This book is a highly accessible, illustrated adaptation of William Shakespeare's controversial comedy, designed specifically to introduce children to the classic story. The original play centers on the marriage of Petruchio, a wealthy gentleman from Verona, and Katherina, the sharp-tongued, assertive, and famously "shrewish" daughter of a rich man in Padua. Katherina's father insists that she must marry before her sought-after younger sister, Bianca, can wed. Petruchio, motivated by Katherina's wealth, takes on the challenge of "taming" her will through bizarre psychological tactics, deprivation, and verbal trickery until she appears to become an obedient wife. The children's version simplifies the language and themes, presenting the core narrative of a wild, defiant woman meeting her match in a man with an even wilder disposition. This retelling, part of a collection of twenty Shakespeare stories, uses an easy-to-read narrative and engaging illustrations to make the dramatic plot and humorous situations understandable and enjoyable for a younger audience, serving as a gateway to approaching the original work later in life.
