You might like to begin with my post about an older book that explores the work of Shakespeare. My focus book today is very new and was published in 2021. I had never heard of Magic Cat Publishing so I did a little research. I do love the sound of their ethos:
We set up Magic Cat to create beautiful children's books that do more. We gently weave ideas that matter into stories that engage, entertain and bring joy. Ideas about kindness, togetherness, friendship, inclusivity. Ideas about the future of our planet, about culture, activism, and mindfulness. Our books inspire care for our world… and each other. We're acutely aware that today’s kids are growing up in a world of uncertainty that moves so fast, and needs more togetherness. We believe that that magic happens when families spend time around a book, as kids engage in thoughts and conversations that help them grow into kind and aware 21st century adults. So let's help them understand, in the way they love most... through stories, discovered and enjoyed together.
This large format book has 62 pages filled with dense information but, as with all non fiction, it will work best if you just dip into the parts that spark your curiosity. The glossary and timeline of plays will be useful for teachers but I do wish this book had an index. This book would be a good addition to a Primary School or High School library.
Following pages of introductory information, each play category is explored over four double spreads - comedies; tragedies; histories; and romances. Then the author explores Shakespeare's poetry and the folios. If you need to share a plot summary of a play the pages in this book are easy to read and colourful. Emma Roberts adds a summary using a few words for each play:
- The young lovers' struggle as seen in A Midsummer Night's Dream
- Separated and reunited as seen in Much ado about Nothing
- The clever servant as seen in Twelfth Night
- Family tensions as seen in As you like it
- The hero's flaw as seen in Othello
- Greed as seen in King Lear
- Magic and Miracles as seen in Pericles
"Although packed with information, it has the look and feel of a graphic novel, with its retro fonts and sketchy pen-and-wash illustrations." Dr Robin Morrow Magpies Magazine vol 37; issue 2; May 2022.
Over the final pages you can read about the rebuilding of the Globe Theatre; Shakespeare in translation (over 100 languages); Shakespeare and rap - Akala uses hip hop to share Shakespeare with young audiences; and Shakespeare in space - 25 moons from Uranus reference Shakespeare's characters. Did you know The Lion King is loosely based on Hamlet and West Side Story is of course Romeo and Juliet with a New York setting.
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