• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

What Do We Do All Day logo

  • Start Here
  • Books
    • Classics
      • 20th Century Classics
    • Early Chapter Books
    • Easy Readers
    • Folktales
    • Holiday Books
    • Middle Grade (8-12 years)
    • Nonfiction
    • Picture Books
    • Read Aloud Chapter Books
  • Games
    • Traditional Games
  • Kids Activities
    • Arts and Crafts
    • Literacy & Writing
    • Math
    • Playful Activities
    • Science
    • Toddler
  • Parenting
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Books for kids
  • Games
  • Indoor activities for kids
  • Parenting
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
  • ×
    You are here: Home / Books / Shakespeare for Kids: Books Inspired by the Bard

     

    Shakespeare for Kids: Books Inspired by the Bard

    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    With a background in theater, you bet I wanted to introduce Shakespeare to my kids! As soon as I could, I started taking them to plays, yet I recognize that this approach may not be for everyone, especially for parents who haven't read and seen his plays multiple times over their careers.

    Not to worry, sharing the Bard's rich language with your kids, no matter their age, is not as difficult as you might think! These Shakespeare books for kids will help you get started, but don't forget to book your theater tickets, asap!

    Collage of Shakespeare inspired books for kids

    Note: this list contains Amazon and Bookshop affiliate links. Purchases made through these links may earn a commission for this blog. Bookshop also supports independent bookstores.

    Table of contents

    • Board Books
    • Picture Books
    • Graphic Novels
    • Middle Grade Shakespeare Adaptations
    • Nonfiction Shakespeare Books
    • Fun Shakespeare Quotes for Kids!

    Be sure to grab the printable, which includes the Shakespeare book list as well as great Shakespeare quotes for kids to learn.

    How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare book

    How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare by Ken Ludwig

    Find it: Bookshop | Amazon

    I have never encountered a better source for parents and educators for advice on how to introduce Shakespeare to kids. His method is extremely easy and incredibly fun, even if the grown-ups are a Shakespeare novices, themselves. I can't recommend it highly enough.

    What is the Best Shakespeare Version for Kids?

    This question pops up a lot but I don't have an easy answer for you. When you are looking for a copy of the original play I suggest you head to the bookstore or the library and look through the versions available.

    Ask yourself, do you want a heavily annotated version? Do you want the collected works or individual books, which will be easier to hold and read? Do you want additional critical essays?

    If you don't know what you want, I recommend you get started with Ken Ludwig's book, How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare.

    Board Books

    Two children's board book covers

    The Wild Waves Whist, and Behowl the Moon, words by Shakespeare, story by Erin Nelsen Parekh, illustrations by Mehrdokht Amini

    Find it: The Wild Waves Whist | Behowl the Moon

    If you do want to recite Shakespeare's rich and imaginative language to your babes, these are the books for you I am not into gimmicky "classics" for babies books, but I love these! Instead of attempting to summarize the plot of the plays, the author and illustrator have lifted text from the plays and created a story through the illustrations. The Wild Waves Whist is from The Tempest, and Behowl the Moon's text is from A Midsummer Night's Dream. All ages.

    MORE: Poetry Books for Babies and Toddlers

    Picture Books

    Two Shakespeare picture books

    William Shakespeare's The Tempest, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Georghia Ellinas, illustrated by Jane Ray

    Find it: Bookshop | Amazon

    Finally! Some wonderful prose retellings of Shakespeare's plays in picture book form. The books were created in conjunction with Shakespeare's Globe. The illustrations are lush and the language is accessible but not dumbed-down. These are excellent picture books to read before you take your children to the plays, or just for fun. I just hope that Ellinas and Ray are collaborating on more works! Ages 5 and up.

    The Boy, the Bear, the Baron, the Bard book cover

    The Boy, the Bear, the Baron and the Bard by Gregory Rogers

    Find it: Your Library | Amazon

    I do not understand why this book is out of print! Check your library because you don't want to miss it! It's a wordless, energetic adventure. A boy chases a runaway soccer ball backstage only to find himself transported to the world of Shakespeare and onstage at The Globe. The playwright himself begins to chase the boy off the stage and they embark on a chaotic journey around Elizabethan London, picking up a bear, an imprisoned baron, and leaping onto a barge inhabited by Queen Elizabeth! Ages 4 and up.

    MORE: Picture books about the theater

    Flibbertigibbety Words picture book cover

    Flibbertigibbety Words: Young Shakespeare Chases Inspiration by Donna Guthrie, illustrated by Åsa Gilland

    Find it: Bookshop | Amazon

    This is an imaginative take on how William Shakespeare created his plays and found his words. One morning the words fly into his window and young William starts chasing them. The words start to form quotes from his plays and William pursues them all over the landscape until finally he figures out just the right way to tame them. A delightful way to familiarize children with Shakespeare's poetic language. Ages 4 and up.

    Pop-Up Shakespeare book cover and open page pop up spread

    Pop-up Shakespeare: Every Play and Poem in Pop-up 3-D by Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor, pop-ups & illustrations by Jennie Maizels

    Find it: Bookshop | Amazon

    Authored by collaborators in The Reduced Shakespeare Company (whose work you should definitely see!), this pop-up book is so much fun. How do they fit Shakespeare's complete works in only five double page spreads, do you ask? With many lift-the flap features,"long story short" side shows, and a hefty dose of humor. In addition, the book delivers historical background about the famous poet's life in the theater. Ages 5 and up.

