The Children'S Shakespeare

by William Shakespeare

Book Details: Format: Paperback

Genres: Classics, Historical Fiction, Plays, Childrens, Fiction

84 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2010

About the author

William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet, and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon" (or simply "the Bard"). His extant works, including collaborations, consist of some 39 plays, 154 sonnets, three long narrative poems, and a few other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. Shakespeare remains arguably the most influential writer in the English language, and his works continue to be studied and reinterpreted.
Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. Sometime between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part-owner ("sharer") of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men after the ascension of King James VI and I of Scotland to the English throne. At age 49 (around 1613), he appears to have retired to Stratford, where he died three years later. Few records of Shakespeare's private life survive; this has stimulated considerable speculation about such matters as his physical appearance, his sexuality, his religious beliefs, and even certain fringe theories as to whether the works attributed to him were written by others.
Shakespeare produced most of his known works between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were primarily comedies and histories and are regarded as some of the best works produced in these genres. He then wrote mainly tragedies until 1608, among them Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, all considered to be among the finest works in the English language. In the last phase of his life, he wrote tragicomedies (also known as romances) and collaborated with other playwrights.
Many of Shakespeare's plays were published in editions of varying quality and accuracy during his lifetime. However, in 1623, John Heminge and Henry Condell, two fellow actors and friends of Shakespeare's, published a more definitive text known as the First Folio, a posthumous collected edition of Shakespeare's dramatic works that includes 36 of his plays. Its Preface was a prescient poem by Ben Jonson, a former rival of Shakespeare, that hailed Shakespeare with the now famous epithet: "not of an age, but for all time".

Reviews

[Miss Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and appreciated Nesbit's versions of Shakespeare's classics pared down to their essentials. Very much so recommended, especially for younger kids (8 + or thereabouts) being introduced to the Bard.

[Allyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is so great! I've always wondered what the true story of "Romeo and Juliet" was. Finally I have something to read that I understand without all the big vocabulary, like 'misgrafed', 'vantage', and 'belike'....and so on and so forth. Finally I can read this great writer's stories without opening a dictonary once! Thank you Mr. Nesbit! Thank you very, very much!

[Amy Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate this book—the Lamb’s—because it helps give children (and adults) a handle on the story and plot of Shakespeare’s plays in a literary way. When one goes on to read the actual play, it is easier to absorb the unfamiliar language and understand. With better comprehension, it’s easier to enjoy the beauty of the language.

My co-op kids read this aloud this semester.

[Dayna Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The classic retelling of 11 of the Bard's plays. The book is written for children, to acquaint them early on with these timeless works. The stories include famous plays like "Romeo and Juliet and "Hamlet;" as well as lesser known works like "Pericles," "The Winter's Tale," and "Cymbeline." A must have book for parents who want to start their children off on the right reading track.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this with my kids and we are all enjoying it. Great introduction to Shakespeare.

[J.cuevas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, the author actually made the stories easier to comprehend

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was great to read with my kids. I was surprised at how much my 6-year-old especially enjoyed it.

[AnnaRichelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this is a book for teens, older adolescents or to be read to younger children, it had been on my shelf since my kids were younger. I had left it for them to read on their own but, myself, had never read it. Sorting my books, I decided it was time to pass it on but decided to read it first. I had never read Shakespeare so I appreciated it a lot. I got the summary of many of his plays that I know I wouldn't have read the full version, either in story or in play format.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to get people interested in Shakespeare. I read it with my children but I also really enjoyed it. This is out of copyright and can be found for free on Amazon.

[River · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been instrumental in our schooling. We use it before watching and reading the plays.