Shakespeare's First Folio: All the Plays: A Children's Edition - by William Shakespeare & The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust & Anjna Chouhan

About the Book

Four hundred years after its publication, Shakespeare's First Folio has found a brand-new crop of enthusiasts. This gorgeous collection comprises all the plays in the original volume -- fourteen comedies, ten histories, and twelve tragedies -- each edited so it can be performed by eight to twelve children age seven and up in under twenty minutes.

Book Synopsis

"The new must-have children's edition of Shakespeare."--The Times (UK)

Created in partnership with Shakespeare's Birthplace Trust, this remarkable collection includes thirty-six abridged plays from Shakespeare's First Folio, exuberantly illustrated by Emily Sutton.

Young hams, drama queens, and lovers of old-time language, rejoice! Four hundred years after its publication, Shakespeare's First Folio has found a brand-new crop of enthusiasts. This gorgeous collection comprises all the plays in the original volume--fourteen comedies, ten histories, and twelve tragedies--each edited so it can be performed by eight to twelve children age seven and up in under twenty minutes. Lovingly abridged by Dr. Anjna Chouhan, a senior lecturer at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Shakespeare's First Folio: The Plays: A Children's Edition uses the original language, allowing kids a taste of choice words such as sluggardized and rampallian as well as famous lines like "Friends, Romans, countrymen" and "Once more unto the breach." Lavishly and energetically illustrated by Emily Sutton, whose meticulous research was inspired by the holdings of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, this keepsake volume is designed to ensure that every child has a positive first experience with the Bard and to preserve his legacy for future generations.

Review Quotes

A gorgeous children's collection. . . lavishly illustrated by Emily Sutton. The busy intensity of Ms. Sutton's fine-lined, color-splashed illustrations perfectly suits the richness of Shakespeare's language. Of particular charm are her visual summaries of the cast of each play, cameos of red-cheeked gentlemen, sword-wielding warriors and ladies in striking attire. . . Ms. Chouhan has retained Shakespeare's energy and drama and stayed faithful to his words and characters while introducing lots of new stage directions to help children put actions to the words they're reading. . . For families that love the Bard, 'Shakespeare's First Folio' will be an inspiring and useful resource.
--The Wall Street Journal

It's Shakespeare for children - but in a radical new form ... the book is illustrated by Emily Sutton, who has supplied more than 150 ingeniously detailed watercolour drawings . . . it's a rare delight to find a children's edition that leaves Shakespeare's language intact.
--The Daily Telegraph (UK)

About the Author

Emily Sutton graduated from Edinburgh College of Art with a degree in illustration. She is the illustrator of Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes, Many: The Diversity of Life on Earth, Grow: Secrets of Our DNA, and A First Book of the Sea, all by Nicola Davies, as well as The Christmas Eve Tree by Delia Huddy and Betty and the Mysterious Visitor by Anne Twist. In addition to illustrating picture books, she paints, sculpts, and designs prints. Emily Sutton lives in England. Follow her on Instagram @EmilySuttonArtist.