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William Shakespeare

Stories from Shakespeare

Author(s): 
Marchette Chute
Subject(s): 
Literature
Grade / Age level: 
Grades 6-8
High School
Copyright: 
1959
Review: 

This children’s version includes 36 of Shakespeare's 37 plays. Chute covers the essential plots of the plays in a readable modern prose. Although her style is clear, simple and direct, it contains a certain lyrical quality. Not just summaries, these are wonderful stories. Especially appropriate for 12 and up, it might also be enjoyed as a read-aloud for younger children.

Number of pages: 
320 pages
Review Date: 
1-27-2009
Reviewed by: 
Elizabeth Yank
TitleSort: 
Stories from Shakespeare

The Bard of Avon

The Story of William Shakespeare
Author(s): 
Diane Stanley
Grade / Age level: 
Grades 3-5
Grades 6-8
Adults
ISBN: 
688 162 940
Copyright: 
1998
Review: 

Diane Stanley's picture book biographies are wonderful! I can think of a number of titles I have seen so often on homeschool families' shelves: Joan of Ark, Michelangelo, Peter the Great, Saladin, Charles Dickens, and more! She has a very unique and captivating way to write--and illustrate--these great historical figures' biographies! These are longer picture books with a pretty good amount of text on each page.

The Bard of Avon follows all that is known about William Shakespeare, his personal and professional life, the Globe Theater and the world he lived in. Many of his plays are discussed in the book as well, with plenty of historical context. As with her other biographies, Stanley's language is both kind and respectful. It is also honest-- what is not known about a historical character is stated as such on the pages.

This is a very good first look at the Bard's life . I just asked my 8th grader, whose next reading assignment is Romeo and Juliet, to read it: she could not put it down! The author added a very interesting postscript about the language of Shakespeare and how it has permeated the English we all use everyday.

Publisher: 
HarperCollins
Binding: 
Paperback
Number of pages: 
48 pages
Additional notes: 

This picture book biography of William Shakespeare does not dwell at all with the issue of the great playwright's religious affiliation.

Review Date: 
1-22-2009
Reviewed by: 
Ana Braga-Henebry
TitleSort: 
Bard of Avon

William Shakespeare and the Globe

Book cover
Author(s): 
Aliki
Subject(s): 
Literature
Copyright: 
1999
Review: 

This is a simply told and heavily illustrated biography of the great William Shakespeare and the theatre in which his plays were first performed. The details of the illustrations and the story are quite nice and even the story of the Globe is more interesting than one might expect. At one point it was disassembled and secretly moved to a new location under cover of darkness. After Shakespeare's death, the Puritans closed theatres such a the Globe and there its story would end except for a 20th century Shakespeare lover who started the major project of rebuilding the globe as authentically as possible (with the exception of sprinklers in the thatched roof!). This book is really an interesting history book covering other major figures of Shakespeare's day (including, unfortunately, Queen Elizabeth I). The pictures include small figures of characters from Shakespeare's plays. These could be reproduced with a color photo-copy to make little finger-puppets for your little ones to reenact their own Shakespearean dramas. That might be fun especially if they enjoy some of the children's versions of the Shakespeare stories such as Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare for Children by Edith Nesbit.

Publisher: 
Harper Collins
Binding: 
Sewn Hardcover
Number of pages: 
48 pages
Review Date: 
4-7-2000
Reviewed by: 
Alicia Van Hecke
TitleSort: 
William Shakespeare and the Globe

William Shakespeare's The Tempest

Author(s): 
Marianna Mayer (adapted by)
Subject(s): 
Literature
Illustrator(s): 
Lynn Bywaters
Grade / Age level: 
All ages
Resource Type: 
Picture Books
Copyright: 
2005
Review: 

Unequalled, lavish artwork on two-page spreads include inset text boxes that incorporate the story into the art. The plot is written in prose, although the more difficult vocabulary is more appropriate for upper elementary and older students. Richly detailed illustrations capture the reader’s attention, telling the story without words. If you intend to introduce The Tempest, this version is not to be missed!

You can view some preview pages from this book at Google Books.

Review Date: 
1-26-2009
Reviewed by: 
Susan Kalis
TitleSort: 
William Shakespeare's The Tempest