Reader's Theatre

Go Exploring in Books A Reader's Theatre Script Adapted by Lisa Blau Reader #1
Reader #2
Reader #3
Reader #4

Reader #1: Explore the world, discover why
All: Planets whirl about the sky.
Reader #3: Make new friends and meet new faces,
All: Read of far-off golden places.
Reader #2: How people live, and how fairies look...
Reader #4: All the world is in a book.

Polar Bears A Super Science Script By Lisa Blau
Reader #1
Reader #2
Reader #3
Reader #4

Reader #1: Good morning! We are here to tell you all about some amazing animals that live in the cold and snow.
All: We're here to tell you about polar bears!
Reader #2: Polar bears hunt seals and other animals for food.
Reader #3: Polar bears have thick, white fur. Their fur and layers of fat protect them from the cold. A polar bear's white fur serves as camouflage when hunting.
Reader #4: A male polar bear weighs about 1,000 pounds and measures between 8 to 11 feet.
Reader #1: Polar bears have a keen sense of smell. They can smell food as much as 10 miles away!
Reader #2: Polar bears are excellent swimmers. They use their strong front legs like paddles.
Reader #3: Polar bears are also good climbers.
Reader #4: Mother polar bears take very good care of their cubs. A mother polar bear will teach her cubs how to hunt. She will also teach them how to protect themselves from danger.
Reader #1: Most polar bear cubs stay with their mothers until they are two years old.
Reader #4: Polar bears dig a den for themselves in the snow. They will live in the den during the winter months.
Reader#3: We hope that you have enjoyed learning about polar bears.
All : The End!

The Three Wishes An Old Folktale Adapted for Reader's Theatre Script Narrator #1
Narrator #2
Narrator #3
Fairy
Woodcutter
Wife
Narrator #1: Once upon a time a poor woodcutter headed into the forest to chop down a few trees and sell the wood in the nearby town.
Narrator #2: Just as the woodcutter was about to cut down an old oak tree, he heard a voice…
Fairy: Please, kind woodcutter. Do not cut down this tree.
Narrator #3: The woodcutter said…
Woodcutter: And why not? I need the wood to sell in the town so that I have money to buy food.
Fairy: I cannot tell you why, but I promise if you do as I ask, good luck will be yours.
Woodcutter: Very well. I will not cut down this tree.
Narrator #2: Then the fairy said…
Fairy: Dear woodcutter, you have a good and kind heart. I will grant your next three wishes.
Narrator #1: The fairy flew into the forest. The woodcutter headed home to tell his wife of their good fortune.
Woodcutter: Wife! Wife! I have a fine story to tell you.
Narrator #2: The woodcutter's wife was very happy when she heard about the three wishes.
Wife: What a wonderful thing it is to have three wishes! Let's not be hasty. Let's wait until morning before we make a single wish.
Woodcutter: A wise idea. That way we will be able to think more clearly. But for now I'm as hungry as a bear. When's supper?
Wife: Supper will be ready in one hour.
Woodcutter: One hour! But I'm starving! I wish I had a big sausage right now.
Narrator #3: Now, no sooner had the woodcutter said the words when a sausage appeared on the table.
Wife: You fool! Look what you've done! You've wasted one wish! How could you be so foolish?
Narrator #2: The woodcutter's wife scolded her husband.
Narrator #1: Now the woodcutter was not pleased by his wife's nagging, so he said…
Woodcutter: I wish that this sausage was stuck on your nose.
Narrator #3: And the sausage stuck to his wife's nose!
Wife: You fool! Look what you have done! Do something!
Narrator #1: The woodcutter tried and tried to remove the sausage, but it was no use. It was stuck there for good.
Narrator #2: Then the woodcutter said…
Woodcutter: There's only one thing to do. I wish the sausage was back on the plate.
Narrator #3: The sausage landed back on the plate. The woodcutter and his wife sat down and ate the sausage.
Wife: And that's the story of the three wishes.

