Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare were a thing that boggled minds in 19th century and continue to do so till date. It has the intention of entertaining young readers. It was done so that William Shakespeare’s plays could be easily understood. Shakespeare’s plays portray recognizable people in situations that we can all relate to – including love, marriage, death, mourning, guilt, etc.
They help us to understand the real human life and there sufferings and problems. The work of Shakespeare is one of the finest works of all times. The works of Shakespeare are beautiful creations dealing with the real human emotions, problems, challenges, reunion, joy, sorrow, poverty, wealth, etc.
These are great books for both adults and children to read. But the real challenge lies in understanding his way of writing for young children. The solution to this lies in the simplified version of the Shakespeare creations in the present world. These are great sources of reading for young minds.
Why should children read the books of Shakespeare?
They’re exciting and weird. Some content is dramatic and some content is not. The stories are quite different from each other. One story is not connected to the next one is what acts as the best part. Shakespeare’s stories and plays are timeless and continue to be relevant centuries after his death.
His contributions and impact on literature and the English language remains highly significant. Shakespeare’s work plays an appreciable role in order to understand the modern world, indeed to understand people in specific. Shakespeare created characters that seem so alive. His plays portray characters who struggle with their emotions and behave as if they are real people.
Reading the work of Shakespeare results in making us smarter, nicer, and more handsome. It has been shown by various research that reading Shakespeare does boost brain activity and memory. It relaxes readers and reading literature can make you more empathetic.
Best books of Shakespeare for children to read
Illustrated Stories from Shakespeare
Illustrated Stories from Shakespeare by Anna Claybourne, Rosie Dickens and William Shakespeare is a straightforward, not confusing and quite easy book to go about your head. It has beautiful pictures which makes it quite interesting for the kids. Moreover, the pictures are very vivid and it is easily understandable with respect to what is going on in the book.
The best part is that the book is in normal English which makes it quite easier for the children to read and understand. Moreover, it has the essence of the real Shakespearean language as the book has lines quoted in the older English with a picture pointing to the person who said it.
The content of the book lies from lively comedies to dark tragedies. The book has characters ranging from clowns to witches. A part of books also contains doomed romance. The book has several stories to read. This single book let you meet various different stories and characters. Discover great stories like-
- Twelfth Night
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream
- Hamlet
- Macbeth
- Romeo and Juliet
- Tempest
All these stories are great to read and understand. Moreover, all these stories for easy reading and understanding.
The Shakespeare Stories
The Shakespeare stories by Andrew Mathews is a bundle of beautiful stories. It introduces us to a different world and make you travel places without moving. The bundle has lots and lots of books in this series from Antony and Cleopatra to 13 other plays.
With so many books in one bundle, it can really last a long time to entertain you. The books are beautifully written and well structured. The illustrations in the book are quite funny in some of the plays. The illustrations on the book makes it quite easier to understand what is going on in the book. Illustrations also builds interest and excitement in children to read the same.
Travel to a different world of Shakespeare with these brilliant retellings of the bunch of ever loved plays. It contains books ranging from tragedy to humor. This collection contains 16 different stories to read and cherish. The 16 books in the same are-
- Macbeth
- The Tempest
- Much Ado About Nothing
- The Taming of the Shrew
- The Merchant of Venice
- King Lear
- Julius Caesar
- Much Ado About Nothing
- As You Like It
- Richard III
- Othello
- Antony and Cleopatra
- Twelfth Night
- Romeo and Juliet
- Henry V
- Macbeth
- The Tempest
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream
- Hamlet
This collection provides an excellent introduction to Shakespeare for younger readers. This wonderful set has engaging illustrations. The illustrations make it quite easy to understand what is going on. Illustrations also builds interest and excitement in children to read the same. This is perfect for those over the age of 6 years.
To Wee or Not to Wee
To Wee or Not to Wee by Pamela Butchart is the comedy version of around four Shakespeare plays. Hamlet was unable to make up his mind about anything. And one day he actually went to school in just his pants. He was sent home because he couldn’t decide what to wear.
A Glimpse to the Book
When Izzy was asked to tell her friends some humorous and frightening stories, she knew exactly where to look. As we know Shakespeare is the king of super dramatic stuff.
After knowing about Macbeth her friends want more. He was a solider who ate four bowls of porridge and twenty pieces of toast every morning. The plays Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Romeo and Juliet got our beloved Izzy’s great treatment. It portrays blood and guts, ghosty stuff. Moreover, there are a lot of people wandering around in their nighties. This is the perfect introduction.
Macbeth rewritten version was originally presented about on the BBC Radio series ‘Shakespeare Retold’ in our beloved Izzy’s version. Actress Shirley Henderson did read the same. She played a recognizable character in the Harry Potter films.
