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Shakespeare’s Book Blog

WRITE A REVIEW FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

Delve into the world of Shakespeare and Hamlet. Borrow a related book, story or play from the library, see Hamlet: Prince of Skidmark at The Joan (3 & 4 September), or watch a short animation of one of Shakespeare’s play and tell us what you think with your own book, theatre or video review.

Scroll down to find some great books to borrow and animations to watch, or book your ticket to see Hamlet: Prince of Skidmark at The Joan here.


HOW TO ENTER

Click here to write a book or theatre review;

After your have submitted your review you will receive a unique word or code;

Click here and submit your unique word or code, along with your details to enter the prize draw.

Enter before 5pm Friday 1 October, 2021 for your chance to win one of five amazing prize packs thanks to Critical Stages Touring, The Listies and Allen & Unwin Books. Each pack consists of:

  • 1 x Ickypedia or Ickyfoodia book by The Listies (selected at random);
  • 1 x The Listies Make You LOL DVD; and
  • 1 x The Boy, the Bear, the Baron, the Bard and Other Dramatic Tales book by Gregory Rogers

Competition prize draw will be posted to Penrith Penrith City Library’s Facebook page at 11am Monday 11 October, 2021. Winners will also be notified by phone or email. Winners will be announced on both The Joan and Penrith City Library’s Facebook pages.

Click here to download the Terms & Conditions.


BOOK SUGGESTIONS

E-BOOKS AND E-AUDIOBOOKS VIA LIBBY

Title: The Diary of William Shakespeare, Gentlemen
Author: Jackie French
Format: E-Book

The Diary of William Shakespeare, Gentlemen is part comedy, part love story, the threads of Shakespeare’s life drawn from his plays. Could the world’s greatest writer truly put down his pen forever to become a gentleman? He was a boy who escaped small town life to be the most acclaimed playwright of the land. A lover whose sonnets still sing 400 years later; a glover’s apprentice who became a gentleman. But was he happy with his new riches? Who was the woman he truly loved? The world knows the name of William Shakespeare. This book reveals the man – lover, son and poet.

Find It Here


Hamlet - The Manga Edition - Book CoverTitle: Shakespeare’s Hamlet: The Manga Edition
Author: Adam Sexton
Format: E-Book

The sudden death of the king, later revealed to be murder. The queen’s all-too-sudden remarriage to the king’s brother, the murderer. The grieving, suspicious Prince Hamlet. Supernatural visitations. Plots, leaks, and counterplots. Poisoned wine. A rigged sword fight. Revenge. This fast-paced, graphic manga edition gets you caught up in the conflicts and passions that makes Hamlet one of Shakespeare’s most beloved tragedies.

Find It Here


Title: Hamlet (Fully Dramatized Audio Edition)
Author: Folger Shakespeare Library
Format: E-Audiobook

Hamlet—Shakespeare’s most popular, and perhaps most puzzling play—follows the form of a “revenge tragedy,” in which the hero, Hamlet, seeks vengeance against his father’s murderer, his uncle Claudius, now the king of Denmark. Much of its fascination, however, lies in its uncertainties.

This new full-cast recording—based on the most respected edition of Shakespeare’s classic—expertly produced by the Folger Theatre, is perfect for students, teachers, and the everyday listener.

Find It Here


Title: Hamlet (Fully Dramatized Audio Edition)
Author: Charles and Mary Lamb
Narrator: Sean Pratt
Format: E-Audiobook

A perfect introduction for all ages to the breadth and beauty of Shakespeare’s work, the tales bring the power of Hamlet and Macbeth, the fun of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and the drama of The Tempest to life. Blending detailed narrative with original dialogue and poetic language, they fully convey the wit, wisdom, and imagination of Shakespeare’s magnificent plays.

Find It Here


FOR PRIMARY STUDENTS

Shakespeare's Tales - Book CoverTitle: Shakespeare’s Tales
Author: Beverley Birch
Illustrator: Stephen Lambert

This book retells four of Shakespeare’s most well-known plays: Antony and Cleopatra, Hamlet, Othello, and The Tempest. With beautiful illustrations and poetic yet easily understood language, this book is the perfect way to introduce young people to the work of Shakespeare.

FIND IT HERE


Hamlet for Kids - Book CoverTitle: Hamlet for Kids
Author: Lois Burdett

A retelling of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, written in rhyming couplets especially for young readers and performers, includes illustrations and comments by children.

FIND IT HERE

 

 


10 Best Shakespeare Stories Ever! - Book CoverTitle: 1o Best Shakespeare Stories Ever!
Author: Terry Deary
Illustrator: Michael Tickner

Terry Deary re-tells the bard’s ten best stories … with a modern twist. From midsummer mix-ups and magic, to ten dead in Denmark, fans will love Shakespeare’s stories presented as never before. With fact files on Shakespeare’s foul wordplay, quick quizzes ad hilarious cartoons throughout, this title is 100% Horrible!

