Shakespeare for Babies
It's never too early to introduce your baby to the classics. You know, the classics, Romeo and Juliet, Sense and Sensibility, Dracula. I can hear a resounding what?! Well innovative publisher, Gibbs Smith have devised a way to introduce our little ones to classic literature, well, baby-friendly versions anyway. Here are my reviews of Romeo and Juliet and Sense and Sensibility*
Romeo and Juliet - A Counting Primer by Jennifer Adams with Art by Alison Oliver.
This delight of a counting book is beautifully illustrated by Alison Oliver and instead of attempting to tell the exact story of Romeo and Juliet - not the most happy story for babies - it takes characters and symbols from the play and sets them to numbers. For example we start with, 1 Balcony, then 2 Loves, my favourite is 9 Streets and Bridges, which shows a cute map of Verona and the two opposing houses of Montague and Capulet. A perfect way to start your little ones journey with Little Master Shakespeare.
Sense and Sensibility - An Opposites Primer by Jennifer Adams with Art by Alison Oliver
A great introduction to Little Miss Austen by the world of opposites. On the first page we are introduced to grand Norland Park and humble Barton Cottage, and so telling the story by symbolising the differences between the characters, whilst focusing on the love stories that are stirring between them. Quite interestingly in the middle we see a Happy Willoughby and a Sad Colonel Brandon, which by the end of the novel these emotions are reversed.
My baby boy Finn enjoyed looking at the colours and listened intently to me reading the books - this is probably more to do with the sound of my voice than the content. The books are welcome additions to any baby and toddler collection as they look stunning and make the world of the classics accessible. They would be a great and unique gift as well. I can't wait to add Wuthering Heights and Dracula (just in time for Halloween) to my - er Finn's collection.
* The publisher kindly sent me both books to review.
Romeo and Juliet - A Counting Primer by Jennifer Adams with Art by Alison Oliver.
This delight of a counting book is beautifully illustrated by Alison Oliver and instead of attempting to tell the exact story of Romeo and Juliet - not the most happy story for babies - it takes characters and symbols from the play and sets them to numbers. For example we start with, 1 Balcony, then 2 Loves, my favourite is 9 Streets and Bridges, which shows a cute map of Verona and the two opposing houses of Montague and Capulet. A perfect way to start your little ones journey with Little Master Shakespeare.
Sense and Sensibility - An Opposites Primer by Jennifer Adams with Art by Alison Oliver
A great introduction to Little Miss Austen by the world of opposites. On the first page we are introduced to grand Norland Park and humble Barton Cottage, and so telling the story by symbolising the differences between the characters, whilst focusing on the love stories that are stirring between them. Quite interestingly in the middle we see a Happy Willoughby and a Sad Colonel Brandon, which by the end of the novel these emotions are reversed.
My baby boy Finn enjoyed looking at the colours and listened intently to me reading the books - this is probably more to do with the sound of my voice than the content. The books are welcome additions to any baby and toddler collection as they look stunning and make the world of the classics accessible. They would be a great and unique gift as well. I can't wait to add Wuthering Heights and Dracula (just in time for Halloween) to my - er Finn's collection.
* The publisher kindly sent me both books to review.
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