(4) 1-3 Shakespeare Collection series. Illustrated by Chris Molan. Each Shakespearean play is retold as a short story with a condensed plot and thin characterizations, and Shakespeare's language is completely missing. Still, those seeking accessible summaries of the plays may find the books in this series a good place to start, and the black-and-white and color illustrations--delicate for Romeo and Juliet and cartoonish for Twelfth Night--are nicely suited to each volume. [Review covers these Shakespeare Collection titles: Much Ado about Nothing, Twelth Night, Antony and Cleopatra, and Romeo and Juliet.]

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta