With quotes and sly references to the famous works of William Shakespeare and the words he invented, this adventurous ode to language will delight readers young and old.
It all starts one morning when words fly into William’s window. He wants to catch them, but they are flibbertigibbety and quick and slip right through his fingers. Soon whole lines of verse are leading him on a wild goose chase as they tumble, dip, flip and skip all through town, past a host of colorful characters the observant reader may find as familiar as the quotes. William remains persistent, and with time and the proper tools he finds a way to keep the words with him.
It all starts one morning when words fly into William’s window. He wants to catch them, but they are flibbertigibbety and quick and slip right through his fingers. Soon whole lines of verse are leading him on a wild goose chase as they tumble, dip, flip and skip all through town, past a host of colorful characters the observant reader may find as familiar as the quotes. William remains persistent, and with time and the proper tools he finds a way to keep the words with him.
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Gr 2-4-Young William Shakespeare tries to catch words but the ones that fly through his window are "flibbertigibbety" words that he has to pursue. Through the cobbled streets and past a horse-drawn carriage carrying the king and his daughters, William loses the words at the water's edge before picking up the chase in the woods where they hover in a witch's brew ("Fair is foul and foul is fair: hover through the fog"). Finally, William's vain efforts and resulting frustration are eased when the town peddler presents him with paper and pen. As memories of his busy day flood in, so do words with William "coaxing them onto the page to stay forever." Shakespearean phrases in highly stylized colored text curl and curve around the pages to such a degree that legibility is sometimes sacrificed. His seesawing emotions make for some abrupt transitions: sadness at losing track of the words at the water contrasts with him cheerfully chasing of new ones on the next page. Digital and traditional illustrations depict the Elizabethan time period as backdrop for the rosy-cheeked impish William and his unruly words. Back matter includes an author's note, a list of phrases appearing in the book (and their respective Shakespearean plays), as well as a bibliography (although some sources may not be accessible for the intended audience). VERDICT An energetic story, driven by merry phrasing, will introduce the playwright and some of his famous quotes to younger readers and encourage budding wordsmiths.-Ramarie Beaver, formerly at Plano P.L., TXα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Sample Illustration
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About the Author
Donna Guthrie is a writer, documentary filmmaker, playwright, and lecturer whose many books for children include I Can’t Believe It’s History!, Putting on a Play, and Mrs. Gigglebelly Is Coming for Tea. She graduated from Vermont College with an MFA in Children’s and Young Adult Writing. When she’s not attending Shakespeare Festivals all over the western US, she lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Åsa Gilland is a Swedish illustrator living in Jakarta, Indonesia, who produces art for textiles, stationery, home décor and the gift market. She studied interior design at Accademia Italiana Moda and has been designing and illustrating for 20 years. She visited Stratford-upon-Avon as a child and has poured her obsession with Shakespearean history into her first picture book.
Åsa Gilland is a Swedish illustrator living in Jakarta, Indonesia, who produces art for textiles, stationery, home décor and the gift market. She studied interior design at Accademia Italiana Moda and has been designing and illustrating for 20 years. She visited Stratford-upon-Avon as a child and has poured her obsession with Shakespearean history into her first picture book.
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Product Details
- Item Weight : 10.6 ounces
- Hardcover : 40 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1645670627
- ISBN-13 : 978-1645670629
- Product Dimensions : 9.78 x 0.45 x 11.07 inches
- Publisher : Page Street Kids (September 1, 2020)
- Language: : English
- Reading level : 4 - 8 years
