Shakespeare’s First Folio: All the plays, a children’s edition

Shakespeare’s First Folio is a wonderful introduction to the plays, suitably shortened for children, a gorgeous addition to any home library.

*Shakespeare’s First Folio: All the plays, a children’s edition by William Shakespeare, illustrated by Emily Sutton. Candlewick, 2024. 410 pages.

• Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-12
• Recommended For: Ages 8-12

Four hundred years ago, after Shakespeare’s death, his friends compiled as many of his plays as they could into a collection, then published and distributed them widely. For this, we are grateful, otherwise we would be bereft of some of the greatest stories in English literature.

The most common introduction to Shakespeare for children is through narrative versions of his stories, either in collections or picture books. That’s a good start. But keep in mind that he wrote plays that were meant to be performed, and that his language is beautiful, rich, and accessible to children.

This is where a book like Shakespeare’s First Folio…A Children’s Edition sweetly steps in. In the same way that Dangerous Journey makes an ideal, literary, beautifully-illustrated introduction to Pilgrim’s Progress, Shakespeare’s First Folio…A Children’s Edition keeps the original lines, but shortens them so the story happens in the form of a short play. Each play is eight to sixteen pages long, and the text is quite readable. There have been some careful adjustments for clarity without making the language condescending, and content that is inappropriate for children has been omitted.

The book itself is gorgeous, with manifold colorful illustrations on glossy paper. This is a book for those who truly love–or want to learn to appreciate the work of the bard, and would make a lovely gift or addition to any home or school library. Consider yourself encouraged to schedule a Shakespeare festival for young people.

Remember, unless a book is starred, a review is not necessarily a recommendation. Read more about our ratings here.

Recommended Reading at Redeemed Reader

• Book Review: The Bard and the Book: How the first folio saved the plays of Shakespeare is an indispensable companion to this collection.
• Resource: Janie has a glorious compilation of Shakespeare movie reviews.
• Book Review: The Playmaker is a wonderful novel about Shakespeare by Janie herself!

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