William Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale

Bruce Coville masterfully retells Shakespeare's "The Winter's Tale," a complex story exploring the destructive power of jealousy and the enduring strength of love and forgiveness. The narrative begins with King Leontes' irrational accusations against his wife, leading to the death of his son and the abandonment of his infant daughter. The story then leaps sixteen years, following the lost princess, Perdita, as she falls in love and unknowingly sets in motion a chain of events that could lead to reconciliation. This chapter book, suitable for ages 4-11, handles mature themes like grief, betrayal, and redemption with sensitivity, making it an excellent read-aloud for younger children and an engaging independent read for older elementary students. LeUyen Pham's dramatic illustrations enhance the emotional depth of the tale.

“There is a disease that can twist men’s hearts and make them mad, and the name of that disease is jealousy.” So begins this engaging retelling of one of William Shakespeare’s last plays—a fascinating and unique combination of intensity and whimsy. When King Leontes unfairly accuses his wife of infidelity, he sets off a terrible chain of events. But this is not one of Shakespeare’s tragedies. It’s a romance, and one with a healthy dose of fancy and surprise. A story of redemption and the strength of friendship and true love, The Winter’s Taleis perhaps also Bruce Coville’s most eloquent retelling yet, complemented masterfully by illustrator LeUyen Pham, whose rich and dramatic paintings are a revelation.