What's So Special About Shakespeare?

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Author(s)

Michael Rosen

Co-Authors / Illustrators

Sarah Nayler

Publisher

Candlewick Press

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

February 23, 2018

ISBN

978-0763699949

Buy This Book

Michael Rosen’s lively exploration of Shakespeare, reissued in an accessible new format for young middle-grade readers. More than four hundred years after William Shakespeare’s death, his name is known in every corner of the world. Why? Celebrated poet, critic, and Shakespeare enthusiast Michael Rosen answers that question with humor, knowledge, and appreciation, offering a whirlwind tour of Shakespeare’s life, his London, and four of his plays: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, King Lear, and The Tempest.

Michael Rosen’s lively exploration of Shakespeare, reissued in an accessible new format for young middle-grade readers.

More than four hundred years after William Shakespeare’s death, his name is known in every corner of the world. Why? Celebrated poet, critic, and Shakespeare enthusiast Michael Rosen answers that question with humor, knowledge, and appreciation, offering a whirlwind tour of Shakespeare’s life, his London, and four of his plays: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, King Lear, and The Tempest.

Editor review

1 review

Insight into Shakespeare's Life

April 10, 2018 (Updated: June 15, 2026)

Overall rating

4.7

Writing Style

5.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

4.0

Learning Value

5.0

This book is the perfect way to introduce to children who Shakespeare is. It opens up with what you might've seen on stage during Shakespeare's plays. Then, it goes on to talk about how hard of a time it was when Shakespeare was growing up. Next are some facts about Shakespeare, like in 1603, his theater company became known as the King's Men.

Throughout the book, the author incorporates lines and scenes from Shakespeare's plays. We also learn about some of the different plays in more detail. One part that stood out to me was the chapter on Shakespeare's will because this was new information to me. He left most of his belongings to only one of his daughters, which is odd and people can only speculate as to why.

I'm a huge fan of Shakespeare and can't wait until my daughter is old enough to understand this book. It's an excellent and factual tribute to Shakespeare and gives me hope that his legacy will continue to be passed on. I especially love the timeline in the back of the book because it puts the events into a linear perspective.

Final Verdict: I would recommend this book to fans of history and Shakespeare. WHAT'S SO SPECIAL ABOUT SHAKESPEARE is enlightening and opens the reader's eyes to how different life used to be.