Inspired by the publication of a brilliant new book Tales from Shakespeare by the one and only Michael Morpurgo, we decided it was high time we created a collection of books by, about and retelling the stories of the great man himself.

Often referred to as The Bard, Shakespeare is considered to be one of the greatest writers ever. If you are lucky you might have been the theatre and seen a play written by him, a film adaptation of one of his plays, or you might have read a book based on one of his plays. If you're in secondary school you might be studying Macbeth or another one of the 37 plays he wrote in his lifetime. He also wrote a lot of poetry, mostly poems called sonnets. 

You probably use the language of Shakespeare without even knowing it. If your belongings have vanished into thin air, you are using the words of Shakespeare. Refusing to budge an inch, or tongue-tied? Shakespeare. Are you in a pickle, do you suspect foul play or have you been hoodwinked. All Shakespeare.

Let's start with Morpurgo's newly-published gift of a book complete with an introduction by Benedict Cumberbatch (of Doctor Strange fame) and a roster of some of the best illustrators around including Dapo Adeola, Sam Usher and Michael Foreman. It's an absolute treat, ten stunning retellings of some of Shakespeare's best-loved plays from one of our nation's greatest storytellers. It's Shakespeare, told like never before, perfect for Shakespeare lovers young and old from 7+.

Most of you will have heard of William Shakespeare, know he was a bit of a writer and know his penchant for creating characters that have become household names like the star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet. But did you know that Shakespeare did a seven-year vanishing act? That he nearly had his head chopped off by the Queen? That he apparently stole an entire theatre? Find out everything you could ever want to know about Shakespeare in Shakespeare: His Dramatic Acts by Andrew Donkin.

Of the many tributes to Shakespeare, To Wee or Not to Wee must be the zaniest. It features retellings of four favourite Shakespeare plays with a definite focus on the action and character motivation. For all the silliness, it gets across the main themes of the plays, and Izzy’s top-speed accounts are irresistible. 

From the bestselling author of Horrible Histories, Terry Deary's Shakespeare Tales explore the fascinating world of William Shakespeare through the eyes of children who could have lived at the time. Take a trip back in time to plague ridden-London where going to the theatre could be a matter of life or death! Part of the Terry Deary's Historical Tales Series, you'll find Romeo & Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Twelfth Night and Macbeth.

If you are looking for the perfect gift book, then look no further than the first-ever illustrated children's edition of William Shakespeare's First Folio, published to celebrate its 400th anniversary – a sumptuous gift book to treasure for ever.

Published in association with the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Shakespeare's Plays is the first-ever illustrated children's edition of the First Folio, one of the greatest books ever published which celebrates its 400th anniversary in 2023. The sumptuously illustrated book, with luminous and detailed artwork by Emily Sutton, includes all 36 plays in the original volume, in the same order. The plays preserve Shakespeare's original dramatic language, but have been abridged so they can be performed by a minimum of eight children in under twenty minutes. The perfect accessible introduction to Shakespeare in his own words for a child, this is a very special gift book that will be returned to time and time again.

In Shakespeare for Everyone, discover the history, comedy and tragedy of the world's greatest playwright. Travel back 460 years to visit rowdy theatres and royal palaces to understand what it was like to live in Shakespeare's Elizabethan England and the influence it had on his ground-breaking work.

In Bold and Brave Women, find the fascinating stories of the bold and brave women in Shakespeare's plays. Stories of twelve of Shakespeare's courageous, strong-willed and determined characters, including Viola, Cleopatra, Portia, Lady Macbeth and Margaret of Anjou, are brought to life with Becca Stadtlander's rich and evocative illustrations. Celebrate these incredible women with this beautiful gift book, the perfect way to get children fascinated by Shakespeare and inspired by his work.

And we must shout about STAGED, a limited collection of Shakespeare’s unabridged plays that celebrates the genius of the Bard and the tropes that continue to delight YA readers to this day. Explore the STAGED collection: As You Like It – with a foreword by Talia Hibbert, Macbeth – with a foreword by Kat Delacorte, A Midsummer Night’s Dream – with a foreword by Becky Albertalli, Much Ado About Nothing – with a foreword by Holly Bourne and Romeo and Juliet – with a foreword by Jennifer Niven.

If you are studying Macbeth for GCSE, then look no further than Scholastic's Annotation Edition which comes with extra wide margins and double spaced lines, which are perfect for your study notes.

So, the long and short of it is that this is a brilliant selection of books for the Shakespeare novice or young Shakespeare lover in your life. Listen to the words of the Bard himself, and for goodness' sake, don't play fast and loose, scroll and buy one of these beautiful books to celebrate the Bard and adorn a bookshelf near you.