We’re diving into Shakespeare and the Elizabethan Era with all the books on Shakespeare and fun books inspired by his works! Interested in learning how I introduce the Shakespeare’s actual plays to my kids? Find that info here: Easy Ways to Introduce Shakespeare to your Kids
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Picture Books on Shakespeare
Will’s Words
Shakespeare’s phrases are embedded into our daily speech, and you might not even know it! This is an interesting and informative picture book for kids and adults alike.
Review from Amazon: “When Jane Sutcliffe sets out to write a book about William Shakespeare and the Globe Theatre, in her own words, she runs into a problem: Will’s words keep popping up all over the place! What’s an author to do? After all, Will is responsible for such familiar phrases as “what’s done is done” and “too much of a good thing.” He even helped turn “household words” into household words.”
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“But, Jane embraces her dilemma, writing about Shakespeare, his plays, and his famous phrases with glee. After all, what better words are there to use to write about the greatest writer in the English language than his very own? As readers will discover, “the long and the short of it” is this: Will changed the English language forever.”
Bard of Avon
We enjoy all of Diane Stanley’s wordy picture book biographies. This one is all about Shakespeare. If you’re studying Shakespeare within the context of the Elizabethan era, you won’t want to miss “Good Queen Bess,” Stanley’s biography about Queen Elizabeth I.
“Nobody knows exactly when or why William Shakespeare left his boyhood home of Stratford-on-Avon for the great city of London, but it didn’t take long for him to make a name for himself. His plays are now performed almost every day in just about every part of the world; even people who’ve never seen them use words and phrases he introduced into the English language.”
“How did a man from an unremarkable family create a legacy that the world, even 400 years after his death, has never forgotten? There will always be unsolved mysteries about Shakespeare, but what we do know of his life, his times, and his theater makes for a very dramatic story.”
William Shakespeare and the Globe
Did you know that the current Globe theater is not the original one? This book not only provides a biography of Shakespeare, but also a history of the Globe Theater and how it was rebuilt.
Since we had just finished Shakespeare’s biography in Bard of Avon, I skipped to the part about the Globe Theater.
“From Hamlet to Romeo and Juliet to A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare’s celebrated works have touched people around the world. Aliki combines literature, history, biography, archaeology, and architecture in this richly detailed and meticulously researched introduction to Shakespeare’s world-his life in Elizabethan times, the theater world, and the Globe, for which he wrote his plays. Then she brings history full circle to the present-day reconstruction of the Globe theater.” (From the publisher)
History and Historical Fiction
The Bard and the Book
Written as a short chapter book, this is a fun look into how Shakespeare’s plays were preserved.
“Four hundred years ago, no one bothered to write down the exact words of stage plays. Characters’ lines were scribbled on small rolls of paper (as in, an actor’s role) and passed around, but no master script was saved for the future. The main reason we’ve heard of Romeo, Juliet, Hamlet, and Shakespeare himself is that a group of people made the excellent choice to preserve the plays after the Bard died. If they hadn’t created the book known as the First Folio, Shakespeare and his works would surely have been lost to history.”
“Part literary scavenger hunt (the search for every existing First Folio continues today), part book trivia treasure trove, and part love letter to Shakespeare, this behind-the-scenes, sharply funny true story is an ideal introduction to the Bard and his famous plays.” (From the publisher)
The Shakespeare Stealer
This book is set in Elizabethan England and full of intrigue. We listened to this on audiobook and the reader’s English accent really enhanced the story for us!
“Widge is an orphan with a rare talent for shorthand. His fearsome master has just one demand: steal Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet”–or else. Widge has no choice but to follow orders, so he works his way into the heart of the Globe Theatre, where Shakespeare’s players perform. As full of twists and turns as a London alleyway, this entertaining novel is rich in period details, colorful characters, villainy, and drama.” (from the publisher)
My kids were delighted to learn that there are two sequels to The Shakespeare Stealer (keep reading!)
Shakespeare’s Scribe
“When an outbreak of the deadly Black Plague closes the Globe Theatre, William Shakespeare’s acting troupe sets off on a tour of England. Widge, the orphan-turned-actor, knows that he’ll be useful on the trip. Not only does he love the stage, but his knack for a unique shorthand has proven him one of the most valuable apprentices in the troupe. But then a mysterious man appears, claiming to know a secret from Widge’s past-a secret that may forever force him from the theatre he loves.” (from the publisher)
Shakespeare’s Spy
“Intrigue, betrayal, and romance surround Widge as we find him back in London and at the center of things, as usual. Queen Elizabeth, Shakespeare’s patron, has died, but the new king and his queen love drama-on stage and off. Shakespeare has begun a new play about political intrigue, but real intrigue is close at hand. Someone is stealing from the company, and Shakespeare’s scripts must be guarded at all costs-including the one he has given up on and turned over to Widge to finish. Widge finds the glory of being a playwright appealing, especially when there’s a pretty girl to impress. But spying is even more exciting!”
Fiction Inspired by Shakespeare
Midsummer’s Mayhem
We read this book with our book club and used the free discussion guide and activities provided by the author. I always feel the author asks the most insightful questions!
To prepare my kids for this book, I read the retelling of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Tales From Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb. We also happened to find an outdoor, kid-friendly play of A Midsummer Night’s Dream soon after!
The kids and I had so much fun figuring out the parallels between Midsummer’s Mayhem and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I thought the modern take on Shakespeare’s magical play was so clever. How does she incorporate magic and love? With FOOD! Thank goodness there are recipes at the end of the book. We made one of the recipes for our book club meeting.
“Eleven-year-old Mimi Mackson comes from a big Indian American family: Dad’s a renowned food writer, Mom’s a successful businesswoman, and her three older siblings all have their own respective accomplishments. It’s easy to feel invisible in such an impressive family, but Mimi’s dream of proving she’s not the least-talented member of her family seems possible when she discovers a contest at the new bakery in town. Plus, it’ll start her on the path to becoming a celebrity chef like her culinary idol, Puffy Fay.” (from the publisher)
Much Ado About Baseball
My three boys all play baseball and their ears perked up when I started reading this during our family’s read-aloud time. Then, they decided that they could not wait and each began reading ahead on their own. Not surprising for my 13-year old twins…but then my 8-year old reluctant reader also became determined to read it. This is a child who is still reading Easy Readers and reluctantly reading Paddington.
And that 8-year old devoured this book in one week! Incredible.
This book is about baseball and math puzzles. It uses characters from Midsummer’s Mayhem and is probably best read as a sequel; however, it could also be read as a stand-alone book. It pulls in themes from Midsummer Night’s Dream as well as Much Ado About Nothing.
My 8-year old requested that I read Much Ado About Nothing from Lamb’s Tales from Shakespeare. I was so happy to comply!
There are two recipes and math puzzle explanations at the end of this book. It’s just so much fun!
If you also have a baseball lover, check out my blog post for more Baseball Stories.
Shakespeare’s Secret
Another nod to Much Ado About Nothing, the main character in Shakespeare’s Secret is named Hero. Her family has moved into a home with a mystery that goes all the way back to Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth I, and Shakespeare. Author Elise Broach masterfully spins history into this contemporary fiction. We learned all about the theory that William Shakespeare was not the true author of his plays.
I read this aloud to my kids ages 8, 10, and 13, but there are some middle school themes bullying and social hierarchy.
“Starting sixth grade at a new school is never easy, especially when your name is Hero. Named after a character in a Shakespeare play, Hero isn’t at all interested in this literary connection. But when she’s told by an eccentric neighbor that there might be a million dollar diamond hidden in her new house and that it could reveal something about Shakespeare’s true identity, Hero is determined to live up to her name and uncover the mystery.” (from the publisher)
The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet
Another book with middle school themes, I pre-read this book and then handed it to my 13-year old boys to read.
Hamlet’s parents seemed to have stepped straight out of the Elizabethan Era and have been asked to help with her English class’ play of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. To top it off, her 7-year old sister Desdemona is a genius who will attend middle school with Hamlet.
There are beautiful themes of family relationships and growth in the characters of Hamlet, Desdemona, and her parents.
“All Hamlet Kennedy wants is to be a normal eighth grader. But with parents like hers – Shakespearean scholars who actually dress in Elizabethan regalia . . . in public! – it’s not that easy. As if they weren’t strange enough, her genius seven-year-old sister will be attending her middle school, and is named the new math tutor. Then, when the Shakespeare Project is announced, Hamlet reveals herself to be an amazing actress. Even though she wants to be average, Hamlet can no longer hide from the fact that she- like her family – is anything but ordinary.” (from the publisher)
Secrets of Shakespeare’s Grave
This is our current read-aloud and I’m excited that it will take us on journey to Mont St. Michel and Stratford-Upon-Avon!
