Romeo and Juliet for Kids

by Lois Burdett, William Shakespeare

Overview

"Who is William Shakespeare?" For more than 20 years, Lois Burdett has asked that question of her elementary school students in Stratford, Ontario, Canada, leading them on a voyage of discovery that brings the Bard to life for boys and girls ages seven and up.

Romeo and Juliet for Kids, written in rhyming couplets is suitable for staging as class plays as well as reading aloud.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781552092293
Publisher:	Firefly Books, Limited
Publication date:	09/01/1998
Series:	Shakespeare Can Be Fun! Series
Pages:	64
Product dimensions:	7.25(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)
Lexile:	660L (what's this?)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

Lois Burdett's success in introducing Shakespeare to children is reflected in her growing international reputation. Her books and workshops for teachers have captured the attention and imagination of parents, educators, and lovers of Shakespeare around the world, including the American National Council of Teachers of English and the International Reading Association. Among other commendations, Lois Burdett has received Encyclopedia Britannica's National Award for Early Childhood Education, Canada's Meritorious Service Medal, the Canadian Teachers' Federation's Hilroy Fellowship, and two writers' awards. Burdett's many speaking engagements have included the International Reading Association and the National Council of Teachers of English. Her books, magazine articles, presentations and media interviews are testimony to her strong influence in the education community, where she has also been instrumental in helping teachers to incorporate Shakespeare into early grade curricula.

Read an Excerpt

Old Capulet greeted them in the great hall,
"Welcome, my friends, one and all!
Join the party!" he said with a grin,
"Come musicians, let the mirth begin."
In a matter of moments the room was aglow,
The ladies and gentlemen danced to and fro.
But Romeo stood by himself at the side
Until, in an instant, his eyes opened wide.
He gazed on a vision he'd never forget.
Across the room was the fair Juliet.
Now Rosaline's beauty lost its glow,
"What lady's that?" asked Romeo.
"Oh, she doth teach the torches to burn bright,
For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night!"

Table of Contents

	Introduction	vii
	Romeo and Juliet	1
	Notes	91
	Glossary	95
	About the Introducer	103

Interviews

Shakespeare Can Be Fun!

Most students will be exposed to the works of Shakespeare, typically in high school. The language and content of the plays is seen as too difficult for younger children but primary children are underestimated as to what they can accomplish given the challenge. The study of Shakespeare has become an integral part of my grade two program at Hamlet School, in Stratford, Ontario, Canada.

When I first moved to Stratford, I had no intention of teaching Shakespeare to 7 and 8 year olds. Stratford is a beautiful city noted for its Shakespearean theatre and I was interested that the schools were all named after Shakespearean characters. I asked my class, "Who is William Shakespeare?" and "Why is our school called Hamlet?" Their answers were surprising. One thought he was a famous boxer. Another believed he was the President of Canada. A third student responded, "I don't know who William
Shakespeare is. I don't know any of the big kids." It was the children's enthusiasm and excitement on making the connection between an historical figure and the name of their school, which led me to continue. Thirty years later I can't imagine teaching anywhere in the world and not introducing Shakespeare. The study provided tremendous growth, particularly in the area of language and communication and evolved into a learning experience of a lifetime. I have endeavored in my books and workshops for teachers to share the excitement of exploring with children, the timeless emotions and ideas of Shakespeare.

The comments of two of my children, written at various times in their daily journals show the lasting impression Shakespeare has had on them.

"Shakespeare is like a big piece of chocolate cake. Once you've started you wish you could go on and on forever, in a non-stopping dream." (Anika, age 7)

"William's incredible words are like a velvet silk coat that rap around his pure thoughts. His pen writes on like all colors of the wind." (Sean, age 7)

Editorial Reviews

Keep[s] intact the essence of Shakespeare while telling an exciting story that will keep kids' attention.... Highly recommended.
— Carol Burbridge

Library Talk

Gets inside the nature and motivations of these adult play characters some might think too remote from children's lives.
— John Warren Stewig

American Alliance for Theatre and Education

Keep[s] intact the essence of Shakespeare while telling an exciting story that will keep kids' attention.... Highly recommended.

Library Talk - Carol Burbridge

Gets inside the nature and motivations of these adult play characters some might think too remote from children's lives.

American Alliance for Theatre and Education - John Warren Stewig

Keep[s] intact the essence of Shakespeare while telling an exciting story that will keep kids' attention.... Highly recommended.

Carol Burbridge

Gets inside the nature and motivations of these adult play characters some might think too remote from children's lives. —Winter 2000

John Warren Stewig

Gr 5-12-- These three plays have been skillfully abridged by Garfield. His method is to retain Shakespeare's own language but to trim and cut either by giving only the early lines of longer passages, by editing scenes that involve secondary characters, or by cutting some scenes altogether. Twelfth Night and A Midsummer Night's Dream stand up well. All of the well-known lines and most of the poetry have been saved. Romeo and Juliet is more truncated, but even here not only the basic plot but also the sense of urgency of the two young people's love has been preserved. Unlike the prose retellings of the stories by Charles and Mary Lamb, Marchette Chute, and Bernard Miles, these are shortened versions of the plays themselves, complete with stage directions and waiting to be performed. Fortunate the students whose teachers are willing to become producers. Based on ``The Animated Tales as seen on HBO,'' there are lots of watercolor cartoon sketches throughout, which adds to the appeal for children. Each book begins with a short piece about the theatre in Shakespeare's time, about William Shakespeare, and about the play itself. Companion videos are available (Random House). --Ann Stell, Central Islip Public Library, NY

School Library Journal