Shakespeare stories retold for childen

[VeraChuckandDave]

Has anyone's dcs read these Shakespeare Stories retold by Andrew Matthews?

What age dcs are they suitable for? Did your children actually enjoy them, or are they the sort of thing you think they ought to like?

Dh has bought these for a niece's 9th birthday present, and I think they look too babyish, but don't really know. Said niece is a very good reader (has moved beyond Enid Blyton and considers them babyish but I don't know quite what she is reading these days).

My nine year old DD has some of these and really likes them. They are a little simplified, but they are a good introduction to Shakespeare. She could manage a longer and more complex version, but I don't know of any.

Try Leon Garfield's Shakespeare Stories:
www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9780140389388/Shakespeare-Stories
(sorry, can never get links to work)
They're a bit more authentic in language and include some original dialogue.
Have a look also at Shakespeare 4Kidz website - some great comprehensions and online games that help to teach the meaning of stories. However, they only have the ones they've done productions for so it's a bit limited.

I don't particularly want to give her Shakespeare stories, it is just that dh has already bought this particular set.

Think I might keep them for her younger sister's birthday instead, or put them away for ds1.

My DD was given a set for her 10th - from a classmate who is the most precocious reader (the Harry Potter in year 1 type). We had previously read the one of the Tempest a couple of years ago, before seeing the play done at the Minack Theatre. I'd say they are not babyish (the themes of some are unavoidably dark); they are short introductions. Useful to get the jist of the stories. I would think they are quite age-appropriate.

DS has got them. Read Winters Tale I think, which he didn't enjoy.

However, just last night, believe it or not, he found the set again, and I ended up having to say "For heavens sake DS, stop reading Hamlet and Go To Bed!"

Felt very poncey

Just be glad it wasn't the full text!