We’ve been reading Shakespeare books for kids since my son was 8, and they quickly became some of his favorites.
He enjoys both the original plays and adaptations, but the adaptations are what really sparked his love for Shakespeare.
His love for the Bard has grown over the years, fueling an interest in theater and storytelling.
This journey with Shakespeare has been about more than just reading, it’s sparked curiosity, imagination, and discussions that continue to inspire him.
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If you’re also raising a young Shakespeare enthusiast, you might enjoy exploring our top gifts for Shakespeare lovers, perfect for teenagers and anyone who appreciates the Bard’s works.
Top 10 Favorite Shakespeare Books for Children
This list features 10 of my son’s favorite Shakespeare stories, presented in reverse order, with his absolute favorite saved for last!
He’s already collected six of these titles from one series and can’t wait to add more.
Keep scrolling—you won’t want to miss the one he loves most!
This boxed set was a great way to introduce Shakespeare to my son when he was around 8. The short stories and illustrations made it approachable, although it became a bit too simple for him by the time he turned 10. It’s still one of the best starting points for younger readers to explore the Bard's world.
To Wee or Not to Wee was the first Shakespeare book my son received. He got it as a Christmas gift from his grandmother when he was 8. It covers the stories of Hamlet, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Romeo and Juliet. It is definitely aimed at younger children and is actually very funny.
This book contains 20 of William Shakespeare's best know plays and has adapted them into stories for children. Written over 215 years ago this book by Charles and Mary Lamb is a classic in its own right. For younger children, this book will make a great book for read-alouds, and for older children, it is a great introduction to some of his most famous works.
When we started taking Shakespeare more seriously in 6th grade we used this book along with an excellent unit study. Check out how to teach your child Shakespeare. We used this as a parent-led book as opposed to a book he would read on his own, but he thoroughly enjoyed it and is definitely part of the reason why he continues to love Shakespeare.
We have 5 of these No Fear Shakespeare books and they are all EXCELLENT. It breaks down the Shakespeare play on one page and translates it into modern English on the next page. So it is side to side and really easy to understand. The only play we have not been able to find is typically Henry VI which we went to see earlier in the year.
William Shakespeare: Scenes from the life of the world’s greatest writer
This book is in his top 10 as we purchased it from the Royal Shakespeare Company in England! But it is an excellent book about his life rather than his plays, although it does of course talk about some of his most famous works. There are lots of pictures to look at too, so age-wise I would have it somewhere between 7 and 12.
William Shakespeare’s Avengers: The Complete Works
In second place is this William Shakespeare's Avengers the complete works book. Ian Doescher, who also wrote the comic above, and my son's favorite book listed below is the author of this book too. This book is written in the style of a play (in scenes) and is perfect for any Avengers fan! There are plenty of pictures of the Avengers in Shakespeare clothing too!
Drum roll, please…..My son's all-time favorite Shakespeare book for kids is this William Shakespeares Star Wars book. There are 9 books in the series of which he has 6, and the next 3 he will be asking to have for Christmas. He absolutely loves them and like the Avengers book above it is written in scenes. This one listed is the trilogy – The Royal Imperial Boxed Set: Includes Verily, A New Hope; The Empire Striketh Back; The Jedi Doth Return; and an 8-by-34-inch full-color poster