The author Pamela Butchart, has done a proud work for the entertainment and learning of the young minds. This book is a great contribution for children to link with the literature and great works of legends of all times like Shakespeare. The collection is a gateway for children to develop interest in reading good books learning about the real life emotions, joy and feelings.
Reading this book will take you to an great adventure trip with Izzy. Children can have a fun loving, hilarious experience reading such kind of books. It is greatly advisable, light hearted content to take into your child’s schedule to relax from the high order thinking concepts and heavy academics.
This book is hilarious to read. It is illustrated with funny pictures which makes is easier to understand. Moreover, it is a fun loving, interesting and exciting content to read.
Macbeth
Macbeth by Conrad Mason contains story that is bloody, strange, different and exciting. The story depicts Macbeth’s wife hunger for the power. It showed Lady Mac that the marriage to Lady Mac Beth was the major reason that he killed the king and had all those creepy nightmares. His friend Banquo, is quite likeable because he seems nice.
The fact that he was killed just because he was probably a good person was really sad, though not sure. The story brings witches into play and it portrays it beautifully. The story depicts witches in the major section of the plot and they have a big influence on the story. If they hadn’t given him the idea to kill the king, most probably he would not have is a proof of the same.
Macbeth was the bravest general in Scotland. He was very loyal servant to King Duncan. But then a day comes when it reaches his ears that he could be king himself. This turns him mad with ambition which drives him for power by hook or crook. Macbeth went on to set out on a bloody path to power.
The book has enough thrill to enjoy with enormous fun. The book is the retelling of Shakespeare’s classic play. This edition is specially written for children. It is a contribution towards helping children to grow in reading confidence and ability.
This book is illustrated with beautiful pictures which makes it easier to understand what is going on in the book. Illustrations helps in developing interest and excitement among children to read the right content and draw morals to develop the value that will turn them into great human being and hold them strong throughout their life.
Twelfth Night
Twelfth Night by Rosie Dickens is an amazing development in the field of kids literature and entertainment. The story portrays a brother and a sister named as Sebastian and Viola respectively.
In the play the readers feels greatly connected to the characters as they get to know them in details. The readers are so connected with the characters that they can feel them and deeply care about them. The way three people play jokes on Malvolio to trick him into believing Olivia loves him, because he’s mean is quite right and amazing.
There was a kingdom named Illyrian. There was a nobleman Orsino. He goes around listening to music, pining away for the love of Lady Olivia in the play. They cannot be together because she is in mourning the death of her brother. Meanwhile, he refuses any marriage proposal to take into consideration. During this time, a storm has caused a terrible shipwreck off the coast.
A Glimpse to the Play
Viola was a young, aristocratic-born woman. She was swept onto the Illyrian shore. She finds herself alone in a land she is not familiar with. Her mind makes an assumption that her twin brother, Sebastian, has drown in the ship wreck. She goes on to find what kind of she can do.
A kind and friendly captain of sea tells her about Orsino’s courtship of Olivia. On hearing the same, Viola expresses her wish that she could go to work in Olivia’s home. But when Lady Olivia refuses and conveys that she does not talk with any strangers. Upon this, Viola decides that it is not possible to look for work with her. So, seeing no other way, she disguises herself as a man. Moreover, she takes the name of Cesario. Then, she goes on to work in the house of Duke Orsino.
This is a little glimpse of the play to get an idea of. The author Rosie Dickins, has done a proud work for the entertainment and learning of the young minds. This book is a great contribution for children to link with the literature and great works of legends of all times like Shakespeare.
The collection is a gateway for children to develop interest in reading good books learning about the real life emotions, joy and feelings. It is illustrated with funny pictures which makes is easier to understand. Moreover, it is a fun loving, interesting and exciting content to read.
Reading such books pays off
It is greatly advisable for parents and teachers to motivate the kids for reading such books. This will help them building a great reading habit for the lifetime which pays off in many ways. Also, books like these are not only a source of healthy entertainment but also a great source of knowledge.
It helps to understand various cultures and teaches values that remain lifetime. It introduces the young minds with the real life emotions of pain, joy, sorrow, suffering, death, separation, reunion, happiness, and what not. This is the gateway to making young minds mentally ready to understand and face the world.
These are the healthy hobbies that should be developed in our children. It is the sole responsibility of the teachers and parents to get children indulged in such kind of activities. Ask your kids to narrate what they read and understood.
So are we ready to get these books. Get ready to go on a rollercoaster rides and adventure trip with the characters you like. Grab a set of book that you feel connected to from the above mentioned collection of simplified Shakespeare creations.
Let’s go on to read some fun loving and amazing books in our spare time. Share your fun stories with your parents, teachers and friends.
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