Jump to content

Menu

Children's Shakespeare adaptations in AUDIO BOOK


Recommended Posts

Just ask me....I'm a book snob, and I always have opinions about books.  hahaha

 

By far MY FAVORITE adaptations of Shakespeare's works are the Young Reader's books by Adam McKeown.    The Coville retellings are gorgeous books, however, there is so much left out of the plot!  Nesbit and Lamb are ok, but if you really want to make Shakespeare come alive for children.....go with the Adam McKeown books.  

 

The McKeown books are much longer, and use a lot of Shakespeare's original language....yet he does it in  a way that most kids will understand it completely.   The actual books are out of print, but you can find them used if you look around.   I know you want an audio version, but the printed McKeown books are absolutely gorgeously illustrated too.   They are much, much longer than the Coville, Lamb, or Nesbit retellings, though.  The McKeown books are more like chapter books.  

 

There are a few of his books available on audible.   They are really nice.   My one critism is that the narrator's voice is so deep that you can't really distinguish any difference between the different character's voices.  (Especially his female characters!)    And, the reason that is important, is there are so many characters in every Shakespeare play!   I host a small Shakespeare club for children, and the single biggest stumbling block for kids seems to be keeping all of the characters straight!   But, my children all have enjoyed the audible versions of these plays as well as the printed books.   

   

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just ask me....I'm a book snob, and I always have opinions about books.  hahaha

 

By far MY FAVORITE adaptations of Shakespeare's works are the Young Reader's books by Adam McKeown.    The Coville retellings are gorgeous books, however, there is so much left out of the plot!  Nesbit and Lamb are ok, but if you really want to make Shakespeare come alive for children.....go with the Adam McKeown books.  

 

The McKeown books are much longer, and use a lot of Shakespeare's original language....yet he does it in  a way that most kids will understand it completely.   The actual books are out of print, but you can find them used if you look around.   I know you want an audio version, but the printed McKeown books are absolutely gorgeously illustrated too.   They are much, much longer than the Coville, Lamb, or Nesbit retellings, though.  The McKeown books are more like chapter books.  

 

There are a few of his books available on audible.   They are really nice.   My one critism is that the narrator's voice is so deep that you can't really distinguish any difference between the different character's voices.  (Especially his female characters!)    And, the reason that is important, is there are so many characters in every Shakespeare play!   I host a small Shakespeare club for children, and the single biggest stumbling block for kids seems to be keeping all of the characters straight!   But, my children all have enjoyed the audible versions of these plays as well as the printed books.   

 

Thank you!  I hadn't heard of these before, but they sound great!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...