Runa and the Runestone

Can a stone hold someone’s name? After rain fills the grooves of an old runestone, curious Runa wants to find out. Her friend Asa can read the carved runes, but Runa wants to read a name herself—especially when she learns the stone holds the name of Asa’s father, Finn.

With a wooden practice strip for guidance, Runa listens for three sounds and studies the marks that might make them. But runes can have names and meanings of their own, words crowd together without spaces, and bright sunlight makes the wet stone hard to see. As Runa searches, Asa’s memories—and a well-worn bowl Finn made—bring the person behind the name closer. Can Runa find the sounds she knows among all those carvings?

Set in a Viking-Age settlement, this gently engaging picture book invites young readers to follow Runa’s determined discovery and explore three runes from the Younger Futhark. Its clear sound play, tactile details, and tender family memories make it a warm story to share and read aloud.