Includes bibliographical references.

"Can a young WIlliam Shakespeare capture the right words when inspiration strikes? One morning William opens his window and words fly in. But when he tries to catch them, they slip right through his fingers! Leading him on a wild goose chase, the words skip over the balcony of a lady in courtship, flip past an old king with his rose-cheeked daughters, and dip into a boiling pot stirred by three old women where the words bubble, bubble-- they are too much trouble! Will he find a way to capture such fibbertigibbety words before they disappear for good? "--Jacket flap