Romeo and Juliet for Kids (Shakespeare Can Be Fun!)
Gr 1-4-Once again, Burdett has produced a jaunty version of a Shakespeare work that grew from an intensive project with her elementary school students. The central text, composed of labored, uneven couplets, is the least appealing part of the book. Naive drawings, done by the students, are colored with clear, bright markers. Lively written additions from the second and third graders, such as Juliet's diary entries or reports from Verona citizens in response to the feud, show how well immersion in the play can lead to a good understanding by younger children. While readers elsewhere might enjoy a look at their contemporaries' drawings, it seems unlikely that they would derive even a fraction of the understanding of the play and its importance that Burdett's students got from the project. It wouldn't hurt, though, for teachers seeking inspiration to take a look at what can be achieved with enthusiasm and a strong belief in your source.-Sally Margolis, Barton Public Library, VTCopyright 1998 Cahners Business Information, Inc.