A Child's Portrait of Shakespeare

Lois Burdett's success in introducing Shakespeare to children is reflected in her growing international reputation. Her books and workshops for teachers have captured the attention and imagination of parents, educators, and lovers of Shakespeare around the world, including the American National Council of Teachers of English and the International Reading Association. Among other commendations, Lois Burdett has received Encyclopedia Britannica's National Award for Early Childhood Education, Canada's Meritorious Service Medal, the Canadian Teachers' Federation's Hilroy Fellowship, and two writers' awards. Burdett's many speaking engagements have included the International Reading Association and the National Council of Teachers of English. Her books, magazine articles, presentations and media interviews are testimony to her strong influence in the education community, where she has also been instrumental in helping teachers to incorporate Shakespeare into early grade curricula.

But an actor and a writer must also have a stage.
The theatres in London town were all the current rage.

Since there was no place to rent William built one of his own;
He cherished this new playhouse; The Globe as it was known.

The Globe was open to the sky, so plays were in the day.
The poor folk stood about the stage; a penny they did pay.

They were labelled "groundlings" and could get quite loud and rude;
If they didn't like the play they saw, they'd even throw their food.

Others paid a good deal more for shelter from the rain.
But on opening day for Shakespeare, no one person did complain.