With a Mighty Roar! Meet the Big Cats A Reader's Theatre Script
Reader #1
Reader #2
Reader #3
Cheetah
Lion
Tiger
Jaguar
Leopard
Reader #1: Good Morning! Welcome to our presentation called, "With a Mighty Roar! Meet the Big Cats".
Reader #3: Today we will meet a lion, a cheetah, a tiger, a jaguar, and a leopard.
Lion: ROAR! I am a mighty lion. I am called the King of Beasts! I live in the grassy plains of Africa.
Reader #2: Lions are famous for their roars. Lions make many other sounds too. When a lion is happy, it will hum. Lion cubs meow. An angry lion will hiss or snarl.
Reader #3: Lions sleep during the day and hunt at night. Lions live together in groups called prides. Lions are very lazy, they sleep up to twenty hours each day!
Lion: I have a very good sense of smell. I can also hear the tiniest of distant sounds. My eyes change shape at night so that I can see and hunt in the dark.
Reader #1: Lions are strong and mighty hunters. They eat zebras and antelopes. Lions eat about thirteen pounds of food in one day.
Lion: A baby lion is called a cub. A mother lion takes good care of her cubs. She protects them from enemies and teaches them how to hunt. If a cub gets lost, a mother lion will find it by using her sense of smell just like a hunting dog.
Reader #2: Lions use their tails for balance, flicking away pesky flies, and for saying hello.
Lion: ROAR! Let me have you meet my friend the tiger.
Tiger: GROWL!! Everyone knows that we tigers have stripes. Did you know that our stripes help us hide from our enemies. Our stripes are great camouflage. When we tigers are out hunting, our prey cannot see us hiding in the bushes. Our stripes help us blend in with the grass and trees. Reader #1: Tigers live and hunt alone. Tigers are bigger than lions. In fact, tigers are the largest cats in the world.
Reader #3: Tigers live over most of Asia. They do not live in Africa. Tiger: I like to swim. If you have a pet cat at home, you know that your cat does not like to get wet. But not me!! I like to cool off in the water. I am a strong swimmer. And besides, when we tigers are swimming, we'll catch a snack of tasty fish.
Reader #3: Tigers can roar like lions, but they do not roar very much. If tigers are in danger, they make puffing sounds. When two tiger friends meet, they might rub their necks or faces together.
Tiger: I like to eat deer, wildcats, birds, and snakes. If I'm really hungry, I might even eat a grasshopper!
Jaguar: Hello, I am a Jaguar! I am about the same size as a leopard. I am much smaller than a lion or a tiger.
Reader #1: Jaguars hunt at night. Jaguars eat monkeys, deer, alligators and fish. Jaguars catch fish by stroking them with a mighty paw.
Reader #2: Leopards carry their food into the bushes or up in a tree. They will eat their food up the tree or hide it there for later.
Reader #1: Leopard cubs learn to hunt by following their mother. They look for her tail sticking up in the tall grass.
Leopard: My cubs will stay with me for two years.
Reader #2: Wow! What was that?! Some fast cat just zoomed by! Cheetah: Well, hello! You must be talking about me! I'm a cheetah. I'm the world's fastest land animal over short distances.
Reader #3: That's right! Our friend the speedy Cheetah can run up to 60 miles per hour. Cheetahs use their great speed to catch their food. Cheetah: Cheetahs eat antelope and deer.
Reader #2: Cheetahs are light tan or brown with dark spots. Their bodies are long and sleek.
Reader #3: Cheetahs cannot roar. Mother cheetahs make chirping sounds to call their cubs.
Reader #1: The big cats are beautiful beasts. We must do all that we can to protect them.
Reader #2: There are laws to protect the big cats from hunters
Reader #3: If these laws are not obeyed, these beautiful beasts could become extinct.
All Big Cats: ROAR! PURR! CHIRP! MEOW! Please do all that you can to help protect us.

