What do you think?
Rate this book
Shakespeare Stories
Shakespeare Childrens Collection: Includes King Lear, Hamlet, The Taming Of The Shrew, A Midsummer Nights Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, Othello
BRAND NEW, Exactly same ISBN as listed, Please double check ISBN carefully before ordering.
First published September 1, 2010
12 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Matthews
128 books24 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Andrew Matthews was born in South Glamorgan in 1948. Andrew taught English in Hampshire after which he became a full-time writer. He lives in Reading with his wife and their cats. Andrew's work has been widely translated and he has made numerous appearances at schools and libraries throughout the UK.
Source: United Agents.
Andrew Matthews was born in South Glamorgan in 1948. Andrew taught English in Hampshire after which he became a full-time writer. He lives in Reading with his wife and their cats. Andrew's work has been widely translated and he has made numerous appearances at schools and libraries throughout the UK.
Source: United Agents.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
April 25, 2016
این یه کتابه گردآوری شده از آقای اندرو متیوز که در حقیقت ایشون اکثر داستان های شکسپیر مخصوصا مشهور هاش رو به طور خلاصه گذاشته . ولی فرقی که این کتاب با اکثر کتابای خلاصه شده داره ، اینه که در حین خوندن داستان احساس میکنی خود شکسپیر اینو نوشته ، خیلی روون و زیبا تراژدی ها و داستان های تاریخی و کمدی های شکسپیر رو توضیح داده ، به همه توصیه میکنم اگه کل کتابای شکسپیر رو نخوندن ، حتما این کتاب رو بخونن تا با طرز نوشتن شکسپیر ، و افکارش آشنا باشن و اگه جایی نیاز شد حرفی برای زدن داشته باشن . البته خوندن داستان های اصل این نویسنده خودش یه چیز دیگه است . و اگه هم یکی از داستان های شکسپیر رو خودتون خوندید دیگه نیازی به دوباره خوندنش نیست ولی حتما به آخر داستان مراجعه کنید ، چون آخر هر داستان ، توضیح مختصری از کل داستان بعلاوه توضیحاتی درباره مفهوم هر داستان داده . مثلا خود من فقط اتللو رو از شکسپیر خوندم ولی باز هم وقتی ، توضیحات آخر رو خوندم فهمیدم که هنوز هم خیلی چیزها رو از داستان نفهمیدم . کتاب مفیدیه برای خوندن
.
.
درود بر مکبث!که شاه خواهد شد
.
.
درود بر مکبث!که شاه خواهد شد
February 6, 2021
Once upon a time, in the nighttime, a girl who cannot sleep ends up buying a boxset of William Shakespeare’s plays, 16 plays to be exact. These plays are a retelling version and its target readers, I think, is junior reader or children. So the stories are pretty much easier to understand—minimal archaic word usage and the wordplays, which makes Shakespeare renown as a Master of Pun, is none to be found here.
But, as a reader, I still found joy reading these versions for some reasons. First, the writer maintains the nuance of the story. Retelling without having a deep understanding of the main idea will be a dangerous activity since it could misleading from the author’s intention. After more than 400 years, something that used to be funny, to be accepted as a normal idea, may not able to maintain its effect and position. To deliver a story that could be accepted in multiple interpretations is a sure one challenging thing and I think the writer delivers it very well—simplicity in the retelling, considering its target readers, but still encouraging the readers to think deeper about the main theme.
Second, the illustrations are gorgeous. It might look so simple, just like a rough sketch, but that’s the illustrator’s style. Also, each book has a short note, explaining the main idea of the play, how today readers may react toward the idea, and, in some books, discussing the origin of the plot.
In conclusion, this boxset is an excellent introduction to Shakespeare’s play.
But, as a reader, I still found joy reading these versions for some reasons. First, the writer maintains the nuance of the story. Retelling without having a deep understanding of the main idea will be a dangerous activity since it could misleading from the author’s intention. After more than 400 years, something that used to be funny, to be accepted as a normal idea, may not able to maintain its effect and position. To deliver a story that could be accepted in multiple interpretations is a sure one challenging thing and I think the writer delivers it very well—simplicity in the retelling, considering its target readers, but still encouraging the readers to think deeper about the main theme.
Second, the illustrations are gorgeous. It might look so simple, just like a rough sketch, but that’s the illustrator’s style. Also, each book has a short note, explaining the main idea of the play, how today readers may react toward the idea, and, in some books, discussing the origin of the plot.
In conclusion, this boxset is an excellent introduction to Shakespeare’s play.
May 11, 2019
AMAZING. I still use it now.
I've taught Shakespeare for the last three years of my teaching so I use these every year.
I've taught Shakespeare for the last three years of my teaching so I use these every year.
March 3, 2018
I did not enjoy reading these much but then I'm not the target audience! They are targeted ideally at the young reader, typically 9-12 year olds, I'd guess, and suggest. So, to me, the stories kind of just whoosh by, but will definitely be interesting to the young ones. The author has evidently tried to keep the humour, tragedy, love, romance, greed, envy, hatred as much as is possible within the limited usage of vocabulary and length and yet make it an interesting read. For an adult, who is not familiar with all of the Bard's writings, this can be a good place to start, with 15 min required to finish a book. The set has 16 books and maybe, will inspire you to pick up an original work! And of course, it's a great place for a young reader to start with Shakespeare classics and as an introduction to stories with labyrinthine plots.