“Twelve-year-old Colophon Letterford has a serious mystery on her hands. Will she discover the link between her family’s literary legacy and Shakespeare’s tomb before it’s too late? Antique paintings, secret passages, locked mausoleums, a four-hundred-year-old treasure, and a cast of quirky (and some ignoble) characters all add up to a fun original adventure. Readers will revel in a whirlwind journey through literary time and space in real-world locales from Mont St. Michel to Stratford-Upon-Avon to Central Park!” (from the publisher)
Tower of the Five Orders
This is the sequel to Secrets of Shakespeare’s Grave.
“Colophon Letterford’s life changed overnight when she uncovered Shakespeare’s lost manuscripts. Now the authenticity of those manuscripts is in question and the family publishing business is in danger. In this exciting mystery, thirteen-year-old Colophon travels from Oxford’s lofty Tower of the Five Orders to the dank depths of London’s sewers in her pursuit of truth and honor. But the stakes are high. Budding cryptologists, Shakespeare fans, and mystery lovers alike will revel in the twists and turns of this fascinating middle grade sequel to Secrets of Shakespeare’s Grave.” (from the publisher)
Wednesday Wars
I haven’t dived into this one yet but it comes highly recommended. I am looking forward to reading about the relevance of Shakespeare during the 60s.
“Seventh grader Holling Hoodhood isn’t happy. He is sure his new teacher, Mrs. Baker, hates his guts. Throughout the school year, Holling strives to get a handle on the Shakespeare plays Mrs. Baker assigns him to read on his own time, and to figure out the enigmatic Mrs. Baker. At home, Holling’s domineering father is obsessed with his business image and disregards his family.”
“As the Vietnam War turns lives upside down, Holling comes to admire and respect both Shakespeare and Mrs. Baker, who have more to offer him than he imagined. And when his family is on the verge of coming apart, he also discovers his loyalty to his sister, and his ability to stand up to his father when it matters most.” (from the putlisher)
Other Resources for Teaching Shakespeare
How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare
I’m enjoying this book and gleaning wisdom from it. It’s helping me on my Shakespeare-reading journey with the kids!
“Ken Ludwig devised his friendly, easy-to-master methods while teaching his own children. Beginning with memorizing short passages from the plays, his technique then instills children with cultural references they will utilize for years to come. Ludwig’s approach includes understanding of the time period and implications of Shakespeare’s diction as well as the invaluable lessons behind his words and stories. Colorfully incorporating the history of Shakespearean theater and society, How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare guides readers on an informed and adventurous journey through the world in which the Bard wrote.”
“This book’s simple process allows anyone to impart to children the wisdom of plays like A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, Macbeth, and Romeo and Juliet. And there’s fun to be had throughout. Shakespeare novices and experts and readers of all ages will each find something delightfully irresistible in How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare.” (from the publisher)
Brush Up Your Shakespeare!
This book is a fun one to pick up for random information. I’m keeping it on my coffeetable for people to flip through. I can’t wait to hear the facts that my kids pick up.
“From the doomed Othello, who first assumed a “foregone conclusion,” to the impetuous Mercutio, who went off on the first “wild-goose chase,” here are several hundred of the most famous lines and newly minted words from Shakespeare’s canon. Each phrase is presented with background notes, explanations, and literary anecdotes that set it in its original context. With a new filmography of the finest Shakespeare movies, Brush Up Your Shakeapeare! is an accessible and entertaining guide for Bard aficionados and amateurs alike.” (from the publisher)
Shakespeare for Kids: His Life and Times
This is a great book to browse through for fun project ideas. I bookmarked 5 fun activities, some connected to food and others of a more literary sort.
“Kids can experience William Shakespeare’s England and get their first taste of the Bard’s sublime craft with this lively biography and activity book. Staging swordplay, learning to juggle, and creating authentic costumes like a flamboyant shirt with slashed sleeves or a lady’s lace-trimmed glove bring the theater arts to life. Making a quill pen and using it to write a story, binding a simple book by hand, creating a fragrant pomander ball and a dish of stewed apples show what daily life was like in Elizabethan times. Inspired by scenes from Shakespeare’s plays, kids can invent new words, write songs, and devise scathing or comical insults just as he did. Fascinating and accurate historical information and 21 fun activities open a dramatic new world of learning for children ages 8 and up.” (from the publisher)