FIND IT HERE

 


Title: How to Stop An Alien Invasion Using ShakespeareHow to Stop An Alien Invasion Using Shakespeare - Book Cover
Author:
 Nick Falk and Tony Flowers

Mr Pilchard is furious. His class came last in the poetry contest, mostly because of Sid’s terrible effort. He gives Sid an ultimatum – write the winning entry in the upcoming story competition or be fed to the classroom guinea pig. Sid turns to his sister, Wendy, and his evil-genius neighbour, the Mighty Professor Skeletron, for help. Together, they consult a psychic cat who leads them to the perfect solution – give a Shakespeare story a sci-fi twist. But when their story comes to life and causes an alien invasion, they have to find a way to travel back in time and change the past.

FIND IT HERE


Shakespeare Stories - Book Cover More Shakespeare Stories - Book CoverTitles: Shakespeare Stories and More Shakespeare Stories
Retold by:
 Andrew Matthews
Illustrator: Tony Ross

Andrew Matthews’ classic retellings of Shakespeare’s best-loved plays, Illustrated by the award-winning Tony Ross. The easy-to-read writing style and fabulous illustrations bring the well-known characters and their stories to life. A fantastic introduction to Shakespeare for the younger reader.

FIND THEM HERE


Orchard Book of Shakespeare Stories - Book CoverTitle: The Orchard Book of Shakespeare Stories
Author: Andrew Matthews
Illustrator: Angela Barrett

Andrew Matthews’ lively retellings capture all the drama and excitement of eight of Shakespeare’s best-loved plays including Angela Barrett’s beautiful illustrations bring the well-known characters and their stories gloriously to life, including Romeo and JulietA Midsummer Night’s Dream and Hamlet.

FIND IT HERE


Mr William Shakespeare's Plays - Book CoverTitle: Mr William Shakespeare’s Plays: Seven Plays
Author:
 Marcia Williams

Somewhere between ‘Classic Comics’ and graphic novels lies this collection of Shakespeare’s works, drastically abridged and presented in large comic-strip format, combining adapted text below cartoon drawings.

FIND IT HERE

 


Usbourne Stories from Shakespeare Book CoverTitle: Usbourne Stories from Shakespeare
Author:
William Shakespeare
Retold By:
Anna Claybourne
Illustrator: Elena Temporin

A luxurious new edition of this popular title which retells some of Shakespeare’s best known and loved plays in story form.

FIND IT HERE

 


Zombie, Or Not To Be - Book CoverTitle: Zombie, Or Not to Be
Author:
 Kyle Sullivan
Illustrator: Derek Sullivan

This brainy and hilarious middle-grade adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet follows a young science-minded zombie named Edda as she deals with a myriad of death-altering problems including a climate crisis caused by the anti-science humans in Ignorway, the disappearance of her mom, and the greedy scheming of her villainous Aunt Agonista.

FIND IT HERE


FOR SECONDARY STUDENTS

Hamlet by Nicki Greenberg - Book CoverTitle: Hamlet: William Shakespeare’s Hamlet Staged on the Page
Author:  Nicki Greenberg

In a graphic, teen fiction telling of Hamlet, Nicki Greenberg creates a sumptuous staging of Shakespeare’s enigmatic play on the page, a visual feast with drama that intensifies both on stage and off.

FIND IT HERE

 

 

 


The Shakespeare Book - Book CoverTitle: The Shakespeare Book
Author: Georgina Palffy

This series for school students looks at the work of William Shakespeare, and is packed with witty illustrations and inspirational quotes. Easy-to-understand graphics and illustrations bring the themes, plots, characters and language of Shakespeare to life.

FIND IT HERE


Bravo, Mr William Shakespeare! - Book CoverTitle: Bravo, Mr. William Shakespeare!: Seven Plays
Author: Marcia Williams

Somewhere between ‘Classic Comics’ and graphic novels lies this collection of Shakespeare’s works, drastically abridged and presented in large comic-strip format, combining adapted text below cartoon drawings.

FIND IT HERE

 


30-Second Shakespeare - Book CoverTitle: 30-Second Shakespeare: 50 key aspects of his works, life and legacy, each explained in half a minute
Editor: Ros Barber
Illustrator: Ivan Hissey

This title grapples with the world’s most famous playwright, from what we know of his life and the intrigue of the authorship question, to uncoding the meanings of key concepts, themes and motifs, as well as the Bard’s extraordinary enduring literary and linguistic legacy.

FIND IT HERE


Srsly Hamlet - Book CoverTitle: Srsly Hamlet
Author:
William Shakespeare
Adapted By: Courtney Carbone

Imagine: What if Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, and the tragic Ophelia had smartphones? A classic is reborn in this fun and funny adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays

<3 and h8. The classics just got a whole lot more interesting. 😉

tl;dr A Shakespeare play told through its characters texting with emojis, checking in at certain locations, and updating their relationship statuses. The perfect gift for hip theater lovers and teens.

FIND IT HERE


SHAKESPEARE ANIMATIONS

Alternatively, you can find and watch a short animation of Shakespeare’s famous plays online or pick one from the links below on the British Council website.

Click here for animations for 5 – 11 year olds


CLICK HERE TO BEGIN YOUR BOOK, THEATRE, OR VIDEO REVIEW

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE COMPETITION

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