This is a series by Samantha Newman that writes the Bard’s works at a level where children can understand the story. I have to admit I’m not a big reader of Shakespeare and I found this book to be a great explanation of the original tale. I’d recommend this book for children in the 4th or 5th grades. It’s short and the reader can finish it quickly. If it interests them they can move on to the original story.

I really like the books in this collection, they're great for making Shakespeare accessible to younger learners, or to students like mine who speak English as a second language.
As You Like It was new to me and this version is a really good intro to the play.
I'd love to see online versions of this material., like powerpoints and resources for teachers, if that is something the publishers are interested in doing,

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me access an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

This is a good book for young readers to be exposed to Shakespeare. They will easily understand and enjoy the book. There is also a note for parents/adults to be warned to read the stories with children because the stories have adult themes.

I have read this book along with many of Samantha Newman's other 'Shakespeare tales' books. I have always been intrigued by Shakespeare's books but have only ever read Romeo and Juliet and that was about 20 years ago when I was in school. When I came across this book I thought it was a perfect way to get these stories out in the world for those who struggle with classic books. I read this book to my son along with him reading them. Malaki is ten years old and has loved reading these along with myself. Along with being interesting and fun books with great narrations they have all included morals/tales of some sort which Malaki enjoys telling me what the lesson to the story is. A great book and I'm looking forward to reading more of them. My son says that he has enjoyed reading them and it is good that there are books from Shakespeares he is able to read and understand.

I loved this rewrite of As you Like It" I think it's super helpful for people who want a crash course in Shakespeare but find his work intimidating.

You know, the story, right? Fredrick usurps Duke Seniors power and kicks out Dukey's daughter Rosalind, who happens to be besties with Fredrick's daughter Celia.

It's a really fun read!

A wonderfully concise version of one of my favorite Shakespeare works. A great way to introduce Shakespearean plots to students before having them delve all the way into Shakespearean language.

*ARC provided by NetGalley in return for an honest review*

Woah! We found the one that broke the mold. I actually enjoyed this version of As You Like It. To reiterate what I have expressed before, these novels offer a child-friendly modernized retelling of Shakespeare tales.

I love this Shakespeare story, it’s so fortuitous and fun. It’s amongst one of my favourites and this adaptation for children didn’t make it lose any of it’s original sparkle.

Rosalind and Celia are great characters, and faced with injustice at Celia’s fathers hands, they remain strong in their friendship and disappear off into the forest where Rosalind’s father has been banished too. With Rosalind dressed in man’s garb and taking on the new persona of Ganymede, he or rather she, continues her romance with Orlando (another fellow outlaw) as she tricks him into declaring love.

Many of Shakespeare’s tales are filled with subterfuge, trickery and deceit which can make for great reading. It’s wonderfully adapted too, with so much to keep littler ones reading. Many marriages, romance and overcoming dastardly villains ! Loved it.

Cute little retelling of As You Like It for kids, full of quirky black and white illustrations. The entangled plots deal with innocent people fleeing from persecution into the forest, running into each other, forming friendships and falling in love.

Rosalind and Celia are escaping from Celia's father's (the evil duke who has banished the rightful duke his brother) wrath and Orlando from his evil brother's jealousy. Orlando is in love with Rosalind (who is also madly in love with him) but fails to recognize her under her manly disguise in the forest. Comedic mix-ups and family reunions ensue, and finally everyone lives happily ever after. This simple rendition of the story, although perhaps far too idealistic, will bring a smile to kids' faces.

Thanks Netgalley for this ARC!

A fun concept that delivers! “Shakespeare’s Tales: As You Like It” by Samantha Newman delivers an adaptation of Shakespeare’s play for young readers. Children will gain understanding without compromise of wit, storytelling and charm. Classic quotes and tropes remained leaving the reader without compromise.

** “All the world’s a stage … and all the men and women merely actors. They have their exits and their entrances and one man in his time plays many parts.” **

Sam Newman retells Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” for young readers, with illustrations by Ceej Rowland, a story of bitterness, anger, hidden identity and love.

When the kindly duke’s younger brother, Frederick, overpowers him in jealousy and banishes him, many lords follow the old duke into exile in the forest of Ardennes. His daughter, Rosalind, however is not banished. She falls in love with her neighbor, Orlando, who is hated by his eldest brother and family heir Oliver, who also runs away into the forest. After eventually being banished by Frederick, Rosalind and her cousin Celia also run away under secret identities.

What follows is a story of mistaken identity, claims of love, truth revealed and forgiveness.

Newman does a brilliant job of retelling a classic Shakespeare tale in five short acts in a way readers of all ages will understand and enjoy. The publisher does include a note indicating Shakespeare’s works can contain sensitive themes so adults should read these stories with their children.

Five stars out of five.

Arcturus Publishers provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

Shakespeare's Tales: As you like it retold by Samantha Newman

I really enjoy these types of novels. an easy adaption of the classic Shakespeare play, it makes Shakespeare accessible to all.

This is quite a confusing play and i would struggle to read it as it was written and understand it, so these books give me a chance to at least know the simplified story.

This humorous adaption is faithful to the original play and tells the story in a way that we can all enjoy.

#Shakespeare #muchadoaboutnothing #Netgalley #adaption #humour

A brilliant way to get the tales from Shakespeare in to kids reading that isn’t in olde English and that actually makes the story understandable. Can be read by any age. Look forward to the rest in the series

I really enjoyed Arcturus' series of abridged Sherlock Holmes stories for young readers, so I was very pleasantly surprised to find that Arcturus have launched a series of abridges Shakespeare tales as well. While Charles and Mary Lamb's classic adaptations will always be my number one choice for introducing young readers to the Bard, I will definitely recommend this new series as well!

This is a nice re-telling of As You Like It, one of Shakespeare's most beloved comedies. The plot is somewhat of a cross between that of A Midsummer Night's Dream (lovestruck couples in the woods) and Twelfth Night (cross-dressing and pretending to be someone else, falling in love with the "wrong" person). Rosalind, the daughter of a benevolent duke who has been exiled by his wicked brother, is in love with Orlando, a young wrestling champion who is being hunted by his own wicked brother. Rosalind and her cousin Celia escape to the woods to flee persecution by the usurper duke, with Rosalind dressed as a boy named Ganymede, Orlando also flees to the woods to preserve his own life from his evil brother's machinations. He too is madly in love Rosalind, without realising that "Ganymede" is in fact Rosalind. "Ganymede" hilariously pretends to be Rosalind to help Orlando improve his own wooing skills. Meanwhile, to complicate matters, a shepherdess named Phoebe is also in love with "Ganymede"! Will the poor lovers get out of this tangle and be able to return to safety and marry their true loves at last? Young readers will enjoy the comic scenes unfolding one after another, and I hope this series will spark children's interest in the wonderful world of Shakespearean drama!