On this page: General Resources | Henry VIII | Elizabethan Era | Shakespeare
general resources
📖 Terrible Tudors and other Horrible Histories by Terry Deary. The entertaining and informative Horrible Histories series promises to teach “history with the nasty bits left in.” There are four titles that focus on the history of Early Modern England: Terrible Tudors, Terrifying Tudors, Slimy Stuarts, and Gorgeous Georgians. – Elementary • Middle
▶️ Horrible Histories TV show. Episodes of the popular “Horrible Histories” sketch show are available to stream on Amazon Prime, Hulu, and YouTube. Search our Horrible Histories Sketch List to find every “Terrible Tudors,” “Slimy Stuarts,” and “Gorgeous Georgians” sketch from Seasons 1–5. – Elementary • Middle
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📖 Brilliant Brits: Henry VIII by Richard Brassey. This "Brilliant Brits" book gives a slightly silly, cartoonish introduction to Henry VIII. A quick read for elementary aged kids. – Elementary
📖 Henry VIII: Royal Beheader by Sean Price. This title in the excellent Wicked History series offers an exciting, fast-paced account of the life and legacy of the notorious King Henry VIII. Highly recommended for older students. – Middle • High
▶️ History vs. Henry VIII from TED-Ed. “He was a powerful king whose break with the church of Rome would forever change the course of English history. But was he a charismatic reformer who freed his subjects from a corrupt establishment or a bullying tyrant who used Parliament for his own personal gain? Mark Robinson and Alex Gendler put this controversial figure on trial in History vs. Henry VIII.” – All
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📖 Good Queen Bess by Diane Stanley. For an excellent introduction to the Elizabethan Age in Britain, turn to Diane Stanley's illustrated biography of Queen Elizabeth I. – Elementary • Middle
📖 Sir Walter Raleigh and the Quest for El Dorado by Marc Aronson. "In this extraordinarily well researched and insightful biography, Marc Aronson explores the amazing accomplishments and dismal failures of one of the most flamboyant figures of the Elizabethan age." This is a good, meaty biography of a fascinating man whose life was full of contradictions. – High
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📖 William Shakespeare and the Globe by Aliki. Here is a simple biography of William Shakespeare that also discusses Sam Wanamaker's recent efforts to rebuild the historic Globe Theater. The back material gives a chronology, list of plays, and selection of words and expressions derived from Shakespeare. – Elementary
📖 Will's Words: How William Shakespeare Changed the Way You Talk by Jane Sutcliffe. Published in 2016, Will's Words tells the story of the Elizabethan theaters with words and phrases coined by the Bard himself. Side boxes explain the meaning and origins of these Shakespearean terms. – Elementary
📖 Bard of Avon: The Story of William Shakespeare by Diane Stanley. Here’s a wonderful introduction to Shakespeare and his times; highly recommended: "William Shakespeare was the son of a glovemaker, a small-town boy with a grammar school education. Yet he grew up to become the greatest English-speaking playwright in the world. Bard of Avon: The Story of William Shakespeare is both his story and that of a great art rediscovered in the modern world.” – Elementary • Middle
📖 The Boy, the Bear, the Baron, the Bard by Gregory Rogers. This wordless picture book tells the story of a modern boy who finds himself magically transported to Elizabethan England, where he encounters an angry William Shakespeare. Named a 2007 best book of the year by New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and others. – Preschool • Elementary
📖 The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood. Widge, an orphan living in Elizabethan England, is commanded by his master to steal Shakespeare’s Hamlet. “As full of twists and turns as a London alleyway, this entertaining novel is rich in period details, colorful characters, villainy, and drama.” Also in this series: Shakespeare’s Scribe and Shakespeare’s Spy. – Elementary • Middle