Bears, Bears, Bears A Reader's Theatre Script
Narrator #1
Narrator #2
Narrator#3
Narrator #4
Narrator #5
Narrator#6
Narrator #2: Good morning! Welcome to our presentation called… All: Bears, Bears, Bears!
Narrator #4: Today you will learn about the members of the bear family. Narrator #6: Bears are mammals. They are also carnivores. This means that they eat meat. Most bears also eat fruit, nuts, insects, and fish. Narrator #1: Alaskan brown bears are the largest carnivores that live on land.
Narrator #3: Alaskan brown bears can weigh over 1,700 pounds and stand over nine feet tall.
Narrator #5: Grizzly bears live in the western United States, Alaska, and Canada. Grizzlies have long, curved claws. They use their sharp claws to dig for food.
Narrator #2: Black bears live in North America. Black bears weigh about 250 pounds.
Narrator #4: Black bears can run very fast. They also are able to climb trees.
Narrator #6: Black bears hibernate during the cold winter months. They will put leaves, bark, and branches in their dens to make a soft nest to sleep on.
Narrator #1: Polar bears do not hibernate. Their frozen home in the North Pole is always cold. Polar bears have thick white fur and many layers of fat to help keep them warm.
Narrator #3: Polar bears eat seals, fish, and seabirds. A polar bear has a very keen sense of smell. They can smell food as much as 10 miles away. Narrator #5: Polar bears are excellent swimmers. They are also fast climbers.
Narrator #6: We hope that you have learned some interesting facts about bears. Thank you for being such a great audience. All: The End.

The Stonecutter A Folktale from Japan A Reader's Theatre Script Narrator #1
Narrator #2
Narrator#3
Narrator #4
Narrator #5
Stonecutter
Narrator #1: Once upon a time there was a Stonecutter.
Narrator #2: Every day the Stonecutter cut stones from the mountain and put them in his cart.
Narrator #3: The Stonecutter worked hard all day with his chisel and his hammer.
Narrator #4: All day, every day, the Stonecutter worked. He cut the stones and he put them in his cart.
Narrator #1: One day the hot sun beat down upon the Stonecutter. Stonecutter: How I wish I could be strong and powerful like the Sun. Narrator #1: Said the Stonecutter.
Narrator #5: Now it just so happened that a mountain spirit lived nearby. Narrator #2: When the mountain spirit heard the Stonecutter's wish, he decided to grant him the wish.
Narrator #3: The Stonecutter became the Sun!
Stonecutter: Look at me! I am the Sun! I am powerful! I am strong! I am the most powerful thing in the world!
Narrator #4: Just then a Cloud floated in front of the Stonecutter. Stonecutter: With that Cloud in front of me, I cannot shine brightly. The Cloud is more powerful than the Sun. How I wish I were a Cloud!
Narrator #2: And as before, the wish was granted and the Stonecutter became a Cloud.
Stonecutter: It is fun to be a Cloud. I can rain upon the mountains and gardens. I am very powerful.
Narrator #3: Just then a strong Wind blew and pushed the Cloud across the sky.
Stonecutter: The Wind is so strong. It is stronger than a Cloud. How I wish I could be the Wind!
Narrator #1: And as before, the wish was granted and the Stonecutter became the Wind!
Stonecutter: It is grand being the Wind, for I am so strong and powerful! Narrator #2: Then the Wind bumped into the Mountain.
Stonecutter: Aha! The Mountain is stronger than the Wind! I wish to be a Mountain!
Narrator #3: And just like that, the Stonecutter became a Mountain! Stonecutter: Look at me! I am a strong and powerful Mountain!
Narrator #4: Just then, the Stonecutter felt something. He looked down and saw a man with a chisel and a hammer. The man was cutting the stones from the Mountain and placing them in his cart.
Stonecutter: Who dares to cut away at this Mountain? I see now that the Stonecutter is stronger than any Mountain. How I wish that I could be a mighty Stonecutter!
Narrator #5: His wish was granted.
Narrator #2: The Stonecutter cut stones from the mountain and put them in his cart.
Narrator #4: He worked hard all day with his hammer and his chisel and he said...
Stonecutter: I am a mighty Stonecutter. I am strong and powerful! Narrator: And then the Stonecutter never made another wish.
All: The end.

