Shakespeare for Kids: His Life and Times, 21 Activities (For Kids series)
Grade 4-8-While there is a competent biography of Shakespeare hidden in these pages, it's a bit hard to find amid the hodgepodge of projects and random sidebars that pop up throughout the text, occasionally unrelated to the subject under discussion. Craft suggestions include a quill pen, pomander balls, and a decorated glove. (Shakespeare's father was a glover, and sometimes the inspiration for a craft is as vague as that.) There are also instructions on how to juggle, fence, or write a sonnet. While much of the material could possibly be used in a student production or Renaissance festival, the book lacks a cohesive purpose. There is not even an index to guide users. The black-and-white illustrations, liberally sprinkled throughout, are primarily reproductions or photographs, which are occasionally grainy and hard to decipher. Clearly an enthusiastic labor of love, this effort is ultimately a disappointment.Sally Margolis, Barton Public Library, VTCopyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.