Hamlet for Kids

Shakespeare Can Be Fun!

by Lois Burdett, Kenneth Branagh (Foreword)

Perhaps the best-known of Shakespeare's tragedies, Hamlet has all the ingredients for a gripping revenge and power, familial love and betrayal, dramatic sword fights, dark spooky scenes. Once again Lois Burdett has woven her own brand of magic by transforming Shakespeare's complex verse into rhyming couplets. She has created a version of Hamlet especially for children, even as young as seven, and one that readers of all ages will enjoy. At the appropriately named Hamlet Elementary School in Stratford, Ontario, where Burdett has taught for over 20 years, her students have created wonderful drawings of Hamlet to illustrate Burdett's fluid rhymes. The students' interpretations are vivid evidence of Burdett's clever ability to bring Shakespeare's complex characters and intricate plots to life for young people.

Genres: Shakespeare, Fiction, Folklore, Picture Books, Childrens, Classics, School

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 13, 2000

About the author

Lois Burdett is an acclaimed elementary school teacher from Stratford, Ontario, internationally recognized for her innovative approach to teaching Shakespeare to young children. Through her Shakespeare Can Be Fun series and dynamic classroom methods, she has introduced serious literature to students as young as Grades 2 and 3. Her work has earned her numerous honors, including Canada's Meritorious Service Medal and awards from Encyclopedia Britannica and the Canadian Teachers' Federation. Her books and workshops continue to inspire educators worldwide.

Reviews

[JustOneMoreBook.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you aren’t opposed to a little stabbing and poisoning in your picture books, this thoroughly engaging and accessible retelling of Shakespeare’s Hamlet makes for a very exciting storytime.

Listen to our chat about this book on our JustOneMoreBook.com Children's Book Podcast:
http://www.justonemorebook.com/2006/0...

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wee but mighty Shakespeare book for kids. The art is so cute and the text explains the play clearly. Also the foreword is by Kenneth Branagh. Who better? The man knows his Shakespeare. I love him!!!

[Gail Sacharski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big Shakespeare fan & a fan of the Kenneth Branagh productions of Shakespeare's plays. He has written the Foreward to this book which is all the recommendation I need. Lois Burdett has re-written Hamlet in rhyming couplets that are kid-friendly (& adults-who-don't-get-Shakespeare-friendly) & the illustrations are all by school-age kids from ages 7-10. They are AMAZING! There are also short little kid "stories" that interpret the actions in the play in their own words (Elizabethan style). There's lots of humor--even in the tragedy of it all. I absolutely loved it & read it aloud to make it even more enjoyable. This book is part of the Shakespeare Can Be Fun series & I am delighted to know there are several more plays in it. I can't wait to read them!

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll have to check out more of these because it was a delightful retelling in a picture book style that was formatted as rhyming poetry. Not only did it go through the entire play it included kid illustrations of some of the happenings and a kind of text box feature of a re-interpreted quote.

Absolutely delightful it'll be perfect for ENL as an adaptation.

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never formed an appreciation for the writing of William Shakespeare. In school we were forced to read a few of his works and my eyes would gloss over the words but take nothing in. It might have been helpful to know about A.D.H.D. and the extent at which it affected my ability to learn. I know reading shorter picture books like this would have been a tremendous help and I so wish they had been introduced to me then. Thankfully it is never too late to learn and in doing so also help my daughter in her studies, since she has inherited my focus issues.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A concise retelling of Shakespeare's longest play. It leaves out the bit about the Norwegians, so the ending is slightly altered, but for a young peoples' edition that works. This is the series I continue to use to introduce my daughter to the works of the Bard.

[Adeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids loved the rhyming text!

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series!

[Priscilla McFerren · Rating 4 out of 5]

An adorable, original, enthralling treatment of the most masterful of all plays by 2nd and 3rd grade students.

[vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

read this for drama class lol

[Audrey Gaillard · Rating 4 out of 5]

These really are fun to read with my 3rd grader! Learning new things everyday with him!

[Susan Liston · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books are terrific for adults, as well if you want a quick handle on a play.

[Rodopa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect retelling for a 3rd grader. Quite gripping:-).

[Manna_Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun kids’ version of Hamlet adapted by an elementary school teacher and her students. It was fun to read the excerpts written by elementary students, and see their illustrations.

[Alessondrahaskell · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an ok book. I don't like poetry so it was hard for me to focus and read this. If you like poetry, I think you would like this book. This was a little challenging book because of the vocabulary, but if Hamlet is hard for you I recommend this one instead.

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This entire series is awesome! My kids love them all.

[Sarah Milne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hamlet for kids. In a word: YES

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter and I loved these books by Lois Burdett when she was younger. What a wonderful introduction to Shakespeare!

[Misty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great series of Shakespeare adaptations for kids as young as 7. Illustrated by kids.