The Rain Forest A Reader's Theatre Script
Narrator #1
Narrator #2
Narrator #3
Narrator #4
Narrator #5
Narrator #6
Narrator #2: Good Morning! Welcome to our presentation called, "The Rain Forest".
Narrator #4: The rain forest is a forest of tall trees in a region where it is warm all year and the rainfall is plentiful.
Narrator #6: Rain forests can be found in regions of Africa, Asia, South America, and Central America.
Narrator #1: Rain forests stay green throughout the year. There are more kinds of trees in a rain forest than any other area in the world. Narrator #3: The tallest trees in the rain forest grow as tall as 200 feet.
Narrator #5: The tops of trees form a covering of leaves called the upper canopy.
Narrator #2: The tops of the smaller trees form a layer called the lower canopy.
Narrator #4: The trees of the rain forest provide fruit, lumber, and many other useful products including important medicines.
Narrator #6: Many animals make their homes in the rain forest. Some of these animals spend their lives in the trees and never descend to the ground.
Narrator #1: Bats, gibbons, monkeys, squirrels, parrots, and toucans eat the fruits and nuts found in the upper and lower canopies.
Narrator #3: Several kinds of anteaters, monkeys, opossums, and porcupines also live in the rain forest.
Narrator #5: Some animals live on the floor of the rain forest. Antelope, deer, hogs, tapirs, and many kinds of rodents live on the forest floor. Narrator #2: Chimpanzees, jaguars, butterflies, spiders, and ants are abundant in the rain forest.
Narrator #4: People have destroyed large areas of the rain forests by clearing the land for farms, cities, and mining.
Narrator #6: Scientists estimate that over 20 acres of rain forests are destroyed every year.
Narrator #1: The destruction of the rain forest will lead to the elimination of hundreds and thousands of species of plants and animals.
Narrator #3: It is up to all of us to find ways to help save the rain forests.
Narrator #5: We hope you have enjoyed learning about the rain forest. All: The End.

The Ant and the Grasshopper An Old Fable by Aesop A Reader's Theatre Reader #1
Reader #2
Reader #3
Reader #4
Ant
Grasshopper
Reader #4: On a beautiful summer day a grasshopper sat and sang a sweet song.
Reader #2: The grasshopper saw an ant working hard carrying grain to his house.
Grasshopper: Look at that silly ant. All day long he works hard and never enjoys the sunshine.
Reader #3: The grasshopper laughed at the ant and then he continued his song. He basked in the warm sun all summer long without a care in the world.
Reader #1: As summer turned to autumn the grasshopper continued to sing his song and enjoy the sunshine. The ant, on the other hand, continued to gather food and store it in his house.
Reader #4: When winter came the cold winds blew hard and the snow covered the meadow with a thick blanket of white.
Reader #2: The grasshopper tried to find food, but of course he found nothing.
Reader #1: It didn't take long for the grasshopper to knock upon the ant's door and beg...
Grasshopper: Please help me! I have nothing to eat! I shall starve without your help.
Ant: My dear Mr. Grasshopper, all summer long I worked hard carrying food to my home while you played in the sunshine. I will not share my food with someone who is so lazy.
Grasshopper: I was busy singing my song. I was making beautiful music. What should I do now?
Reader #3: The ant thought for a moment and then said...
Ant: I suggest you dance.
Reader #1: And the moral of this fable is...
Ant: You must do the work before you take the time to play.
All: The End.

Happy National Pig Day!!! A Reader's Theatre Script
Reader #1
Reader #2
Reader #3
Reader #4
Reader #1: Good morning! Happy National Pig Day! We are here to tell you about a very clever, clean, and intelligent animal. Let's learn all about... All: Pigs!
Reader #2: Pigs are very smart animals. They can be taught to do many tricks. They will roll over or fetch on command.
Reader #3: Pigs can even be trained to pull a small cart.
Reader #4: Pigs like to roll in the mud in order to to keep cool.
Reader #1: Pigs have strong, stout bodies covered with stiff, bristly hair. They have round snouts. Pigs use their snouts to root or dig for food. Reader #2: Pigs have small eyes and poor eyesight.
Reader #3: Pigs will grunt when they are happy. They will squeal when they are hurt or excited.
Reader #4: A father pig is called a boar. A mother pig is called a sow. Baby pigs are called piglets.
Reader #1: Piglets weigh about 2-3 pounds when they are born. Piglets grow really fast. They will double their weight in the first week!
Reader #2: A fully-grown boar weighs from 350-500 pounds. An adult sow weighs about 400 pounds.
Reader #3: Many people think that pigs are dumb and dirty animals. Pigs are actually among the most intelligent of the tamed animals.
Reader #4: Pigs keep themselves cleaner than most of the other farm animals.
Reader #1: Well, we hope you enjoyed learning all about pigs and...
All: Happy National Pig Day!

