Customer Reviews

Macbeth for Kids (Shakespeare Can Be Fun!)

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What a wonderful way to introduce Shakespeare to children! I used this book as a third grade teacher to teach inner city kids about Macbeth. It was amazing to hear the students discussing all of the characters and their actions. They were proud of themselves for learning about Shakespeare "like high school kids." If you make it fun, they will have fun!

I am a third grade teacher on Long Island. Last year I introduced three of Willaim Shakespeare's plays into our classroom. My children loved Macbeth. We studied Macbeth, The Tempest and Hamlet. The way Mrs. Burdett wrote in rhyming couplets really made the reading enjoyable! I plan on using her books throughout my teaching career. Thank you Lois Burdett! Shakespeare can be fun thanks to you.

-Michael Hynes

Hello, my name is Shannon, and I have a Shakespeare comprehension problem. I cannot elicit any meaning out of "thither he in and me within," or "wherefore art thou," so when my AP lit class delved into MacBeth, I was already waving the white flag.
Then my mom pulls out this book we picked up at Folger Shakespeare Library in D.C. She tells me a teacher wrote a poem about MacBeth for 2nd graders to understand--she had her 2nd grade class draw the pictures in them. Okay, I need all the help I can get, so I acquiesce.
And this book is incredible. The poem is fiercely creative and original, the drawings are such a hoot, and I am understanding the entire play to the point that I am acing quizzes and writing high reviews on Amazon for MacBeth (as I'm doing now). Some people may be recommending this for tiny tots getting into Big Will. I'm calling out to all HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS WHO WANT A LITTLE HELP!!! Get this book. Trust me.

I have 2 sons, ages 9 and 11, and they both love Lois Burdett's Shakespeare books! These books make the story lines accessible while providing the flavor of Shakespeare through the wonderful rhyming couplets. I first used one of these books to "preview" the story of MacBeth to my younger son, who was going to be in a children's musical production of the story. He loved the book and often asks me to reread it to him, and we have since acquired several other of the Burdett titles. My sons also enjoy the whimsical illustrations and sidebars done by the children.

Brilliant idea, wonderful edition.

Lois Burdett did a wonderful job of retelling Shakespeare's tragedies and comedies for what they really are - wonderful stories. The language of these adapted plays is perfect; it has magic of Shakespeare's words, but is easy to comprehend by young readers. The children's drawings to Shakespeare's plays are used as books' illustrations. In contrast to many "half-academic" adapted versions for teens, the "Shakespeare could be fun" series are printed on a good paper, and include a lot of illustrations and children's comments to the play. The total effect is exactly the desired one: kids are not intimidated by the name of Shakespeare, they are interested and motivated to read further.

In our case, we bought the "Macbeth" after my daughter (10 years old) asked me whether it's really a "cursed play", and could I buy the play for her to read. Mumbling "there must be some adapted version for you" I run to the bookstore, trying to find something before her interest faded and thankfully found this book. She loved it and asked to read "Romeo and Julia"...
In less than three months, we ended up buying all the books in the series!

Even better, my daughter tried to move to the next level and to read one of the plays in the next level of adaptation ("teen version"). It didn't go well, admittedly, but thanks to Lois Burdett, she feels encouraged - and interested.
Great book! Great series!

Often times, by the time a kid is old enough to tackle Shakespeare (in high school usually) he or she has already been exposed so thoroughly to the idea that "Shakespeare is hard" that it's a drudgery before they even begin. These books help parents and teachers head off that attitude and show them how interesting and fun Shakespeare is before they have a chance to develop a negative attitude.

We have both "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "Macbeth" and I have to give a very sincere BRAVO for these books! My third grader enjoyed both books thoroughly, and I am tickled pink that she's now intrigued by Shakespeare and asking to read more of his "stories." Thank you Ms. Burdett!

I have used this at the high school level for students who have low reading levels. I also have used this in connection with explaining the story line. I have also used it at the elementary level where the younger students become fascinated by the story so that when it is introduced in high school, they already feel connected to the story and are not as intimidated by the language. I have used all of her books in these same ways.