The Merchant of Venice

Although Bassanio owes his friend Antonio a great deal of money, he must borrow more to make a good impression when he courts his true love, Portia. However, Antonio is short of cash and must borrow from the lender, Shylock. More problems arise when Antonio's ships are wrecked, leaving him penniless when Shylock's loan is due. Bassanio must now find a way to save his friend's life, but help is on the way - from an unexpected source!

Shakespeare plays

Since my introduction to Dick and Jane books I have been a voracious reader of nearly anything in print. However, Shakespeare and I just never clicked. Maybe you have a child like me, whose aversion to the well-respected bard has you on the fence. Should you force the issue, as most government schools do? Or should you drop it from your curriculum and have your child experience cultural ignorance?

Whether you view the study of Shakespeare with delight or dread, he is a literary icon; references to his works are everywhere, from advertising to sermons, and we do our children a disservice if we ignore his impact. If you have a child who groans at the thought of Macbeth, you may find a whole different attitude when you present your child with these graphic versions of Shakespeare's works. Obviously these books are condensed, but they have retained enough key phrases and quotations from the originals that your child will have more than a nodding acquaintance with each celebrated play.

While the reading level is for grades four and above, please keep in mind that Shakespeare's plays are pictures of humanity both at its very worst as well as its very best, delving into issues of romance, deceit, tragedy, and revenge.

See a sample here.

Please note, as is customary for this time period, the women tend to favor plunging necklines. While immodest by our standards, we have seen far worse walking through our local big box store. Still, in our household, books like these typically receive a touch of whiteout before being released to the family bookshelf. What is lost in authenticity is gained in piety.

About Graphic Shakespeare:
This series features classic Shakespeare retold with graphic color illustrations. Educators using the Dale-Chall vocabulary system adapted each title. Each 64-page, softcover book retains key phrases and quotations from the original play. Students build confidence through reading practice. Research shows that the more students read, the better their vocabulary, their ability to read, and their knowledge of the world.