The Bremen Town Musicians A Reader's Theatre Script
Reader #1
Reader #2
Reader #3
Reader #4
Donkey
Dog
Cat
Rooster
Reader #2: Once upon a time a donkey worked long and hard for his master. As the years went by the donkey grew old and weak.
Reader #4: One day the donkey heard his master say that he was going to get rid of him. When the donkey heard this he said...
Donkey: I will run away to the town of Bremen. I have a strong voice. I will become a fine singer.
Reader #1: So the donkey left the farm and headed down the road to Bremen.
Reader #3: By and by the donkey met an old dog.
Donkey: Good morning, Dog! How are you this fine day?
Dog: I am old and weak. My master wants to get rid of me. I don't know what to do.
Donkey: Why not come with me to the town of Bremen? Together we can be fine musicians.
Reader #2: So the dog and the donkey headed down the road.
Reader #4: By and by they met a cat.
Dog: Hello, Cat! How are you this fine day?
Cat: I am old and weak. My master wants to get rid of me. I don't know what to do.
Donkey: Why not come with us to the town of Bremen? Together we can be fine musicians.
Reader #3: So the cat, the dog, and the donkey headed down the road. Reader #1: By and by they net a rooster.
Cat: Hello, Rooster! How are you this fine day?
Rooster: I am old and weak. My master wants to get rid of me. I don't know what to do.
Donkey: Why not come with us to the town of Bremen? Together we can be fine musicians.
Reader #3: So the rooster, the cat, the dog, and the donkey headed down the road.
Reader #1: The animals walked all day but they did not reach the town of Bremen.
Donkey: Come, my friends. Let's rest under this big tree for the night. Reader #2: The rooster flew up into the tree to get a look around. Suddenly he called out...
Rooster: We are in luck my friends! I see a light. Perhaps there is a house for us to sleep in.
Reader #4: The animals followed the rooster to the light. There they found a little house. The donkey peeked in the window.
Reader #1: The donkey saw a band of robbers inside the little hose. The robbers were so busy counting their money that they did not see the donkey.
Donkey: My friends we must think of a way to frighten those robbers away.
Reader #3: It wasn't long before the animals had hatched a good plan. Reader #2: The donkey stood on his hind legs. The dog climbed on the donkey's shoulders. The cat climbed onto the dog's back. The rooster perched on top of the cat.
Reader #4: And then the animals call out...
Donkey: Hee haw! Hee haw!
Dog: Woof! Woof! Woof!
Cat: Meow! Meow! Meow!
Rooster: Cock-a-doodle-doo!
Reader #3: The noise scared the robbers. The robbers dashed out of the little house and ran away.
Reader #1: The robbers did not take their gold. They did not take their food. They just ran away as fast as they could.
Donkey: What good luck, my friends! Now we have a cozy house, tasty food, and all the gold we'll ever need.
Reader #3: The animals never went to the town of Bremen. They lived happily ever after in the tiny house in the woods.
All: The End.

