A Midsummer Night’s Drama

Bill the Bear and his friends, Sir Bun Bun, Foxy and Lady Bushytail, all live together and stage plays at their theatre, The Glade. One night, after a rapturous reception of their new play, Bill finds it impossible to settle down to sleep. His friends make suggestions, Queen Bee commands, but it is only when Sir Bun Bun cleverly suggests they play a game that Bill drifts off at last!

Full of bear-y good puns and fabulous illustrations, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Drama’ is just wonderful! Presented in three acts, it makes a fantastic read aloud and many little ones (and their grown-ups!) will empathise with poor Bill as the over-excitement of the day prevents him from being able to switch off. The illustrations are amazing- with so many details to dwell on and discuss. I absolutely love their crazy sleeping arrangements!

However, this is one of those brilliant books which can be enjoyed in so many ways. The ‘ShakesBearean’ link is obvious and there are notes at the end which share information about Shakespeare and ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, the play which Bill and his friends performed. Queen Bee is reminiscent of Elizabeth I in her ruff and the Glade Theatre introduces the idea of the Globe. Between each act there is a a quatrain (echoing the form of one of those sonnets Shakespeare was so fond of writing, but missing the final two lines!) to set the scene, which offers a change of pace and style to the story. A map on the endpapers tantalisingly offers clues to other Shakespearean links, hopefully hinting that there are more ‘ShakesBearean Tales’ to come and I, for one, can’t wait!

A Midsummer Night’s Drama

Louie Stowell, illustrated by Isobel Lundie

Little Tiger ISBN: 978-1838915346