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jessicamusch's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
I feel like the explanation of the lesser known plays lacked depth, but equally would be difficult for a child to understand, so I’m not sure who this book is intended for. I also didn’t love the illustrations, which are different to what is on the cover.
geekwayne's review against another edition
4.0
'A Stage Full of Shakespeare Stories' by Angela McAllister with illustrations by Alice Lindstrom is a book full of stories adapted from the plays of William Shakespeare.
The 12 adapted plays are comedy and tragedy. They span the best known of Shakespeare's plays. Each story opens with a quote from the play and a cast of the characters the reader will come across. The stories run about 7 pages with illustrations and are really nice adaptations.
I enjoyed these abridged versions of the plays and the really nice illustrations that accompany them. These stories don't shy from the darker elements of the plays, so keep that in mind for young readers. Then again, I would have loved those darker elements, and still do.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Childrens, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
The 12 adapted plays are comedy and tragedy. They span the best known of Shakespeare's plays. Each story opens with a quote from the play and a cast of the characters the reader will come across. The stories run about 7 pages with illustrations and are really nice adaptations.
I enjoyed these abridged versions of the plays and the really nice illustrations that accompany them. These stories don't shy from the darker elements of the plays, so keep that in mind for young readers. Then again, I would have loved those darker elements, and still do.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Childrens, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
rebekahf's review against another edition
5.0
Step on to a stage full of stories with this beautiful anthology of 12 stories from Shakespeare.
Including favourites such as The Tempest, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet and Othello, this book takes the best from the Bard and rewrites them to be accessible to children.
The book is an artwork in itself. Collage artist Alice Lindstrom’s illustrations are breath-taking. Lindstrom’s paper collage is highly detailed, intricate and textured. She uses traditional cut and paste techniques, painting and preparing the paper beforehand, then cutting and assembling it. A Stage Full of Shakespeare Stories is her first children’s book and it is a stunning debut.
Each story is thoughtfully rewritten to make it more accessible to younger readers. While each has been simplified, the essence of the original story is very much intact. The Bard’s more famous lines and quotes are honoured and remain.
While marketed at children older than seven, it would be a more comfortable fit for those in the upper primary school level, purely because of the topics Shakespeare covers. McAllister didn’t shy away from the tragedy plays, with Macbeth, King Lear and Hamlet all included.
Each story takes on its own chapter, with a cast of characters headlining each, along with a single quote and title page. A clean contents page and chapter indicators on each page will also help independent readers conquer Shakespeare solo.
A page about Shakespeare himself offers more information and a full list of his plays is a nice touch. McAllister also offers a one paragraph summary about each of the featured plays. Each summary offers a bit of background or inspiration about the play.
With its hardcover, incredible illustrations and simple rewrites of some of the world’s most popular stories, A Stage Full of Shakespeare Stories deserves the spotlight. It would be a wonderful gift to readers of any age, becoming a well-loved treasury to be handed down the generations.
Including favourites such as The Tempest, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet and Othello, this book takes the best from the Bard and rewrites them to be accessible to children.
The book is an artwork in itself. Collage artist Alice Lindstrom’s illustrations are breath-taking. Lindstrom’s paper collage is highly detailed, intricate and textured. She uses traditional cut and paste techniques, painting and preparing the paper beforehand, then cutting and assembling it. A Stage Full of Shakespeare Stories is her first children’s book and it is a stunning debut.
Each story is thoughtfully rewritten to make it more accessible to younger readers. While each has been simplified, the essence of the original story is very much intact. The Bard’s more famous lines and quotes are honoured and remain.
While marketed at children older than seven, it would be a more comfortable fit for those in the upper primary school level, purely because of the topics Shakespeare covers. McAllister didn’t shy away from the tragedy plays, with Macbeth, King Lear and Hamlet all included.
Each story takes on its own chapter, with a cast of characters headlining each, along with a single quote and title page. A clean contents page and chapter indicators on each page will also help independent readers conquer Shakespeare solo.
A page about Shakespeare himself offers more information and a full list of his plays is a nice touch. McAllister also offers a one paragraph summary about each of the featured plays. Each summary offers a bit of background or inspiration about the play.
With its hardcover, incredible illustrations and simple rewrites of some of the world’s most popular stories, A Stage Full of Shakespeare Stories deserves the spotlight. It would be a wonderful gift to readers of any age, becoming a well-loved treasury to be handed down the generations.
alongreader's review against another edition
5.0
Beautifully illustrated and really nice retellings, simple without missing too many of the details. A fantastic first introduction to the stories every child should know. Perfect.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
readsewknit's review against another edition
4.0
As a former English major and teacher, reading Shakespeare and making it accessible to students was a frequent refrain. I still remember the epiphany I had my freshman year when I first read Romeo and Juliet for the first time -- it was a love story with all the angst and drama that I witnessed in my high school around me. Being able to bring it to life by having my students act it out in a daily read-aloud exercise was equally rewarding as I saw them engage and connect in a way that made the text relevant to them.
In A Stage Full of Shakespeare Stories, each play begins with a visual representation of the primary characters. A play is condensed into half a dozen pages of narrative text, with illustrations complementing the pages. I appreciate this structure, although I would only want this to be used as a tool to equip students with the basic framework, inspiring them to read the primary text. It would also be a way to introduce individuals to the plays earlier than they would be able to read the original works.
It's a few years before my girls will be reading the plays in their original format, but A Stage Full of Shakespeare Stories is a book that could draw them in now, or it could be a good companion for those who are intimidated with the original plays.
(I received a digital ARC from NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review.)
