A Child's Introduction to Norse Mythology Odin, Thor, Loki, and Other Viking Gods, Goddesses, Giants, and Monsters: Thor's Lost Hammer

**Lisa Bueno** (0:00)
Okay, our friends. So we are continuing our stories from around the world, and we have been in Africa and India and South America and Australia and all over the place. And now we're gonna head back to Europe. And we're gonna go to an ancient civilization, and we're going to read something that you might think you know a little bit about. Because this particular story is about a guy who was a god in Norse mythology. Because that's where we're going today. We are going to a book called A Child's Introduction to Norse mythology. And we are reading the story, Thor's Lost Hammer, or How Thor Almost Married a Giant.
Now, you may think, Thor, I've seen him, the superhero from Marvel Comics.
Kind of loosely derived from this, these stories, these myths. Not quite the same guy, okay? So, if you're picturing Chris Hemsworth in your head, not quite the same guy from the comic books or movies, okay? So, this collection of stories was put together by Heather Alexander. It's illustrated by Meredith Hamilton. And in this book, my friends, if you don't have it, go and get it. We have to support these storytellers and this mythology, and these old stories, because they tell us so much about the culture that produced these stories. And it's so important to understand the history that goes with these, and I'm happy to share it. So, today's story, Thor's Last Hammer, is read by Mommy and Philip. Philip!
I love that you're here with me. Are you ready to see if you can tell the difference between this guy and the comic book hero? Okay. Well, it starts out like this.

**SPEAKER_4** (2:20)
Where is my hammer?

**Lisa Bueno** (2:23)
Roared Thor. He rolled out of bed and frantically searched the Skjernir, his huge hull.
His magic hammer, called Mjolnir, had been made for him by the dwarves. It was the most powerful weapon in Asgard.
It always hit its target and always returned to Thor's hand. It kept the gods safe from giants and trolls.
Thor never went anywhere without his hammer. He even slept with it. So where was it now?

**SPEAKER_4** (3:02)
Loki!

**Lisa Bueno** (3:04)
Thor hurried to find the god of mischief.

**SPEAKER_4** (3:07)
Loki, give me back my hammer!

**Lisa Bueno** (3:11)
Loki swung open his front door. I don't have your hammer.
Thor waited to hear a story. Loki always tried to talk his way out of trouble when he was guilty. But this time, Loki stayed silent. And Thor realized that Loki had not taken his hammer.

**Philip** (3:32)
If it wasn't you, that means, started Thor.

**Lisa Bueno** (3:37)
Your hammer was stolen by a frost giant.
Finished Loki. I'll help you find the giant who did it.

**Philip** (3:49)
Why would you help me?

**Lisa Bueno** (3:51)
Thor asked suspiciously. Don't flatter yourself, Thor, said Loki. I'm not helping you. I'm helping me. Without your hammer, none of us in Asgard are safe.
Loki went to see Freya, the goddess of love and beauty.
Freya sat in a golden chair in her sparkly hall. Two gray cats curled by her feet, eagerly waiting eagerly to pull her chariot. She scratched their ears and they purred, and she raised her emerald green eyes as Loki entered. You look radiant, dear Freya, said Loki.

**Philip** (4:38)
Truly gorgeous.

**Lisa Bueno** (4:41)
Freya ignored Loki's flattery. She knew he couldn't be trusted.

**Philip** (4:46)
What do you want, Loki?

**SPEAKER_5** (4:48)
Your falcon cloak, said Loki. I need it to fly.
I'll bring it back when I'm done.

**Lisa Bueno** (4:58)
Freya laughed.

**SPEAKER_5** (4:59)
Never.

**Lisa Bueno** (5:00)
I won't lend it out.

**Philip** (5:02)
Thor's hammer has been stolen, said Loki.

**Lisa Bueno** (5:09)
Oh no, cried Freya.

**SPEAKER_5** (5:12)
You must get it back. Take the cloak.

**Lisa Bueno** (5:17)
Loki wrapped himself in Freya's cloak of gleaming falcon feathers. With the magic cloak around his shoulders, he soared into the air. He flew swiftly across the nine worlds until he reached Jotunheim, land of the giants. From the sky, he scanned the ground below.
He spotted an ugly giant named Thrim sitting on a rock. Thrim had a bulbous nose, bulging eyes, and tufts of hair growing from his ears.

**SPEAKER_4** (5:54)
Yuck!

**Lisa Bueno** (5:57)
Something about him seemed suspicious. This is where you get to say, Dude is sus.

**Philip** (6:04)
Bro sus, ma'am.

**SPEAKER_2** (6:06)
Bro sus, ma'am.

**SPEAKER_4** (6:08)
Okay.

**Lisa Bueno** (6:09)
Thrim, good to see you again. Well, no, not really.
Loki had been born a giant, but he tried hard to forget that. Visits back here made his skin crawl.

**SPEAKER_2** (6:22)
What do you want?