Leon Garfield's Shakespeare Stories (New York Review Books Children's Collection)

Five star review with qualifications. I think the book is said to be written for children fourth grade and up. I can't imagine fourth graders -- except perhaps the very top 1% -- could handle this book. Middle school is probably the appropriate audience. (Of course, when the author wrote this book, things were a bit different, and perhaps fourth graders back in 1975 could have read this book).I was hoping for a preface, a foreword, an introduction, something from the author or the editors on the book -- just some talking points, but nothing. It jumps right into the stories. Sort of feels like "Grimm's Fairy Tales." I think the book deserved a bit more than that -- a four-page introduction would have been nice.Having said that, the book jumps right into the stories and the little I have read, the author seems to have done a good job. It looks like everyday prose, but the dialogue: direct quotes from the Shakespeare plays.The best thing about the book: textbook size so easily carried and held by little hands. Not the big coffee-table book one might expect.No dust jacket.I give it 5-star with qualifications because I doubt there is a better book for the intended audience out there and I don't want to scare off any potential buyers by giving it a 4. If you can find something better for middle school students, let me know.

The book size is smaller (and thus, the text as well) and the pages are a little see-through. It's not unreadable, but I was really disappointed in the down-grade in quality. On the plus side, the newer edition includes several more stories.

Leon Garfield has done a great job of providing the themes of Shakespeare in an instantly accessible form that I found delightful. Shakespeare's works are an insightful analysis of humanity but they are also an intricately artful demonstration of language. For my eyes, Mr Garfield has given us a taste of both in his book. I am thrilled to be reading and discussing Hamlet, The Twelfth Night, Henry IV etc with my twelve year old - I couldn't have imagined a better introduction for him.

Great introduction to our 11 year old to Shakespeare and wonderful re-introduction to the parents!! :) Language is simplified so that kids can grasp the sentences, but still flowery enough to keep the original flavor intact. Our son has really, really enjoyed the stories and we've been watching the movies as we complete the plays. Now he's been going around saying "Oh! Spite"... LOL. Definitely recommend it. Already did that on social media as well! :)

Wonderfully written Shakespeare summaries. I read the correlating story aloud to my kids before we attend the play. We all enjoy them and they really help us enjoy the plays by familiarizing us with the plot and characters. We’ve used Charles and Mary Lamb’s Shakespeare stories and E. Nesbit’s retelling but Leon Garfield’s book is my favorite.

I purchased this book to introduce my young grandchildren to Shakespeare, I have to admit that I enjoyed reading the stories. Leon Garfield did a great job redoing these Shakespearean. stories for younger kids.

We learn a Shakespeare play that will be performed by our local Shakespeare in the Park group and this is a great resource for introducing Shakespeare to children. There is also an animated series which goes with the book (check your library). I love using both.

I have never seen anything like this amazing book that brings Shakespeare to life for kids and adults who are entertained by these classic stories in a new way. I love it!

. . . who wrote this book. I have condensed all this beauty by my bedside table and read it to go to sleep

Brilliant as usual. Can't go wrong with this chap.Would recommend this .

Reasonably solidly bound with hardback covers and a cloth spine.Garfield's prose is particularly apt for these concise re-tellings of the Shakespeare plays. It is meeting with approval from our 8 year old.

Pratique pour faire découvrir l'oeuvre de Shakespeare à de grands collégiens / jeunes lycéens, ou tout simplement pour avoir un grand aperçu de toutes les oeuvres si vous n'avez pas le temps ou le courage de tout lire.