In A Stage Full of Shakespeare Stories, each play begins with a visual representation of the primary characters. A play is condensed into half a dozen pages of narrative text, with illustrations complementing the pages. I appreciate this structure, although I would only want this to be used as a tool to equip students with the basic framework, inspiring them to read the primary text. It would also be a way to introduce individuals to the plays earlier than they would be able to read the original works.
It's a few years before my girls will be reading the plays in their original format, but A Stage Full of Shakespeare Stories is a book that could draw them in now, or it could be a good companion for those who are intimidated with the original plays.
(I received a digital ARC from NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review.)
bibliotequeish's review against another edition
4.0
I thought this book was so cute and I absolutely love this idea.
These are short versions of some of Shakespeare most popular plays. The writing is easy to understand, and the illustrations are bright and beautiful.
This book is a great way to introduce Shakespeare to children, and I think it is so important to make classic literature fun and engaging for children at a young age. If they already have an appreciation for the classics then by the time they are forced to read these stories in school, it wont seem so daunting and it wont seem so boring. It will be easier to understand because they already know the story.
So many kids don't read, and I worry it's because reading was never fun for them, it was always school work. We need to grow and nurture an appreciation for these masterpieces at a young age and having books like this will make that so much easier.
I will definitely pick up a copy of this book when it is released.
These are short versions of some of Shakespeare most popular plays. The writing is easy to understand, and the illustrations are bright and beautiful.
This book is a great way to introduce Shakespeare to children, and I think it is so important to make classic literature fun and engaging for children at a young age. If they already have an appreciation for the classics then by the time they are forced to read these stories in school, it wont seem so daunting and it wont seem so boring. It will be easier to understand because they already know the story.
So many kids don't read, and I worry it's because reading was never fun for them, it was always school work. We need to grow and nurture an appreciation for these masterpieces at a young age and having books like this will make that so much easier.
I will definitely pick up a copy of this book when it is released.
bookworm_oakey's review against another edition
5.0
When it comes to Shakespeare I have to reach for my dunces hat because apart from Romeo and Juliet I'm clueless. As much as I adore everything about The Bard, the words of Shakespeare are like another language to me.... So after a trip to Shakespeares Birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon I spotted this book in the gift shop and knew I needed it, not only because of the stunning illustrations but also I loved the idea of simplified versions of Shakespeare's work to give me a basic idea of the plots of his most famous works.
🎭For the past two months myself and my 12 year old son have been bedtime reading this book together. Although many of the stories still confuse us it's still a huge help to read them in our current familiar tongue 👅.
Being a huge Tudor era fan I love all things connected to Shakespeare... Have you ever researched the words and phrases he introduced into our language??? (See pic 9)
"Love is Blind"
"Wild Goose chase"
"Wear your heart on your Sleeve"
"Not Slept a Wink"
Go check them all out, it's fascinating...
Did you know it was rumoured that Shakespeare's head had been stolen from his grave and in 2016 Archeologists concluded it was probably stolen 200 years ago...even with the following words on his gravestone
🎭 "𝐺𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑑, 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐽𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑠’ 𝑠𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑟, / 𝑇𝑜 𝑑𝑖𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒. / 𝐵𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑠, / 𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑒 ℎ𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑚𝑦 𝑏𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑠."🎭
🎭For the past two months myself and my 12 year old son have been bedtime reading this book together. Although many of the stories still confuse us it's still a huge help to read them in our current familiar tongue 👅.
Being a huge Tudor era fan I love all things connected to Shakespeare... Have you ever researched the words and phrases he introduced into our language??? (See pic 9)
"Love is Blind"
"Wild Goose chase"
"Wear your heart on your Sleeve"
"Not Slept a Wink"
Go check them all out, it's fascinating...
Did you know it was rumoured that Shakespeare's head had been stolen from his grave and in 2016 Archeologists concluded it was probably stolen 200 years ago...even with the following words on his gravestone
🎭 "𝐺𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑑, 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐽𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑠’ 𝑠𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑟, / 𝑇𝑜 𝑑𝑖𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒. / 𝐵𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑠, / 𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑒 ℎ𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑚𝑦 𝑏𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑠."🎭
ljrinaldi's review against another edition
3.0
Does it matter if this beautiful language, below
becomes this:
The second is clearer, and that is what this book is for, to make the stories clearer, and easier to understand. Still, I miss the flowing language, that makes Shakespeare so quoted in modern English that we don't even notice that that is what we are doing any more.
On the other hand, they have kept: "By the prickling of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes".
And so it goes through all the rest of the plays. The story is well retold, in modern English, and some lines are kept, and others are made more clear, such as Juliet's lament about Romeo being a Montague.
This book is good for teaching the contents of the plays, and making them easy to read, and understand, but is no substitute for seeing or reading the real thing, and I hope that anyone reading this book, would realize that.
With that caveat, I would recommend this as a good introduction to Shakespeare.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
"Is this a dagger which I see before me,
The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.
35I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.
Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible
To feeling as to sight? Or art thou but
A dagger of the mind, a false creation,
Proceeding from the heat-oppressèd brain?"
becomes this:
Are you real or are you a dagger of my mind?
Fate must has sent this vision to lead me
The second is clearer, and that is what this book is for, to make the stories clearer, and easier to understand. Still, I miss the flowing language, that makes Shakespeare so quoted in modern English that we don't even notice that that is what we are doing any more.
On the other hand, they have kept: "By the prickling of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes".
And so it goes through all the rest of the plays. The story is well retold, in modern English, and some lines are kept, and others are made more clear, such as Juliet's lament about Romeo being a Montague.
This book is good for teaching the contents of the plays, and making them easy to read, and understand, but is no substitute for seeing or reading the real thing, and I hope that anyone reading this book, would realize that.
With that caveat, I would recommend this as a good introduction to Shakespeare.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.