The Magic Porridge Pot An Old Folktale
Storyteller #1
Storyteller #2
Storyteller #3
Mother
Daughter
Son
Villager #1
Villager #2
Storyteller #1: Once upon a time there lived a mother and her two young children.
Storyteller #2: The family was very poor. They lived in a tiny cottage at the edge of a small village.
Storyteller #3: Though they were poor, they were always happy for the mother loved her children dearly.
Storyteller #1: The family was never hungry. High on the kitchen shelf sat a very special cooking pot.
Storyteller #3: Whenever anyone was hungry, mother simply placed the pot upon the stove and said...
Mother: Boil, little pot, boil.
Storyteller #3: And within minutes, the tiny pot would be filled with a hot, delicious porridge.
Storyteller #2: The son would always say...
Son: Mmmm! Ahhhh! Ohhhh! Mother's porridge is the best in all the land! And to think our magic pot cooks on demand!
Storyteller #3: And the daughter would always say...
Daughter: Yes! It is yummy! It is so very tasty in my tummy!
Storyteller #1: When the family had its fill of porridge, mother would simply say...
Mother: Please stop, Magic Pot.
Storyteller #2: And the Magic Pot stopped just as quickly as it had begun. Storyteller #1: And so it was at each meal. Mother would take the pot down from the shelf, place it upon the stove and say the magic words... All: Boil, little pot, boil.
Storyteller #3: And in minutes the pot would be filled with a hot, delicious porridge.
Storyteller #1: Then the son would say...
Son: Oh, mother! Once again you have made us a fine meal!
Storyteller #3: And the daughter would say...
Daughter: So rich, so creamy...mother's porridge is truly dreamy! Storyteller #2: When at last everyone had their fill of porridge the mother would say...
Mother: Please stop, Magic Pot.
Storyteller #1: Now one day the mother said to her children...
Mother: Children, dear children. I must go to the village today. I ask only one thing...do not touch the cooking pot. I shall be home soon.
Storyteller #1: The son said...
Son: Dear mother, fear not! I will not touch your cooking pot!
Storyteller #2: Then the daughter said...
Daughter: Oh mother of mine, please believe me...I will let your cooking pot be.
Storyteller #3: So mother walked towards the village leaving her children alone with the magic pot.
Storyteller #2: After a short while the son said...
Son: Sister, dear sister...I am so very hungry. What shall we do? Daughter: Brother, dear brother...I am hungry too. I do not know what we should do.
Storyteller #3: The daughter replied.
Storyteller #1: Then the son said...
Son: Like it or not, we must touch mother's cooking pot.
Storyteller #2: So the children placed the magic cooking pot upon the stove and the daughter said...
Daughter: Boil, little pot, boil.
Storyteller #3: Soon the children filled their bowls with rich, creamy porridge. When the first bowl was empty, the children helped themselves to second helpings.
Son: Sister, dear sister...I am filled to the top. Tell me, how do you make the magic pot stop?
Daughter: Ah, that's easy. We just say, "That is all, magic pot." Storyteller #2: But the magic pot did not stop.
Son: Quick! Do something fast! The magic pot must stop, it's boiling over the top!
Storyteller #3: The son cried out to his sister. So the daughter tried all kinds of words...
Daughter: Stop! Please stop! Little Pot that will do! No more, I say! Please stop! Stop! STOP!!!
Storyteller #1: The daughter did not know the magic words, so the little pot kept making more and more and more porridge.
Storyteller #2: The porridge spilled out of the pot, into the tiny house and down the lane towards the village.
Villager #1: What is this, I say? A stream of porridge is spreading across our village today!
Villager #2: Grab your bowls and spoons! We must eat up all the porridge and we must do it soon!
Storyteller #3: The villagers cried out. Then the villagers said...
Villager #1: Does anyone know how to make that pot stop?
Villager #2: Help us please! We do not wish to have our village covered with porridge...oh please!
Storyteller #3: Just then the mother stepped out onto the street. Storyteller #1: When she saw the porridge spreading across the village she said...
Mother: Oh dear, it's just as I feared...my daughter and son are the naughty ones. They have touched the magic pot. Now it is I who must make it stop.
Storyteller #2: So the mother said...
Mother: Please stop, Magic Pot.
Villager #2: Oh, thank you, kind woman. You have saved the day! We feared that all of the porridge would carry us away!
Storyteller #3: The people of the village filled their pots, bowls, and stomachs with the rich, creamy porridge. Everyone was very happy indeed. Mother: When I returned home I scolded my daughter and son. I hope that a lesson was learned on that bright, sunny day...
Son: If it is not yours, do not touch it...for you may not like what happens...not one little bit.
Daughter: I learned a lesson on that sunny day...when mother gives orders...I must obey!
Storyteller #2: And from that day to this the children obeyed their dear old mom and never again went near the magic pot.
Mother: My sweet darling children learned their lesson well...now it's time for us to go...for I hear the dinner bell!
All: Good-bye. Good-bye. Farewell. There's nothing more of our story to tell!
Son: The End.

