While his sonnets are delicious, profound and shockingly hysterical, these recommendations will focus on his dramas, which is the place many of our children will first meet him.
1. For the youngest reader: To Sleep, Perchance to Dream
I could read this book again and again to my children. James Mayhew extracts certain lines from various Shakespeare plays and then connects them on every page to the adventures of three children who wake, play, picnic, and return home to sleep. His representation of certain verses from Shakespeare’s plays make me and my children laugh at each reading; others have me nostalgically remembering my own childhood days. This picture book perfectly captures the beauty and wisdom of Shakespeare’s writing
2. For the Young Elementary Student: Usborne Illustrated Shakespeare
This little anthology is the perfect introduction for the younger student. The pictures are vivid and attractive; famous lines are sprinkled throughout the re-tellings and illustrations; this is the first book that really drew my oldest in. I was surprised initially by the inclusion of Hamlet and Macbeth, which seem dark for a younger child but when mine sneaked ahead for a peek at these “forbidden” chapters, they loved the drama. Additionally, the illustrations are real and pleasing without being graphic or scary.
3. Fun for the Young Ones: Great Scenes from Shakespeare’s Plays (Dover Coloring Books)
As always, Dover is my go-to for fun activity books for my youngest. Fun, medieval characters; dramatic, dark scenes; glorious costumes begging to be smeared by crayon – what else could I say to sing these pages merits?
4. For Historical Background (in pictures): See Inside the World of Shakespeare
This book is another Usborne lift-the-flap title, which enables students to learn about the historical period in which Shakespeare lived, the types of Shakespeare plays, the nooks and crannies of the Globe, and the members and rehearsals of an acting troupe.
5. Fun for the Middle One: Where’s Will?
We need to throw a few titles into the mix that are really there just for the attraction and fun! This book sports a “search and find” motif. Brief synopses of the plays are given but the real joy comes from finding characters amid scenes from the plays and depictions of rehearsals at the Globe. In addition, children can discover William Shakespeare himself hiding somewhere in every scene.
6. For the Intermediate Student: Graphic Shakespeare
This is a fun comic book rendition of some of Shakespeare’s famous plays. The pictures are clear and detailed; original text is used throughout; my own 4th grader loves this one and re-reads it frequently. For the student who is above picture books but not yet ready for the full text of each play, this book is the perfect bridge to a deeper understanding of Shakespeare’s works. Hamlet, Macbeth, Julius Caesar, Romeo & Juliet, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream are included.
7. In Prose: Stories from Shakespeare by Charles & Mary Lamb / Children’s Shakespeare by E. Nesbitt
These re-tellings of Shakespeare’s plays are perfect for a younger student who cannot yet access the advanced language of Shakespeare but wants to understand the story behind the drama. Nesbitt’s stories are more understandable for younger students while Lamb’s summaries are perfect for older students and can also serve as a classically written “spark notes” to review before embarking upon the reading of a play.
8. From the Cinema: Animated Tales from Shakespeare
These cartoons are somewhat expensive and difficult to find for purchase, but I located many of them on youtube. They will interest both children and adults, as each one utilizes a different form of animation in a reproduction of Shakespeare’s plays. Each episode is approximately 20-30 minutes in length; depending on the age of your students, you may also want to preview them, as I judged a couple to be too suggestive or scary for young children.
9. Help for the Intermediate: Shakespeare Made Easy
Several series exist which purportedly make Shakespeare’s writing more accessible for middle school and high school students. Some of these I would refrain from using, as I think the text is too dumbed down and actually obscures Shakespeare’s meanings. This series, though, I found to be acceptable and helpful; an easy-to-read text is provided on each page opposite the original script. While students will still need an extra push to read the original once an easier version is provided them, these books can remove the overwhelmed feeling that sometimes assaults students when introduced to this master.
10. The Speech Guide: How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare by Ken Ludwig
This book is a wonderful resource in a Shakespeare study, as well as in speech and recitation. With many examples, Ludwig explains clearly how to help your children – even your youngest – memorize lines from Shakespeare. He coaches the parent (or student) in visualizing and phrasing techniques to ease the way, and effectively models how to present a lesson or assignment in recitation. If you are looking for aid with Shakespeare memorizations particularly, he provides a list of the best and most famous passages for memorization, as well as specific tips for their individual lines.
11. The Handbook: Oxford Illustrated Shakespeare Dictionary
I only stumbled upon this delightful resource this past year, when no one in my house was focusing on Shakespeare, and promptly dumped the item into my virtual shopping cart. This supplement gives the older student the deciphering tools the Usborne-lift-and-flap books provide for the younger ones. The dictionary entries include names of characters and places, as well as obscure terms and Shakespeare’s inventive terms. Abbreviations for the plays are also given, as well as quotes to enhance the definitions. Students can fall back upon this text as a reference to understand the language and cultural setting of Shakespeare’s dramas; as an added plus, they’ll begin to grow familiar with the Oxford English Dictionary, which is the traditional source for definition of terms in high school and college papers.
12. Fun for Everyone: My Favorite Film Renditions
When you cannot take your student (or yourself!) to a wonderful Shakespeare production, a well-rendered film version can be a welcome substitute. Because I appreciate the stage more when I actually stand before one, I prefer to indulge in film adaptations rather than recordings of actual theatre on the movie screen. Hence, these selections do not present Shakespeare’s works verbatim – and fall victim to some popular appeal – but they are very entertaining to watch. As always, parental review is recommended beforehand.
