Seven Plays
presented and illustrated by Marcia Williams
Walker Books. Young Reader. Paperback RRP $16.95
Guest Reviewer - Anastasia Gonis
For those who want to introduce their children to Shakespeare, or even
those who want to simply understand the poet’s work better, this amazing book is for you! Larger in size than the normal children’s picture book, it includes seven plays: Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, The Winter’s Tale, Julius Caesar, and The Tempest. The illustrations are a profusion of colour, and are presented in graphic novel style, with the characters caricatured beautifully in comical attitudes and dress that represent the era. A challenge is put out to the reader to spot Queen Elizabeth I and Shakespeare among the spectators.
The setting of course is the Globe Theatre on the banks of the River Thames. There are three parts to the arrangement on the pages: the dialogue written by Shakespeare found in the boxed illustrations, the story which is situated below the illustrations, and the noisy and rude spectatators that occupy the space in the border. They have a hilarious and entertaining commentary going on separate from the main attraction, concerning the play and the players.
This publication with its detailed illustrations is a work of art. A collectable for those who seek out unusual or singular publications that one can return to time and time again and still be entertained.
http://www.marciawilliams.co.uk/
presented and illustrated by Marcia Williams
Walker Books. Young Reader. Paperback RRP $16.95
Guest Reviewer - Anastasia Gonis
For those who want to introduce their children to Shakespeare, or even
those who want to simply understand the poet’s work better, this amazing book is for you! Larger in size than the normal children’s picture book, it includes seven plays: Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, The Winter’s Tale, Julius Caesar, and The Tempest. The illustrations are a profusion of colour, and are presented in graphic novel style, with the characters caricatured beautifully in comical attitudes and dress that represent the era. A challenge is put out to the reader to spot Queen Elizabeth I and Shakespeare among the spectators.The setting of course is the Globe Theatre on the banks of the River Thames. There are three parts to the arrangement on the pages: the dialogue written by Shakespeare found in the boxed illustrations, the story which is situated below the illustrations, and the noisy and rude spectatators that occupy the space in the border. They have a hilarious and entertaining commentary going on separate from the main attraction, concerning the play and the players.
This publication with its detailed illustrations is a work of art. A collectable for those who seek out unusual or singular publications that one can return to time and time again and still be entertained.
http://www.marciawilliams.co.uk/
What a wonderful idea for a children's book! What age group would you say it's aimed at? Sounds like one to get for my girls.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's a wonderful idea. I checked with our reviewer, Anastasia, to see what she advised and her response was: I’d say the age group would be a mature 9+ but it’s never too early to introduce children to literature. And what better way than through graphic novels.
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