Helen Keller A Remarkable Woman A Reader's Theatre Script
Reader #1
Reader #2
Reader #3
Reader #4
Annie Sullivan
Polly Thomson
Reader #1: Helen Keller was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama on June 27, 1880.
Reader #2: When Helen was a year old she had a very high fever. She was very sick.
Reader #3: The illness left Helen blind and deaf. She could not see. She could not hear.
Reader #2: Helen Keller lived in a dark and silent world.
Reader #3: Helen could not hear other people speak, so she could not talk. Reader #2: Helen touched things to find out about the world around her. Reader #4: Helen could not let others know what she wanted or how she felt. She would cry and scream in her silent, dark world.
Reader #3: Helen's parents took Helen to many doctors. No one could help them. One day they learned of a special teacher.
Reader #1: Helen's teacher was Annie Sullivan. She came to teach Helen when Helen was seven years old.
Annie Sullivan: I had to find a way to reach Helen. I needed to hind a way to help Helen communicate.
Reader #3: Annie taught Helen a special alphabet.
Annie Sullivan: I would give Helen a doll. Then I would spell the word into Helen's hand.
Reader #2: At first Helen did not understand.
Annie Sullivan: Then one day we passed by a water pump. I put Helen's hand in the water. I spelled the word "water" into Helen's hand over and over again.
Reader #2: At last Helen understood what Annie was trying to teach her! Annie: Helen learned very fast. She learned words for "mother", "father" and "teacher".
Reader #4: In later years Helen Keller wrote, "the day I learned the word "water" was the day I discovered light, hope, and joy."
Annie: I taught Helen thousands of words. I taught her to read by feeling a series of raised dots on a page.
Reader #2: This system of reading is called Braille. Helen learned to read very fast.
Reader #3: Helen Keller became famous around the world. Everyone called her "the wonder girl".
Annie: When Helen was ten years old, she decided that she wanted to learn how to speak.
Reader #1: Helen could not hear any speech sounds. She could not hear the sounds that she was making.
Reader #2: Helen did learn to speak, but she could not always speak clearly.
Reader #4: When Helen Keller was twenty years old, she went to college. Annie: I sat next to Helen and spelled everything that was said in each class into Helen's hand.
Reader #3: Helen was an excellent student. She studied many long, long hours.
Annie: While Helen was in college, she wrote her autobiography entitled, The Story of My Life. Once Helen wrote, "Knowledge is happiness."
Reader #2: Helen Keller graduated from college in 1904. By then she was even more famous. People wanted to meet this remarkable woman.
Annie: Helen and I traveled around the world. Helen lectured before large audiences. She told people about her life.
Reader #3: Helen Keller wrote many books and magazine articles about her life.
Reader #4: She worked hard to help other blind people. She worked for the American Federation for the Blind for many years.
Reader #1: In 1936, Annie Sullivan died. She had been Helen's teacher for more than fifty years.
Reader #2: Polly Thomson, Annie's secretary, became Helen's constant companion.
Polly Thomson: During World War II, Helen visited injured soldiers in the hospital.
Reader #4: Helen tried to help soldiers who had lost their sight. She gave them hope.
Reader #1: Helen Keller wrote that helping the wounded soldiers was the "crowning experience" of her life.
Polly: Helen Keller met many important people. She met kings, queens, and Presidents.
Reader #3: Helen Keller won many special awards. In 1964 President Lyndon Johnson gave Helen the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Polly: Helen Keller died on June 1, 1968. She was eighty-eight years old. She had lived a full and rich life.
Reader #1: Helen Keller could not see or hear. She did not let this stop her. She wrote many books and she even learned to ride a bicycle!
Reader #3: Helen Keller loved to read. She enjoyed learning. She also enjoyed swimming.
Reader #4: Helen Keller brought love and hope to millions of handicapped people around the world.
Reader #1: This remarkable woman was admired and loved throughout the world.
All: The end.

