William Shakespeare: Scenes from the Life of the World's Greatest Writer

Gr 3–5—This lively picture book presents information on Shakespeare's life and works. What little is truly known about the man is conveyed in a lighthearted manner, followed by synopses of several of his plays. Vibrant pencil and watercolor images in a cartoon style complement the text, and speech bubbles add humor. The illustrations of the scenes from the plays, however, are somewhat confusingly arranged. Readers will not only learn about Shakespeare but will also pick up general details about life during the Tudor period. Many excerpts from the Bard's plays and some of his sonnets are incorporated into the presentation, giving readers a taste of the man's writing. Children will come away with a sense of Shakespeare's importance and perhaps a desire to learn more. Back matter includes a list of the works mentioned in the text.