Sonderbooks Book Review of Tales from Shakespeare

****Tales from Shakespeare*

by Tina Packer

Reviewed July 21, 2004.
Scholastic Press, New York, 2004. 192 pages.
Available at Sembach Library (JF PAC).

This is a beautiful volume of retold tales from Shakespeare’s most famous plays. Included are “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Hamlet,” “Much Ado About Nothing,” “MacBeth,” “The Tempest,” “Othello,” “As You Like It,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “Twelfth Night,” and “King Lear.”

The retellings are clear and easy to follow. I like it that the author includes famous quotations from each play, so the reader understands the context of the familiar words.

Each story is illustrated with a painting by a distinguished illustrator of children’s books.

I recommend this book for anyone, child or adult, who wants clear summaries of these Shakespeare plays. A great way to familiarize a child, or yourself, with these classic stories.

Book Reviews by Sondra Eklund

***Tales from Shakespeare

by Tina Packer

****Tales from Shakespeare*