What's So Special about Shakespeare? Best Shakespeare Books for Younger Kids

It’s hard to avoid Shakespeare in this 400^th anniversary year of his death, and the UK is celebrating in style with a bevy of kids' books, among many other things, of course!
 

Marcia Williams’s Mr Shakespeare’s Plays takes a more serious approach and locates Shakespeare and the stories firmly in his own time in a series of gorgeous strip cartoon versions of Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, Julius Caesar, The Winter’s Tale and The Tempest, all of which are set on the stage of the famous Globe theatre. Marcia Williams’s dialogue boxes include quotes from the plays which make an excellent early introduction to the language of Shakespeare. Although it removes them from their origins as performances, reading prose versions of the plays aloud conveys the plots easily without young listeners feeling that the original language is challenging.

 

Geraldine McCaughrean’s Stories from Shakespeare is for readers and listeners who are aged 10 and older. Among the 10 are the obvious favorites such as Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer’s Night Dream, but also Julius Caesar, Twelfth Night, Othello and King Lear. Although written in her own prose, Geraldine McCaughrean also ensures that young readers are clear that these were originally plays by setting out a cast list at the beginning of each story. She also ensures that the poetic language of Shakespeare’s original versions is not forgotten by including quotes – many of which are the ones that have become every day phrases - from the original plays.
 
 

If any doubts about why Shakespeare is so worth remembering, Michael Rosen’s What’s So Special about Shakespeare? will provide all the answers. Illustrated by Sarah Naylor, it includes a story of four of the plays as well as a wealth of information about Shakespeare’s life and a timeline to remind all of why we are celebrating his work in 2016.
 
 
 

New Picture Book: John Lennon's "Imagine" from Amnesty International

A new picture book from Amnesty International pairs John Lennon's "Imagine" lyrics with illustrations from Peace for Paris doodler Jean Jullien. Imagine follows a young pigeon on his quest to bring peace to all birds. The Guardian reports that "[t]he picture book aims to share more information about the work that Amnesty International do around the world." Part of the sales proceeds go directly to the charity.

"Imagine" entered the annals of pop culture back in 1971. Arguably Lennon's most famous song, it envisions a "brotherhood of man" where national, class-based, and religious divisions were nonexistent. Numerous artists — including Madonna, Elton John, and A Perfect Circle — have covered the song in the 45 years since its initial release.

Frances Lincoln Children's Books will publish Amnesty International's Imagine in September 2017.

Simon & Schuster Launches New Imprint for Muslim-Themed Kids' Books

This presidential race season brings talk of radical Muslims and the threat of terrorism.  It  the perfect time for Simon & Schuster to launch a new imprint focusing on feel-good, Muslim-themed children's books.


Simon & Schuster says Salaam Reads will be "the first imprint at a major publisher focused on Muslim characters and stories.

"[It will] introduce readers of all faiths and backgrounds to a wide variety of Muslim children and families, and offer Muslim kids an opportunity to see themselves reflected positively in published works."

The imprint, which takes its name from the Arabic word for "peace," will release an annual minimum of nine titles for young readers of all ages — including picture and chapter books, and middle-grade and young adult titles.

"There is an incredible range of cultural and religious traditions among Muslims in the United States and across the globe, illustrating that there is no one way to be Muslim," Simon & Schuster executive editor Zareen Jaffery said.

Jon Anderson, President of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, added: "There are 3.3 million Muslims in the United States, 1.6 billion in the world, and they are an undeserved literary market. Children's books are a fantastic way to get to know our local and global Muslim neighbors."    

Among Salaam's first titles to be published next year are:

• "Salam Alaikum" — a picture book celebrating peace, community, and love based on the popular song of the same name by global social media sensation and recording artist Harris J.
"Musa, Moises, Mo and Kevin" — a picture book introducing four kindergarten best friends who share their holiday traditions for Eid, Christmas, Rosh Hashanah, and Pi Day, written by H.A. Raz.
• "The Gauntlet of Blood and Sand" — a middle–grade adventure about a 12-year-old Bangladeshi American from New York and her quest to save her brother from a supernatural board game, written by Karuna Riazi.
• "Yo Soy Muslim" — a lyrical picture book in which a parent shares with their child the joy and pride in having a multicultural heritage, written by Mark Gonzales, an HBO Def Jam poet.