatopoeia, it keeps listeners glued to their seats.
If you’re looking for a new book for junior readers, I highly recommend you take a look at this one. It’s a little bit different, but delivered with new readers in mind. It's loads of fun and it's sparked several re-read requests in my house!
Title: Vognox the Viking and the Island of Skeletons
Author: Nick Falk
Illustrator: Tony Flowers
Publisher: Affirm Press, $9.99
Publication Date: 25 June 2019
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781925712889
For ages: 5 - 7
Type: Junior Fiction