Hide and Seek History: The Vikings

HIDE AND SEEK HISTORY: THE VIKINGS is an engaging lift-the-flap book that teaches about the Vikings, all the way from archeology and how we know about them to their gods, religion, and daily life.

What I loved: This is an engaging and colorful look at the Vikings, covering a lot of basic information. While the book is focused on illustrations, the text is nicely sized so that it is easy to read. Much of the text can be found on the reverse of the flaps that readers can lift, and some of these flaps are found underneath other flaps, making for a journey of exploration and discovery on each spread.

The text is nicely organized by topic, covering a lot of the basics about Vikings throughout. The pages on the gods and daily life were particularly fascinating with cool new details to learn throughout the flaps. Text is relatively brief with only a few sentences under each flap, so it focuses on cool facts and basics. Illustrations are fantastic with lots of colors and details on every page and under every flap.

This book may work best for young middle grade readers due to the focus on images and basic-level of facts. Sensitive readers may want to be aware of the section on war and combat, though the topic mostly sticks to their boats, weapons, and other high-level facts.

Final verdict: HIDE AND SEEK HISTORY: THE VIKINGS is an overall engaging illustrated book with lots of cool Viking facts and flaps to explore. Recommend for younger middle grade readers.

Hide and Seek History: The Vikings is a wonderfully engaging nonfiction lift-the-flap book that brings Viking history to life in an inviting, child-friendly way. With more than 80 flaps, this book is packed with surprises, fun facts, and visual discoveries that make learning feel like play.

The illustrations by Chaaya Prabhat are absolutely standout. They are bright, bold, and full of detail on every page. Each spread feels lively and immersive, and the flaps blend seamlessly into the art while still being easy for kids to find and open.

The information is well-balanced for the target age group. Harriet Evans introduces readers to Viking life in an age-appropriate way, acknowledging that Vikings raided other places, but avoids unnecessary or overwhelming details, keeping the content accessible and suitable for younger readers.

One of the highlights for me is the spread on the Norse gods. It’s colorful, exciting, and gives a great snapshot of the mythology that shaped Viking culture. Kids who love mythological creatures or stories will likely be drawn to this section in particular.

With its blend of interactive elements, lively art, and clear, digestible information, this book is a perfect choice for young history enthusiasts or classrooms introducing early world civilizations. It’s the kind of book that begs to be explored again and again.