The Race of the Birkebeiners

It is the year 1206, and deep in the snow-covered mountains of Norway, a group of fierce warriors struggle through a snowstorm to ski a baby to safety. The baby is Prince Hakon, who would later become king. The warriors were called Birkebeiners because they wrapped birchbark around their legs before going into battle. Birkebeiner racers are held annually in Norway and in the United States to remember this brave event in history. Written by Lise Lunge-Larson, illustrated by Mary Azarian, this won the Minnesota Book Award in 2002.