Reading William Shakespeare may have even the most savvy of students tripping over sentences, lost in the rich but often off-putting language. But these titles will have future thespians treading the boards in no time. Spark younger patrons’ interest in the Bard with Ira’s Shakespeare Dream, a picture book biography of an African American actor who brought Shakespeare’s words to life. Hand teen patrons looking for a ready-reference The Shakespeare Book. And teens who consider putting down the iPhone to be such sweet sorrow will eat up srsly Hamlet and YOLO Juliet, which translate two of the master’s greatest tragedies into text speak.

Armand, Glenda. Ira’s Shakespeare Dream. illus. by Floyd Cooper. 40p. notes. photos. websites. Lee & Low. Jun. 2015. Tr $18.95. ISBN 9781620141557. LC 2014018056.

Gr 3-6 –Though his acting earned him fame and a knighthood in Europe, Ira Aldridge is hardly a household name in his homeland, but this attractive picture book biography may change that. Born in New York City in 1807, Aldridge fell in love with acting as he sat in the balcony of the whites-only Park Theatre, watching the performances from afar. His dream grew wings at the African Grove, a new all-black venue, where he could sit wherever he liked. However, Aldridge’s father insisted that his son follow in his footsteps and become a minister. Frustrated and seeking adventure, Aldridge left home to serve as cabin boy on a ship headed South. When a man offered to buy him from the captain for $500 and Aldridge witnessed other, less fortunate blacks on the auction block, he became angry and afraid. At 17, he decided to sail to England, where he would be free of his country’s inhumanity and his father’s expectations. Working his way up from errand boy to understudy, he eventually became “one of the most celebrated Shakespearean actors in Europe.” Aldridge was also a vocal abolitionist, addressing audiences and raising money for the cause. The third-person narration invites readers into Ira’s world and thoughts, incorporating Shakespearean verse where appropriate. Cooper’s signature oil wash illustrations, created with kneaded eraser, beautifully capture the period and subjects’ emotions. The palette of somber browns spring to life, complemented by the vivid colors of the stage and costumes. VERDICT Use this handsome, inspiring offering to enrich units on Shakespeare, theater, or black history.–Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools

Shakespeare, William.  Srsly Hamlet. adapted by Courtney Carbone. ISBN 9780553535389; ISBN 9780553535471. LC 2014041937.

––––. YOLO Juliet. adapted by Brett Wright. ISBN 9780553535396; ISBN 9780553535488.

ea vol: 192p. (OMG Shakespeare). Random. 2015. Tr. $9.99. ebk. $9.99.

Gr 8 Up –These titles strip Shakespearean plays of Elizabethan language and iambic pentameter, rendering modern retellings utilizing text slang littered with emojis. Content-wise, the authors remain true to the original story lines with no major omissions. Stylistically, the format has inherent strengths and weaknesses. Students will immediately understand “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have checked into Elsinore Castle” and this quite literally sets the scene. Yet, the reality of texting is that people are not face-to-face; thus, the text narrative format creates some clumsily contrived situations. For example, Romeo and Juliet arrive at the church to marry, and then precede to text their love to each other. Visualizing Romeo and Juliet together at the chapel, heads down texting, may cause readers to LOL, and as attempts at satire, these books definitely succeed. There is no shortage of WTF, STFU, and the like, yet F*ck is listed in the glossary (to define said shortcuts for adult readers unfamiliar with text-speak, one assumes). Students will no doubt recognize the many emojis, although Friar Laurence’s use of an emoji representing a smiling pile of excrement is a bit much. This series raises an interesting question: what would Shakespeare’s plays look like in today’s world? Having students already familiar with the Bard’s work compose text- and emoji-style retellings would make for a fun assignment. VERDICT More satirical than tragic and tirelessly trendy.–Laura Falli, McNeil High School, Austin, TX

The Shakespeare Book. 352p. (Big Ideas Simply Explained). chron. illus. index. photos. reprods. DK. 2015. Tr $25. ISBN 9781465429872.

Gr 7 Up –In this latest addition to the series, the Bard comes alive for young aficionados. Beginning with an introductory biography and short analysis of William Shakespeare’s continued importance, the book provides a chronological (according to the 2005 Complete Oxford Shakespeare) arrangement of plays, rather than the more customary categorical order. Each entry includes information on major themes, principal characters, act/scene breakdown, and plot synopsis, as well as material regarding the plays’ sources, reputation, and impact. Enlightening sections on Shakespeare’s narrative and lyric poems, as well as commentary on Sir Thomas More, a manuscript-only play containing “the only known examples of writing in Shakespeare’s hand,” are also included, and the text is fully indexed. Enlarged famous quotes and high-quality color photos of modern productions, historical moments, and pertinent art works elucidate the text. While Leslie Dunton-Downer’s Essential Shakespeare Handbook (DK, 2004) offers a more erudite presentation and scholarly background essays on Shakespeare’s life and times, this new tool is more teen-friendly in design. Although the formulaic two-page plot summaries sometimes lack important clarifying or transitional words, the uncomplicated prose and informational sidebars will be welcomed by middle and high school teachers and students seeking concise explanations of the playwright’s works. VERDICT An accessible ready-reference source for secondary libraries and Shakespeare buffs alike.–Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, formerly at LaSalle Academy, Providence, RI