Best Shakespeare Books for Kids (Kid-Tested Favorites)

Shakespeare books for kids have been a big part of our home for years.

My son was hooked by age 8, and since then, he’s read most of the plays and we’ve seen many performed live, everything from Hamlet to Henry VI.

He didn’t just read these once and move on, most of them have been pulled off the shelf multiple times, either to reread a favorite scene or flip through a fun retelling.

If you’ve got a young Shakespeare fan (or even a reluctant one), these titles are a great place to start. They mix humor, story, and accessible language in a way that really works for kids.

Shakespeare books for kids including manga, Star Wars, Deadpool, No Fear, and classic retellings for young readers.

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Tried-and-True Shakespeare Books for Young Readers

Each of these books has stuck with him for different reasons, some made him laugh, others helped him connect with the plays in a new way.

They’ve all become go-to Shakespeare gifts for friends and fellow young readers starting their own journey with the Bard.

Teen boy sitting with a large collection of Shakespeare books for kids, including No Fear, Star Wars, and graphic retellings.

Twenty Shakespeare Children’s Stories

This was the set that really got things rolling when my son was 8. The stories are short, easy to follow, and paired with colorful illustrations—perfect for kids who are just starting to explore Shakespeare. By the time he turned 10, he’d outgrown the simplicity, but it gave him a solid foundation early on. We still recommend it for younger readers.

To Wee Or Not To Wee

This was his first Shakespeare book, his grandmother gave it to him for Christmas at age 8—and he was hooked. The humor is silly (plenty of toilet jokes), but it made Hamlet and Macbeth feel approachable and fun. He read it cover to cover and kept quoting lines back at us for weeks. A great intro for reluctant readers.

Tales from Shakespeare

We read this one aloud when he was around 10, and it gave us a chance to slow down and talk through the plays together. The language is more traditional than modern adaptations, but it sparked some great conversations about the original phrasing and characters. It’s not flashy, but it’s a classic for a reason, and it helped build his confidence before diving into full texts.

How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare

We used this in 6th grade when he was ready to go beyond just reading the stories. It’s more of a parent-led resource, but we worked through the passages together, memorizing lines, talking about the meaning, and learning some background along the way. It definitely deepened his appreciation and gave us a shared language for talking about the plays. This book works really well with this our unit study.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream (No Fear Shakespeare)

The No Fear Shakespeare series has been a game changer for us, this edition of A Midsummer Night’s Dream was one of the first he read with both the original and modern text side-by-side. It helped him understand the story without losing the rhythm of the language. He now owns five of these and still pulls them out when he wants to compare versions after seeing a play live.

William Shakespeare: Scenes from the life of the world’s greatest writer

We picked this up at the Royal Shakespeare Company gift shop during one of our trips, and it quickly became one of his favorites. It focuses on Shakespeare’s life rather than the plays, but it still includes plenty of references to his most famous works. With illustrations and short, engaging sections, it’s a great biography-style book for ages 7 to 12, especially for visual learners.

Manga Shakespeare: Richard III

This was a surprise hit, he’s into manga, so the graphic format immediately grabbed his attention. Richard III is a darker play, but the visual storytelling made it easier to follow and kept him engaged the whole way through. If your child enjoys comics or anime-style art, this series is a fun way to approach Shakespeare without it feeling too formal.

Deadpool Does Shakespeare

This one isn’t traditional Shakespeare at all, but it made him laugh out loud. Deadpool Does Shakespeare mixes chaotic humor with unexpected references to the Bard’s work. Definitely aimed at older kids or teens who already enjoy Deadpool’s tone. It’s irreverent and ridiculous in the best way, and still managed to sneak in a few real quotes.

William Shakespeare’s Avengers: The Complete Works

This one blends two of his favorite things, superheroes and Shakespeare. Written in full play format with Shakespearean-style language, it’s clever and surprisingly well done. He loved the mix of dramatic monologues and classic Marvel characters, and the illustrations in period costume just made it even more fun. A great pick for Avengers fans who already have a bit of Shakespeare under their belt.

William Shakespeare’s Star Wars Trilogy:

This is hands-down his favorite Shakespeare-inspired series. He owns six of the nine books and has already asked for the rest for Christmas. The trilogy reimagines the original Star Wars films in full Shakespearean play format, with scenes, monologues, and plenty of clever wordplay. It’s over-the-top in the best way and perfect for kids who love Star Wars and want something both funny and smart. He’s reread this boxed set more times than I can count.

Last Updated on 14 May 2025 by Clare Brown

Tried-and-True Shakespeare Books for Young Readers

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