The Last Bard

When Will’s father dies, he and his mother, Mary, have to move in with Will’s Uncle Claude and his cousin, Jon. Treated like servants by Claude, who never loses an opportunity to remind them that they are only there because of his ‘kindness’, they are relieved to leave his home for a while whilst they sort out Will’s grandfather’s flat in a complex called Arden Heights. Here, Will meets Ani, another occupant, who is determined to save the flats from being sold off for redevelopment- and sees Will as someone who can help her. Will also makes a curious discovery amongst his grandfather’s possessions- a copy of The Complete Works of Shakespeare which contains some of the characters from the Bard’s plays. With their ‘help’, can Will find the courage he needs to turn his life around?

‘The Last Bard’ is bursting with humour, heart and lots of Shakespearean references, making it a fabulous read!

Will is such a relatable character. His grief at the loss of his father combined with his new living conditions make it impossible not to empathise with him, making the reader really invested in his story. His relationship with his mother is beautifully portrayed and seeing her diminished and bullied by her brother, Will’s Uncle Claude, only adds to his pain as he keeps secrets from her, attempting to lessen her burden. There are plenty of poignant moments in the story, allowing for discussion and reflection, but these are balanced by a comedy of errors as his new Shakespearean friends get to work!

Will is not the only brilliantly captured character! His mum, Mary, is just wonderful and each of the inhabitants of Arden Heights are well developed and believable. Uncle Claude and Jon are thoroughly nasty pieces of work, highlighting the complexity of some family relationships, yet others whom seem less likeable are given more depth as Will comes to know and understand them. Ani is a force of nature- outspoken, determined and courageous, she also has a more complex ‘back story’ which is gradually uncovered as the story progresses.

The Shakespearean element of the story is pure genius! Anyone familiar the Shakespeare’s life and plays will delight in spotting the links and anyone who is not is sure to be tempted to find out all about them! Even the chapter headings and some names draw on his works! As Puck, Lady Macbeth, Yorick’s skull and Juliet, the remaining characters trapped in his copy of ‘The Complete Works’ strive to help Will save Arden Heights, things go horribly and hysterically wrong and yet allow Will to quietly observe, listen and help in his own way, making sure ‘all’s well that end’s well’!

There is so much to love in this story that I felt quite disappointed when it ended. Not because of a poor ending (quite the contrary!), but because I was enjoying it so much! Although this would make an excellent class story, sensitivity to the possible experiences of listeners is essential.

The Last Bard

Maz Evans

Chicken House ISBN: 978-1913696900

Michael Rosen’s Pocket Shakespeare

Sharing the ‘best bits of the bard’, ‘Michael Rosen’s Pocket Shakespeare’ offers a very accessible introduction to some of Shakespeare’s writing. Divided into chapters such as ‘Love and heartbreak’, ‘Scheming and plotting’ and ‘Thou art a boil and other insults’, the book is perfect for dipping in and out of as you discover some of Shakespeare’s finest work!

Each section begins with an introduction which sets the scene and offers additional information. These explain things such as iambic pentameter, soliloquy and pathetic fallacy, but also the world Shakespeare lived in and how he viewed it. These sections offer plenty of food for thought and would make an excellent starting point for teachers wishing to initiate conversations about Shakespeare’s work with a class.

Further notes accompany each extract, offering background information, but also challenging the reader to think, raising some of the questions which hover over Shakespeare’s work. Glossaries beneath each piece help to clarify unfamiliar vocabulary.

However, this is not just a book for those who are unfamiliar with Shakespeare’s writing. Chris Riddell’s illustrations add to the appeal of what is an excellent selection of work, including all those wonderful Shakespearean insults at the end! An index of first lines and another of plays are perfect for anyone wishing to locate a particular piece, but the real joy here is being able to explore and discover- or perhaps, rediscover- some of Shakespeare’s finest words.

Michael Rosen’s Pocket Shakespeare

illustrated by Chris Riddell

Walker ISBN: 978-1844287628

A Midsummer Night’s Drama

Bill the Bear and his friends, Sir Bun Bun, Foxy and Lady Bushytail, all live together and stage plays at their theatre, The Glade. One night, after a rapturous reception of their new play, Bill finds it impossible to settle down to sleep. His friends make suggestions, Queen Bee commands, but it is only when Sir Bun Bun cleverly suggests they play a game that Bill drifts off at last!

Full of bear-y good puns and fabulous illustrations, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Drama’ is just wonderful! Presented in three acts, it makes a fantastic read aloud and many little ones (and their grown-ups!) will empathise with poor Bill as the over-excitement of the day prevents him from being able to switch off. The illustrations are amazing- with so many details to dwell on and discuss. I absolutely love their crazy sleeping arrangements!

However, this is one of those brilliant books which can be enjoyed in so many ways. The ‘ShakesBearean’ link is obvious and there are notes at the end which share information about Shakespeare and ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, the play which Bill and his friends performed. Queen Bee is reminiscent of Elizabeth I in her ruff and the Glade Theatre introduces the idea of the Globe. Between each act there is a a quatrain (echoing the form of one of those sonnets Shakespeare was so fond of writing, but missing the final two lines!) to set the scene, which offers a change of pace and style to the story. A map on the endpapers tantalisingly offers clues to other Shakespearean links, hopefully hinting that there are more ‘ShakesBearean Tales’ to come and I, for one, can’t wait!

