Shakespeare's Seasons

Gr 2–6—This first taste of Shakespeare is portioned out in small, seasonally arranged bites. Lovely spreads of cut-paper and fabric collage illustrations merge with quotes from some of the Bard's best-known works. Beginning with a quote from Sonnet 18, "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" readers are treated to a silhouette of a girl superimposed on a beach scene complete with a kites, sand castles, and children frolicking. Moving through to fall and into winter, King Lear makes an appearance with "Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! Rage! Blow!" Spring comes along with Henry VI, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, and As You Like It. Summer winds, "Blow like sweet roses in this summer air" (Love's Labour's Lost). Each brief quote gives young readers a glimpse into the beauty of language. The outstanding illustrations have a tactile quality that will have readers' stroking the pages and noticing each detail, from the raindrops on the umbrellas to the farmer's-market vegetables. Endnotes explain in simple language who Shakespeare is and why his words are still important today and give suggestions for listening to language.—Stacy Dillon, LREI, New York City