Printed book
The Magic Sword
Large landscape picture book, made for reading aloud and reading alone.
Price coming soon
Hanseby – adventure books for children learning to read
“Hearing him say “I love books!” is magic”
The town square of Hanseby
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The Magic Sword
An adventure from Hanseby
The Magic Sword is an adventure book for children aged 6 to 9 in which the reader becomes Hans. Milo, Issey and Max have found an old map, and they need your help to follow it.
A sword that can only be found by the right one. A map full of riddles. And three brave mice who can’t do it alone.
Along the way, you choose: Which path do you take? Dare you go on? What do you choose, Hans?
What is The Magic Sword about?
It’s a story about courage, friendship and working together. Milo, Issey and Max follow a map in search of a magic sword, and the reader, Hans, makes the choices that decide what happens next.
Who is the book for?
Children aged 6 to 9, especially those learning to read. Every page has a short reading strip with simple sentences children can read themselves, while the main story is perfect for reading aloud.
Which editions are available?
- Read-along book: Digital book with narration and word highlighting
- Printed book: Large landscape format, 30 illustrated pages
- Read-along film: The full adventure with on-screen text
Coming Soon to Hanseby
Three new adventures are almost ready. Sign up and be the first to know.
Book 2 – Halloween in Hanseby
Pumpkin lanterns glow on every street, but something spooky is lurking in the dark. Dare you join Milo, Issey and Max on Halloween night?
Book 3 – Hanseby the Detective
Something has vanished without a trace. Follow the clues, solve the riddles and find out who’s behind it. Can you crack the case, Hans?
Book 4 – Christmas in Hanseby
Snow is falling and the whole town is getting ready for Christmas. But not everything goes to plan. Can Hans and the mice save Christmas?
Read-along audiobook for kids– read with Hanseby
The Hanseby audiobook is an interactive read-along book for children aged 6 to 9. Your child hears the story, sees each word light up as it’s read, and decides what happens next.
How does the read-along audiobook work?
A warm British storyteller reads the story aloud. As she reads, the words light up one by one, so your child can see exactly where you are on the page. Along the way, choices pop up, and your child taps Yes or No to decide how the adventure continues.
Why is a read-along audiobook good for early readers?
Hearing a word while seeing it links sounds to letters. It builds vocabulary, reading fluency and confidence, and because the story is exciting, children want to keep reading.
What do we need?
Just a browser on a tablet, phone or computer. No app and no ads. You only log in to open the full book. It works just as well on the sofa at home as on a big screen in class.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it a regular audiobook? No, it’s an interactive read-along book with text, illustrations and narration, not audio only.
- How long is it? 30 illustrated pages. One read-through takes about 20 minutes.
- Is it available in Norwegian? Yes, with its own Norwegian narrator.
- Can we try before we buy? Yes, the first three pages are free.
The Hanseby colouring book
The Hanseby colouring book is a colouring book for children aged 6 to 9 featuring Hans, Milo, Issey and Max. When the story ends, the adventure carries on with crayons.
What’s inside the colouring book?
The pages show the characters, the houses of Hanseby and the biggest moments from The Magic Sword. Clear lines and generous spaces suit six-year-olds as well as children who like to colour in detail.
What do children learn from colouring?
Colouring builds fine motor skills and pencil grip, which children need when they learn to write. Colouring scenes they have read also helps them retell the story in their own way and remember it better.
Can I buy it printed or as a PDF?
- Printable PDF: Download and print as often as you like, for home use and your own classroom. NOK 50, or included in the membership.
- Printed book: Coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
- Does my child need to read the book first? No, but it’s more fun when they already know the characters.
- Can teachers print pages for their class? Yes. The PDF can be printed for use in your own classroom.
- Where can I buy it? Here on hanseby.com and on Etsy.
See the colouring book →Download two free pages →
For parents and teachers
Hanseby is a series of adventure books for children aged 6 to 9 who are learning to read. Kids follow Hans and the mice Milo, Issey and Max, and keep reading because they want to know what happens next.
How does Hanseby help children learn to read?
Each word lights up as the narrator says it. Children see the word, hear it and understand it at the same time, linking letters to sounds at their own pace. Short passages, large clear text and illustrations on every page make it easy to stay focused.
What formats are available?
- Read-along book: Digital book with British English narration and word highlighting
- Printed book: Large landscape book, made for reading aloud together
- Writing games: Letter and word games for ages 6 to 8
- Colouring book: Continue the adventure with crayons
- Read-along film: The full story with on-screen text
Can teachers use Hanseby in the classroom?
Yes. Put the read-along book on the big screen and read together as a class. The stories work for shared reading, discussing the plot and follow-up writing tasks. Every book comes in English and Norwegian, which makes them useful for language lessons too.
Is Hanseby safe for children?
Yes. No ads, no chat and no purchases inside the games. Children never need to log in; only you, the parent, have an account. The books are written and made in Norway.