A Midsummer Night’s Drama

Louie Stowell, illustrated by Isobel Lundie

Little Tiger ISBN: 978-1838915346

Shakespeare’s First Folio

Created in partnership with the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, ‘Shakespeare’s First Folio: All the Plays: A Children’s Edition’ is absolutely gorgeous. As in the original First Folio, it includes 36 plays in the same order, but in versions which have been abridged to make them accessible for children. The introduction states that they can ‘be performed by small groups in a small amount of time, using almost entirely Shakespeare’s original language.’ and a page entitled ‘Notes on the Text’ carefully explains certain decisions which have been made, including those which alter or remove certain references or topics.

The book opens with a sonnet written by Michael Rosen to tempt the reader into acting out the plays contained inside. With Emily Sutton’s wonderful interpretation of Shakespeare’s picture on the facing page, it reflects the start of the original First Folio with Ben Johnson’s sonnet and the Droeshout engraving. The contents then groups the plays into Comedies, Histories and Tragedies, making it easy for reader to locate the play they are looking for or to browse Shakespeare’s works. Each play is presented with a clear cast list, beautifully illustrated by Emily Sutton.

Meticulous and skilful as Anjna Chouhan has been in the abridging of the text, full credit has to be given to the phenomenal work of Emily Sutton in breathing life and joy into the whole work through her incredible illustrations which are rich in detail and full of delight.

This is a real treasure of a book, presenting Shakespeare to children in an accessible and welcoming manner whilst preserving his voice. Although I would not touch certain of his plays with children (Titus Andronicus springs instantly to mind!), their inclusion is necessary to reflect the First Folio and has been managed as sensitively and thoughtfully as possible.

I hate the term ‘gift book’ as every book is a gift; however, in this instance, I will say that this book would make a wonderful gift for any child- or adult- and would also make an excellent addition to any school library!

Shakespeare’s First Folio: All the Plays: A Children’s Edition

Abridged by Dr Anjna Chouhan, illustrated by Emily Sutton

Walker Books in partnership with The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

ISBN: 978-1529514421

Shakespeare for Everyone

‘Shakespeare for Everyone’ is an informative and accessible read which helps the reader learn about the man, his works and the time he lived in.

Starting with his early life, the book then sets Shakespeare in historical context, explaining that although he lived during the reign of two monarchs, most people think of him as being Elizabethan rather than Jacobean. Information is organised into easily digestible chunks with plenty of additional fact boxes and relevant quotes from Shakespeare’s work along the way.

The book then continues with considering development of the theatre at this time, the lives of actors and their troupes before moving on to looking at ‘Shakespeare in Print’. Here, Shakespeare’s ‘lost years’ are referred to and the author explores what might have occurred during those years before explaining how his name came to be associated with other works.

Summarising Shakespeare’s achievements, the author then looks more closely at Shakespeare as a writer, showing how his plays tend to be grouped into categories- as well as considering the ‘problem plays’, those which don’t quite fit into any of these categories. Each genre is then explored in greater depth with the general themes and characters of each highlighted before using specific plays to illustrate the use of devices such as the hero’s flaw or greed. How language is used is explored as well as the fact that Shakespeare would have used existing books to inspire his own writing. The author even considers how his source material would have influence his historical plays. My one criticism here is that by saying ‘there are now societies in England dedicated to restoring Richard III’s reputation and debunking Shakespeare’s unfair portrayal’, the author suggests that this has happened since the discovery of Richard III’s body in 2012 whereas The Richard III Society has been working to secure a more balanced assessment of the king since 1924 and there is an American society as well. ‘Shakespeare for Everyone’ also looks at his poetry, including the sonnets and the identity of the ‘dark lady’ and the young man they were addressed to.

Posing the question ‘Was Shakespeare real?’, the book then explores this controversial and hotly-debated topic, looking at the arguments for and against three of the seventy-seven possible candidates which have been suggested as writers of the work attributed to Shakespeare.

The book ends with considering Shakespeare’s legacy and the future of his work. From paintings to ballets to films loosely based on Shakespearian themes, there is no doubting that his writing has inspired many since his death and continues to do so.

With Shakespeare studied at both KS3 and 4, this book makes an excellent, accessible introduction to his life and work, whilst supporting learning of specific themes or plays. However, it would also make an excellent guided reading text for children in Year 6, helping them to explore the time Shakespeare lived in as well as sparking an interest in his writing. The glossary is full of carefully explained terms and the illustrations are engaging and colourful, adding to the book’s appeal.

Entertaining and engaging, ‘Shakespeare for Everyone’ is a must-have for anyone wanting to find out more about the man and his work.

Shakespeare for Everyone

Emma Roberts, illustrated by Sarah Tanat Jones

Magic Cat ISBN: 978-1913520465