Mom's Tree House

I love the Classics and I love Shakespeare, so when I found Shakespeare for Children: The Story of Romeo and Juliet I knew I had to get my hands on it. Cass Foster is the creative author behind this adorable book who has captured this timeless story into now a children’s favorite.

Foster masterfully simplified the story of Romeo and Juliet into a wonderful children’s picture book. Now, little ones will learn the story of Romeo and Juliet thus, learn about Shakespeare.  Foster however, extents her creativity by providing more books on the works of Shakespeare as these children get older.  Foster’s also has the series, Sixty-Minute Shakespeare and To Teach or Not to Teach: Teaching Shakespeare Made Fun! I love this! Foster has allowed for children to be exposed to William Shakespeare in a new innovative, fun way. Children now will learn to love and appreciate these great works and by the time they enter high school, these teenagers will be able to embrace the full works of Shakespeare.

The book itself is written Shakespeare’s original language but with clear, concise narration making the story easy to read.  The text is spaced and the font is large, with only a few lines on each page allowing the young reader to be comfortable while reading by not feeling overwhelmed. The  illustrations are in a pencil-drawing format allowing a look of simplicity and grace. At the end of the book, twenty open-ended discussion questions are found to promote readers to discuss and interpret what they have read.  

This book is simply wonderful. Foster has opened the world of Shakespeare to our children. FINALLY! Our kids are reading Shakespeare! Yes, Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy but is a piece of artistic writing that children should be familiar with. So, I simply look forward to some more Shakespearean works by Foster.

About The Author

Cass Foster, Professor Emeritus of Theatre, has been actively involved in the theatre as an educator, director, fight choreographer and playwright. His teaching experience includes The Ohio State University, Capital University, Otterbein College, Central Arizona College and Mesa Community College. He has directed productions or choreographed fights at Players Theatre Columbus, University of Illinois: Champaign-Urbana, Phoenix Theatre, Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, Grand Canyon Shakespeare Festival, Case Western Reserve University, Arizona Jewish Theatre, Sedona Repertory Company, Lyric Opera, Phoenix Little Theatre, Sombrero Playhouse, The Ohio State University and the Great American People Show.

He currently resides on the beautiful Garden Isle of Kauai with his wife, Nellie.

Read Cass Foster’s blog

E-Mail the author: Cass613@gmail.com

Disclosure: I received a  copy of this book from FiveStarPublications in exchange for my review.   No other compensation was received.  All opinions are 100% my own and may differ from others.