As a writer, E. Nesbit understood that the stories are the least part of Shakespeare, but as a mother she also understood the need for simplicity. Envisioning this simplified introduction to works such as The Winter’s Tale, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Taming of the Shrew — eleven plays in all — E. Nesbit set out to make them more accessible to young readers without sacrificing any essential elements. For if the stories were stripped of their wit and humor, of their emotion, the children would be no more entertained by them than by the indecipherable originals. In the end, under E. Nesbit’s gifted pen, these stories emerge with all the charm and grace of the very best fairy tales.

Written in thoroughly modern English and each no more than ten pages in length, the eleven plays featured in this volume afford children the opportunity to discover for themselves the magic of Shakespeare.

At the Bjorkman home we like to introduce Shakespeare by reading from a book like this and having the student choose roles and act it out. We then find a great movie or play version of the play and enjoy it together. Shakespeare was written to be performed and enjoyed, not so much just read. Let your students discover the delight of Shakespeare’s command of the English language and his portrayals of human character at its best and worst.