Customer Reviews

The Tempest

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4 star:		(1)
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My 7-year-old *asks* for this book as bedtime reading. Filled with wonderful, stylized illustrations of spirits, beasts, and renaissance costume, the book is a visual feast. While the text will surely frustrate many a Shakespeare aficionado, it is engaging and accessible to young children. Only two plots are well-developed: the love story between Miranda and Ferdinand, which gets the bulk of the attention, and the punishment and forgiveness of Antonio and the King. But this is just right: these core plots are told in a way that easily holds a child's attention, introduces snippets of lovely Shakespearian language, and prepares the child for a fuller encounter with the play.

A luscious introduction to Shakespeare for children. Spirin's artwork delightfully brings to life the Master's last play, which is condensed by Beneduce with thoughtfully chosen scenes. The rewrite is not so simplified as to be inane; instead, it is intelligently written, with key phrases from the play itself. Taking the time to get the classics into your child's knowledge base is important, and this book is a great opportunity to introduce a wonderful play and story to your child. This is a text-heavy picture book, so your child should be a willing and ready reader or an experienced listener.