Classic literature for all
Why do we offer different text versions and which text is right for you?
The benefits of multi-text versions
Making classical literature appealing to all starts with younger readers and in education.
Our range has multiple text versions of each title, broken down into "Shakespeare" or “The Classics" to provide a choice of access level for you or your students and to allow inclusive learning for classes of mixed abilities.
SHAKESPEARE PLAYS
THREE TEXT VERSIONS
We offer three text versions of each Shakespeare title, with vibrant and exciting artwork, ensuring that all students can engage with the text.
Original Text
The entire Shakespeare play
as a graphic novel.
Plain Text
The entire Shakespeare play
translated into plain English.
Quick Text
The entire Shakespeare play
with reduced dialogue.
In order to be true to the Bard's works, our Shakespeare titles feature the entire script, unabridged, in the original setting. We call this "Original Text".
Our research revealed how the complex Shakespeare language can deter many readers, especially those coming to a play for the first time. To cater for that, we also publish a translation of the entire script in plain English that we call "Plain Text".
Then, we take this process a stage further to create our third reading level, "Quick Text”.
Quick Text features reduced and simplified dialogue for younger and reluctant readers. This version is also ideal for students where English is not the first language, and also for a quick introduction to the play for everyone.
CLASSIC FICTION
TWO TEXT VERSIONS
For our Classic Fiction titles we create two text versions.
The Original Text features the authors words, carefully selected to augment the strong artwork that covers much of the descriptive prose. The language of the Original Text doesn’t require modernisation for our Classic Fiction titles, so a Plain Text version is not needed.
Alongside Original Text, we create a Quick Text version with reduced and simplified text and dialogue for a faster read or as a quick introduction to the story.
To overcome a reluctance to reading, we also limit the page count of our graphic novels to between 120-180 pages. (Long enough to offer a satisfying read, but not too long to discourage the reader). Some minor abridgement is required for this depending on the length of the story.
Our multi-text graphic novels can also help with
Inclusive teaching
Different text versions allow a single class of mixed abilities to work with the same story. Lesser able readers can use the Quick Text version, while the more-able readers can use the Plain Text or Original Text versions, giving you a classroom of pupils, of whatever ability, effectively reading from the 'same' page.
CROSS-CURRICULUM LEARNING
The books can be used to encompass core and foundation curriculum subjects including English language, English literature, history, art and drama as well as inspiring individual creativity within children.
reluctant readers
We, along with experts in the field and teachers we work with, believe that this medium encourages literacy in the most reluctant readers.
High-impact graphics make a world of difference here, appealing to readers on a visual level, regardless of their ability.
teaching the classics to Yr 6
As our model schools have found, our graphic novels can be used from age 9 onwards, utilising Quick Text versions for classroom work, alongside Plain Text and Original Text in smaller reading groups. Activities such as designing comics and creating different endings proved successful with this age group.
Getting boys to read
A current, well-documented challenge! Our books have been greeted by boys of all ages with massive enthusiasm. Quotes such as "I didn't know that Shakespeare could be so cool" and "I would read these at home too" came from our focus group reading Henry V.
LEXILE MEASURES
The Lexile Framework® for Reading is a scientific approach to measuring both reading ability and the text complexity of reading materials on the same developmental scale.
Educators use Lexile® measures to match students with text, putting them on the path to success in school, college and careers. Lexile measures make it easy for educators to:
• Personalise learning
• Measure student growth
• Communicate with parents about their child’s progress
Readers in the US can look out for Lexile measures on these titles: Macbeth, Frankenstein, Romeo & Juliet, Dracula and A Midsummer Night's Dream.