Hamlet For Kids

by Lois Burdett, Kenneth Branagh (Introduction)

Overview

Perhaps the best-known of Shakespeare's tragedies, Hamlet has all the ingredients for a gripping story: revenge and power, familial love and betrayal, dramatic sword fights, dark spooky scenes. Once again Lois Burdett has woven her own brand of magic by transforming Shakespeare's complex verse into rhyming couplets. She has created a version of Hamlet especially for children, even as young as seven, and one that readers of all ages will enjoy.

At the appropriately named Hamlet Elementary School in Stratford, Ontario, where Burdett has taught for over 20 years, her students have created wonderful drawings of Hamlet to illustrate Burdett's fluid rhymes. The students' interpretations are vivid evidence of Burdett's clever ability to bring Shakespeare's complex characters and intricate plots to life for young people.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781552095300
Publisher:	Firefly Books, Limited
Publication date:	03/04/2000
Series:	Shakespeare Can Be Fun!
Pages:	64
Sales rank:	787,590
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 9.50(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

Lois Burdett is in great demand throughout North America and Europe for her workshops where she instructs educators how to familiarize young children with Shakespeare. 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

Now the two stood together, royal Father and his son.
"Mark me!" the ghost shuddered, "My hour is almost come.
I am thy father's spirit doomed to walk the night.
At dawn, I render up myself and disappear from sight."
The mournful voice resounded from above,
"If thou didst ever thy dear father love,
Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder!" he cried.
"Murder?" Hamlet trembled, and looked horrified.
The very word hammered in his brain.
"Murder most foul!" the spirit bellowed again.
"Tis said," the ghost moaned, "that a serpent bit me.
And I died in my orchard, in tranquillity.
Indeed, a serpent did sting thy father's life.
But it now wears his crown, and has married his wife."
"Oh, my prophetic soul!" cried Hamlet, "Can this be true?"
"Aye!" moaned the spirit, "The facts I will review.
As I slept peacefully on that fateful day,
Your uncle crept towards me, like a beast of prey.
A poisonous liquid, he poured into my ear.
Then he slunk away, with a laughing sneer.
It was a moment I could never have foressen.
My brother snatched my life, my crown, and my Queen.
Bear it not, my son! Set my tortured spirit free!
Adieu, adieu, adieu. Remember me!"

Interviews

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)

Foreword

For anyone coming to this play for the first time (regardless of age), or indeed for those like myself who may be dangerously overfamiliar with the work, this book is a treat. Aside from Ms Burdett's lucid, funny and evocative rendition of the story, there is the priceless contribution of the children. Here is a veracious thrill of that first excited, imaginative response to a great yarn. There are passionate reactions to the characters, which they draw with real feeling, and comments on the story and the people which are intelligent, moving and very, very funny. Fun is the key to this book. It takes a cultural icon and makes you understand its power in an effortless enjoyable way.
From the Foreword by Kenneth Branagh

Recipe

Now the two stood together, royal Father and his son.
"Mark me!" the ghost shuddered, "My hour is almost come.
I am thy father's spirit doomed to walk the night.
At dawn, I render up myself and disappear from sight."
The mournful voice resounded from above,
"If thou didst ever thy dear father love,
Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder!" he cried.
"Murder?" Hamlet trembled, and looked horrified.
The very word hammered in his brain.
"Murder most foul!" the spirit bellowed again.
"Tis said," the ghost moaned, "that a serpent bit me.
And I died in my orchard, in tranquillity.
Indeed, a serpent did sting thy father's life.
But it now wears his crown, and has married his wife."
"Oh, my prophetic soul!" cried Hamlet, "Can this be true?"
"Aye!" moaned the spirit, "The facts I will review.
As I slept peacefully on that fateful day,
Your uncle crept towards me, like a beast of prey.
A poisonous liquid, he poured into my ear.
Then he slunk away, with a laughing sneer.
It was a moment I could never have foressen.
My brother snatched my life, my crown, and my Queen.
Bear it not, my son! Set my tortured spirit free!
Adieu, adieu, adieu. Remember me!"

Editorial Reviews

Ideal for introducing the play (and Shakespeare) in the classroom or before the theatre.

Globe and Mail - Susan Perren

The style is lively and interesting, and some of the phrasing is humorous.

Carol Durusau

A simplified but responsible version of the tragedy. Meant to be read aloud and staged by children. —Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Julia Bookman

Ideal for introducing the play (and Shakespeare in the classroom or before the theatre. —Globe and Mail

Susan Perren

Burdett has received numerous awards and commendations for her work in making Shakespeare more accessible to children; Hamlet for Kids demonstrates why Burdett's work is deserving of these honours.
—Canadian Children's Literature

Jennifer Ailles

Gr 2-4-This seventh series entry retells the story in rhymed couplets with illustrations by the author's students, ages 7 to 12. The style is lively and interesting, and some of the phrasing is humorous: "Meanwhile, King Claudius was still uptight./The cause of Hamlet's madness had not come to light." The fact that stage directions and speakers' names are included within the verses poses some difficulty when acting out the play. A very perceptive narrator would be needed to make it all come out just right. Boxed insets of children's rewritten segments of the play as letters or diary entries offer interesting insights into their perception of the characters. Since the colorful drawings represent the characters in a wide variety of styles, they lack a sense of unity. Activities are presented at the end of the book to extend the experience. This is a good source of ideas for teachers who want to use Shakespeare in their elementary classrooms. Leon Garfield's Shakespeare Stories (Houghton, 1991) is still the best retelling, but school libraries could make good use of this book.-Carol Durusau, Newton County Public Library, Covington, GA Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.

School Library Journal

Burdett has received numerous awards and commendations for her work in making Shakespeare more accessible to children; Hamlet for Kids demonstrates why Burdett's work is deserving of these honors.

Canadian Children's Literature - Jennifer Ailles

A simplified but responsible version of the tragedy. Meant to be read aloud and staged by children.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Julia Bookman