Book Reviews and More: Stink Hamlet and Cheese - Megan McDonald and Peter H Reynolds

Thursday, 28 June 2018

Stink Hamlet and Cheese - Megan McDonald and Peter H Reynolds - Stink Moody Book 11

Stink Hamlet and Cheese
Stink Moody Book11
Megan McDonald (Author)
Peter H. Reynolds (Illustrator)
Candlewick
ISBN 9780763691639
eISBN 9780763698898
ASIN B07B48TVVQ

In the last 6 years I have read 40 books with the Moody’s. From the Judy moody Series, The Stink Series, The Judy and Stink books, and most recently the Judy Moody and Friend’s series. I started reading these books before I had kids, and now read them with my three children ages 11, 10 and 7. The Moody books are family favorites and we always look forward to a new book in any of the four series, and this book was another great read! I have yet to read anything by either McDonald or Reynolds that was not a great read. And tis book, these series are great for kids to read or to read with kids. We are at the point that my oldest two can read the Stink books by themselves or to the youngest. Or like this one we can take turns reading pages and worked through the book on a rainy afternoon.

This book is a big change for Stink. He has a girl interested in him. Stink and one of his best friends Sophie are at a camp called Shakespeare Sprite during spring break. When Stink gets there the first day he is the only boy. And Riley Rottenberger has promised him that he will get a great big kiss before the end of the week at camp. For the most part camp is fun, they learn Shakespeare insults, sword play and stage fighting. By the end of the week they will each get to be in a scene and their parents and friends can come. Stink’s fear of the kiss and the shenanigans surrounding that add some fun to the story. Both his sister Judy and Sophie help his make a shield to fend off the dreaded Rottenberger. They go to a community production of the cursed play, and Stink says the ‘M’ word several times.

Reading this book raised a lot of questions about Shakespeare. It is great to get younger children interested in the story. My kids immediately made the connection to Gnomeo and Juliette. And asked if any other movies or plays were appropriate. And living not far from Stratford Ontario and one of the largest Shakespeare festivals in the world helps draw their interest even more.

This book would be a fun read for young fans of drama or children who like to put on performances (my girls). My son loved the stage fighting and sword play lessons in the book. For fans of the Stink books it is a great addition to the series. The book is entertaining for children and for those of us who read to or with them.