"Who is William Shakespeare?" For more than 20 years, Lois Burdett has asked that question of her elementary school students in Stratford, Ontario, Canada, leading them on a voyage of discovery that brings the Bard to life for boys and girls ages seven and up.
Romeo and Juliet for Kids, written in rhyming couplets is suitable for staging as class plays as well as reading aloud.
Gr 1-4-Once again, Burdett has produced a jaunty version of a Shakespeare work that grew from an intensive project with her elementary school students. The central text, composed of labored, uneven couplets, is the least appealing part of the book. Naive drawings, done by the students, are colored with clear, bright markers. Lively written additions from the second and third graders, such as Juliet's diary entries or reports from Verona citizens in response to the feud, show how well immersion in the play can lead to a good understanding by younger children. While readers elsewhere might enjoy a look at their contemporaries' drawings, it seems unlikely that they would derive even a fraction of the understanding of the play and its importance that Burdett's students got from the project. It wouldn't hurt, though, for teachers seeking inspiration to take a look at what can be achieved with enthusiasm and a strong belief in your source.-Sally Margolis, Barton Public Library, VT
Copyright 1998 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderful way to introduce Shakespeare to kids,
By A Customer
This review is from: Romeo and Juliet : For Kids (Shakespeare Can Be Fun series) (Paperback)
As a homeschooling parent I was looking for a way to introduce Shakespeare to my kids (9 and 10) -- they have loved these stories -- which we read aloud and then discussed (plot, characters, themes, conflicts, setting, motivations, etc.) -- the verse is enjoyable and effectively incorporates selected passages from the original in a seamless way. My kids have also enjoyed the illustrations and writing samples (all by 2nd-3rd graders) included in each book. After we read R&J, we watched the old Zefferelli film version and my kids got much more out of it. We've also read the Evelyn Nesbit prose versions but they didn't "feel" like Shakespeare the way these do...I have already purchased the exisitng Burdett versions and hope she has others in mind (PLEASE do Merchant of Venice!).
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderful way to introduce Shakespeare to kids,
By A Customer
This review is from: Romeo and Juliet : For Kids (Shakespeare Can Be Fun series) (Paperback)
As a homeschooling parent I was looking for a way to introduce Shakespeare to my kids (9 and 10) -- they have loved these stories -- which we read aloud and then discussed (plot, characters, themes, conflicts, setting, motivations, etc.) -- the verse is enjoyable and effectively incorporates selected passages from the original in a seamless way. My kids have also enjoyed the illustrations and writing samples (all by 2nd-3rd graders) included in each book. After we read R&J, we watched the old Zefferelli film version and my kids got much more out of it. We've also read the Evelyn Nesbit prose versions but they didn't "feel" like Shakespeare the way these do...I have already purchased the exisitng Burdett versions and hope she has others in mind (PLEASE do Merchant of Venice!).
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Your Child Can Read Shakespeare!!,
By
This review is from: Romeo and Juliet : For Kids (Shakespeare Can Be Fun series) (Paperback)
I used this as an experiment to see if my 10-year-old and her 9-year-old friend could read and understand the storyline of a Shakespearean play. The verdict?? THEY DID!! I asked them to summarize the plot and they did it with total accuracy. What a cool thing!!
I loved this and you will, too!
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