To thine own bookshelf be true! This illustrated guide to classic characters from Shakespeare’s plays introduces middle grade readers to some of the most famous kings, queens, fools, and fairies in literature, and is the perfect gift for budding thespians and lit lovers.

Be it the movies or music (you know you’ve made it if Taylor Swift uses your work as a reference point for a song), there’s no shortage of Shakespeare-inspired art in pop culture. With a canon as large as his, it’s easy to forget or confuse some of the characters. Thankfully, young readers can use this illustrated character guide to learn more about some of the most unforgettable names in literature.

Broken into Tragedies, Comedies, and Histories, this compendium highlights twenty plays and teaches readers about some of Shakespeare’s most famous characters. Throughout the book, readers will also discover biographical information about Shakespeare, fun facts about theater during Shakespearean times, “cliff notes” on the various plays, and more.

Linda Williams Jackson is an award-winning author, born and raised in the Mississippi Delta. Her books have been named ALA Notable Children’s Books, a Jane Addams Honor Book for Peace and Social Justice, a Malka Penn Honor, two Bank Street College Best Books of the Year, and a Washington Post Summer Book Club Selection. Additional accolades include Mississippi Institute of Arts & Letters Youth Book Award Winner, Foreword Reviews Indies Award Winner, New-York Historical Society Children’s History Book Prize Finalist, and Cooperative Children’s Book Center Best Books of the Year, among others.