    MORE: Middle grade novels about the theater (including ones featuring Shakespeare, himself!)

    Graphic Novels

    Yorick and Bones graphic novel

    Yorick and Bones by Jeremy Tankard and Hermione Tankard

    Find it: Bookshop | Amazon

    I absolutely adored William Shakespeare's "lost graphic novel" and so will your kids! Yorick the skeleton wakes up and starts looking to make some friends. He enlists the help of Bones, a nearby dog. This clever, clever tale is written in iambic pentameter but the language is completely accessible and all kinds of fun. Ages 7 and up.

    Two Stratford Zoo graphic novel book covers

    The Stratford Zoo Midnight Revue series by Ian Lendler, illustrated by Zack Giallongo

    Find it: Bookshop | Amazon

    This duo of playful and amusing graphic novels will appeal to children who think they have no interest in The Bard. At midnight the animals in Stratford Zoo gather together to put on a show. They play fast and loose with the dialogue but it's all in fun. Readers will enjoy the funny asides from the animals in the audience and back matter gives kids a bit of information on Shakespeare and the plays in question. Ages 6 and up.

    Hamlet manga book cover

    Manga Shakespeare Classics, adapted by Crystal S. Chan

    Find it: Bookshop | Amazon

    The Manga Classics series includes more than just Shakespeare, but that is all I'm able to recommend here, having not looked at the others. The Shakespeare adaptations are pretty useful, actually. Each one includes the full, original text and while of course nothing is a substitute for seeing a live performance, these books offer young readers an accessible alternative to reading the scripts. Note: be sure to look for the full original text versions and not the "modern English" manga versions. Ages 10 and up.

    Middle Grade Shakespeare Adaptations

    At this age, kids can start delving into the original plays and I don't think retellings are necessary. Nevertheless, I do not dispute that some readers will benefit from becoming familiar with plots, characters and themes of the plays through more modern versions.

    You're really only going to need one book and my suggestion is Garfield's book, which I also recommend as a read aloud.

    Leon Garfield's Shakespeare Stories book

    Shakespeare Stories by Leon Garfield, illustrated by Michael Foreman

    Find it: Bookshop | Amazon

    Garfield's renditions are extremely adept at incorporating Shakespeare's marvelous language into the narrative. He uses rich, descriptive language to set the stage and present the characters. Verona is "where men were as bright as wasps and carried quick swords for their stings." Sir Toby Belch is a "fat bag of wind." The characters speak Shakespeare's lines. The New York Review of Books has republished this classic in a handsome edition with 21 plays. Ages 10 and up.

    Nonfiction Shakespeare Books

    Nonfiction books about Shakespeare, the Elizabethan theater, and Renaissance England are in no short supply. Here are two unique choice that will actually be fun to read.

    What's So Special about Shakespeare by Michael Rosen book cover

    What's So Special about Shakespeare? by Michael Rosen

    Find it: Bookshop | Amazon

    A fast paced and suspenseful informational book about Shakespeare? You probably thought that wasn't possible. Here is the proof that it is. Rosen presents the historical backdrop of Shakespeare's England, describes life in Renaissance England, looks closely as several of the most famous plays, and discusses Shakespeare's legacy. Excellent. Ages 8 and up.

    You Wouldn't Want to Be a Shakespearean Actor! book cover

    You Wouldn't Want to Be a Shakespearean actor! by Jacqueline Morley, illustrated by David Antram

    Find it: Your Library | Amazon

    I think this installment in the popular, "You Wouldn't Want to.." series is out of print, but you library surely has a copy. In my experience, everyone loves an approach to history that imparts quirky facts left out of school textbooks. This book is extremely fun to read while still being highly informative. A glossary rounds out the book. Ages 8 and up.

    Fun Shakespeare Quotes for Kids!

    Kids will be amazed to learn just how much Shakespeare's influence abounds in modern day speech. Memorizing a few famous passages should be easy as they've probably heard them a few times already.

    As mentioned above, you should definitely start with Ken Ludwig's book, How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare.

    I've put together a printable some fun-to-learn and very short quotes (Lord, what fools these mortals be!), as well as a selection of hilarious insults that kids will enjoy (You scullion! You rampallian! You fustilarian! I’ll tickle your catastrophe!).

    « Wonderful Weather Poems
    15 Matching Games for Family Game Night »
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Erica! I believe parents can stay sane without giving their kids an electronic device. Learn how!

    More about me →

    Newsletter

    Join over 19,000 subscribers who said "Yes! I want to unplug my kids!" We'll send you 10 waiting games your kids can play anytime, anywhere. Join here -->

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • About the Site

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and join over 15,000 other families finding ways reduce screen time.

    Other Stuff

    We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

    Copyright © 2023 What Creative Media LLC

    Want More Free Activity Ideas?
    Join our email list and as a thank you gift I'll send you a list of 10 waiting games that will make your kids smarter.
    Your email will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Click here to view our privacy policy.
    Want your kids to love being unplugged?
    Join our newsletter and as a thank you, I'll send you a list of 10 waiting games.
    Your email will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Click here to view our privacy policy.