August 9, 2021
این اثر کلا خلاصه شده ست و خب از کلیت داستان زده شده.
این کتاب کلا از نظر من به درد افراد مثبت ۱۲ ساله میخوره.
من کلا زیاد برام مهم نیست که چه کسی تو چه سنی چه کتابی میخونه چون هرفردی با دیگری فرق میکنه ولی بخوام کلیت در نظر بگیرم ، بیشتر آثار شکسپیر تراژدیه که خب موقع خریدش یا هدیه دادن به روحیه کودکی که اینو میخونه توجه کنید. من ۹ سالم بود رومئو و جولیت خوندم اذیت نشدم یکی بود گریه ش در اومده بود~~
و همینطور این کتاب به درد کسایی میخوره که نمیتونن کلمات سنگین و جملات نمایشنامه های شکسپیر که نیاز به چند بار خوندن و تفکر بر روشون داره ، رو بخونن ، میتونن اینو بخونن روون و ساده س.
این کتاب کلا از نظر من به درد افراد مثبت ۱۲ ساله میخوره.
من کلا زیاد برام مهم نیست که چه کسی تو چه سنی چه کتابی میخونه چون هرفردی با دیگری فرق میکنه ولی بخوام کلیت در نظر بگیرم ، بیشتر آثار شکسپیر تراژدیه که خب موقع خریدش یا هدیه دادن به روحیه کودکی که اینو میخونه توجه کنید. من ۹ سالم بود رومئو و جولیت خوندم اذیت نشدم یکی بود گریه ش در اومده بود~~
و همینطور این کتاب به درد کسایی میخوره که نمیتونن کلمات سنگین و جملات نمایشنامه های شکسپیر که نیاز به چند بار خوندن و تفکر بر روشون داره ، رو بخونن ، میتونن اینو بخونن روون و ساده س.
September 14, 2023
I absolutely devoured these as an adult, and now I'm watching one of my students become addicted as well! I keep offering him all the 4th grade classics, but he loves how these books have silly illustrations, very mature themes, and they are so short he gets a "win" from finishing books so often. It's quite amazing that Andrew Matthews has accomplished this with the depth of Shakespeare! Bravo! (Note for parents and educators: Read them first. There were a few that I kept back because of very mature content, like Othello, that I will introduce in 6th or 7th grade.)
August 18, 2024
What fun! I was pleasantly surprised how these books did not shy away from the disturbing details. I read these to my daughter as bedtime stories, and she seemed to enjoy them, but not as much as I did. My one lament is that I wish the author could have worked in a few more of each plays most famous quotes.
April 14, 2021
Although highly abbreviated (losing entire characters in some cases) these are still engaging and relatively authentic versions. My kids (7&10) were captivated. The short explorations of themes at the end are great too.
December 20, 2019
A brilliant collection. So pleased my 7 year old enjoyed them as much as I did.
May 17, 2020
Confirms that Shakespeare can safely stay in my high school past. A light way to revisit, the authors have done a great job of simplifying.
June 5, 2020
Very simplified versions of Shakespeare’s plays that gave a great introduction to my 7 year old.
September 23, 2019
So funny and historical. It's a really good way to learn as well.
May 16, 2020
As a Drama graduate, I had to have these in my classroom! Shakespeare has been torturous for many people, yet there is something so unique and wonderful about his work that should continue to inspire generation after generation. Shakespeare shaped our language and his characters and themes seem as relevant today as they did 500 years ago.
We can excite children from as young as KS1 by his stories, fill their curiosity and overturn that sigh so commonly heard when beginning work on his plays and poems. I often think people attach a negative connotation to his works due to not taking the time to try to understand them and label it outdated or boring. I feel it is my responsibility, as a teacher but also as a drama graduate, to inspire children to want to learn about William Shakespeare. I reached for Twelfth Night when I first received this collection as it is my favourite play. “If music be the food of love, play on”.
These stories make Shakespeare so accessible for young children because they are easy to read, short and accompanied by a picture on every page. Role-play should certainly be encouraged to help children make meaning and explore the complex characters in his stories, but most importantly have fun.
We can excite children from as young as KS1 by his stories, fill their curiosity and overturn that sigh so commonly heard when beginning work on his plays and poems. I often think people attach a negative connotation to his works due to not taking the time to try to understand them and label it outdated or boring. I feel it is my responsibility, as a teacher but also as a drama graduate, to inspire children to want to learn about William Shakespeare. I reached for Twelfth Night when I first received this collection as it is my favourite play. “If music be the food of love, play on”.
These stories make Shakespeare so accessible for young children because they are easy to read, short and accompanied by a picture on every page. Role-play should certainly be encouraged to help children make meaning and explore the complex characters in his stories, but most importantly have fun.
March 7, 2020
Great collection of Shakespeare stories for children. The text is converted from standard English, making it easier for younger children to read and understand. The stories are also relatively short but still include lots of detail. The pictures on each page make it easy to follow along with the story and who each character is. Great to use when teaching Shakespeare plays.
June 16, 2021
Very quick easy reads
December 21, 2021
Great collection of bite-sized books to enjoy!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews