Customer Reviews

Tales From Shakespeare

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4 star:		(1)
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I was happy that there is something available for kids that would introduce them to Shakespeare. However, I still had to use my own words even for narrative. You really can't do much about Shakespeare's words and you would not want to, but the narrative and other explanations should have been made easier to read. They read more like narratives for operas with "dote", "sprite", "vowed", "disdainful", "enarmored", "braying", "loathsome" etc all over the place.

My kids are under 10 and I was hoping that with my help they will enjoy the book. They did, but I had to really work on it.

Absolutely beautiful! Stunning illustrations and accessible retellings of Shakespeare's most beloved plays. An excellent early introduction for children and a wonderful edition for anyone who cherishes Shakespeare.

I originally purchased this as paperback, read through it and fell in love. Then I misplaced it. I was so upset that I bought this hard cover version. The illustrations are reason enough, not to mention the simplified information on Shakespeare's works. When I found my paperback copy, I gave it to a friend who had borrowed it and loved it as much as I did. This is a wonderful introduction into the world of Shakespeare's plays, by explaining his plots and stories in a contemporary manner, Ms. Packer has truly taken the Fear out of comprehending Shakespeare.

This is an excellent introduction to Shakespeare. Kids will read it with understanding and without getting bored. The works are kept short but long enough to capture the story and allow kids a chance to become interested in Shakespeare before feeling they cannot understand it. I am so glad I found this book!

William Shakespeare's works can be intimidating to a novice or even veteran. It is clear by Tina Packer who has been the artistic director and developer of the American theatrical company, Shakespeare & Company, in Lenox, Massachusetts of her love and admiration for the Bard of Stratford-Upon-Avon. This book is really for children and can help others learn about Shakespeare's works without the intimidation of his works. Tina Packer should be awarded Damehood. She is a British citizen and an alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts as well as an associate member. When she came to the US in 1972, she brought Shakespeare to the Berkshires and her love and admiration to the Bard if obvious as you read her work. She doesn't write much about herself in here. It's all about Shakespeare who is relevant still after his death over 5 centuries ago.

In this book, there are beautiful illustrations capturing the scenes. The book also contains his major works with characters and a brief summary of the actions in their plays. The play synopsis reads like a short story and perfect for anybody who needs to know their Shakespeare.

This book is a perfect introduction to those whether young or old to know Shakespeare. As for me, I'm not the biggest Shakespeare fan but I see and understand his relevance to today's society. He was really the master playwright and his storylines are often reproduced even on reality television shows, theatre, or even the daytime soaps.

Shakespeare's works are combination of human interactions in love, work, and family. Maybe we don't realize that Shakespeare was the first to acknowledge them in a more familiar setting. Of course, nobody speaks that way today and maybe they didn't in his time.

I'll say off the top I'm biased as I trained at Shakespeare & Company under Tina's direction.

I teach all ages and still find this a fantastic prose version of the text. She is true to the elements of the story and helps articulate sometimes hidden motivations behind some of the character actions. I also really love that she doesn't dumb it down or "fix" the text. I have never had a kid not get the story after a reading of this book for whatever play I was working on at the time.

The illustrations are fancy enough that my high schoolers don't feel like I'm reading them a baby book and the little ones just love the stories! Every theatre or english teacher who does Shakespeare should have this on their shelves.