Jack and the Beanstalk An English Folktale A Reader's Theatre Script Reader #1
Reader #2
Reader #3
Jack
Mother
Giant
Little Man
Giant's Wife
Reader #1: Once upon a time long, long ago there lived a young boy named Jack.
Reader #2: Jack lived in a small cottage with his mother. They were very poor.
Reader #3: One day Jack's mother said to him...
Mother: Oh, Jack. Whatever will we do? We haven't any money for food. You will have to go to town and sell our cow. It is the only way that we'll be able to eat.
Jack: Very well, mother.
Reader #1: So, Jack took the cow and walked toward the town.
Reader #2: He hadn't gone far when he met a strange little man.
Little Man: Say...young lad...where are you going with that cow?
Jack: I'm going to town to sell the cow so we can buy some food.
Little Man: Ah...but the town is so very far away...I will gladly buy the cow from you.
Jack: What price will you pay me for my cow?
Little Man: I have no coins, but I have something far better than money. If you give me your cow, I shall give you some magic beans!
Jack: Well, I don't know if I should. My mother told me to go to town and sell the cow.
Little Man: But, lad! Think how proud your mother will be when she learns that you have some magic beans!
Jack: Very well then. Here is the cow. Please let me have your magic beans.
Reader #3: So, the deal was made. Jack walked home with his sack of magic beans. His mother would be so proud of him for making such a good deal.
Mother: Well, Jack. Did you get a good price for our cow?
Jack: Yes, I did. I got this sack of magic beans!
Mother: What? You foolish, foolish boy! How could you have done such a thing? Now we have no food to eat, whatever will we do?
Reader #1: Jack's mother sent him to bed without any supper and she threw the bag of magic seeds out the window.
Reader #2: In the morning when Jack awoke there was a huge beanstalk growing outside his window.
Jack: Wow! Look at this beanstalk! Why it seems to touch the clouds! Reader #1: Jack decided to climb up the beanstalk.
Reader #2: He climbed and climbed and climbed.
Reader #1: At last he reached the top. He was in a magical land.
Reader #2: Jack found a large, beautiful castle. He knocked on the door. A woman opened the huge door.
Giant's Wife: Who are you? What do you want, boy?
Jack: I'm Jack. I've just climbed up the beanstalk. I'm very hungry. Could you spare some food for me, kind woman?
Giant's Wife: Very well, come in...but be careful. My husband is a mean and grumpy giant. He will not be happy to see you.
Reader #3: Jack went into the kitchen and the Giant's wife fed him a good meal.
Reader #2: All at once the floor began to shake and a loud voice roared... Giant: FE-FI-FO-FUM! I smell the blood of an Englishman! Be he alive or be he dead, I'll grind his bones to make my bread!
Giant's Wife: Oh, heavens! The giant has returned! Quick, hide here in the cupboard.
Reader #2: Jack hid in the cupboard and watched what the giant did next. Giant: Wife! Wife! Bring me some food, my gold, my magic hen, and golden harp! Hurry, hurry! Do as I say.
Reader #1: The giant ate and ate and ate. He counted his many bags of gold.
Reader #2: Then the giant roared at the magic hen...
Giant: Lay me ten golden eggs at once!
Reader #1: And the magic hen did as the giant had ordered.
Giant: Play magic harp, play!
Reader #2: The Magic Harp began to play the sweetest music that Jack had ever heard.
Reader #1: Soon the giant fell asleep. His loud snores shook the castle. Reader #2: Jack saw his chance to run away.
Reader #1: But before he left, Jack grabbed the giant's sack of gold, his hen, and the magic harp.
Reader #2: But as Jack picked up the magic hen, the hen cried out and woke the giant up.
Reader #1: Jack ran as fast as he could out of the castle and across the clouds to the beanstalk.
Reader #2: The giant ran after Jack. His great steps shook the ground. Reader #1: Jack scurried down the beanstalk. The giant was not far behind him.
Reader #2: When Jack reached the ground he grabbed an axe and began to chop down the beanstalk.
Reader #3: Hack! Hack! Hack! The axe flew across the beanstalk. At last the beanstalk fell to the ground and the mean and grumpy giant crashed down with it.
Reader #1: That was the end of the magic beanstalk and the mean and grumpy giant. But it does not mean the end of our tale.
Reader #2: Oh no! Our tale has the happiest of endings, for Jack and his mother now had all the money they needed.
Reader #3: They also had a hen that laid golden eggs...
Reader #1: And a harp to play the world's sweetest music...
Reader #2: And they lived happily ever after.
All: The end.

The City Mouse and the Country Mouse A Fable A Reader's Theatre Script Narrator #1
Narrator #2
Narrator #3
City Mouse
Country Mouse
Narrator #1: One day the city mouse went to visit her cousin who lived in the country.
Narrator #2: The country mouse was very happy to see her cousin. She set out a few crumbs of bread and a tiny piece of cheese.
Narrator #3: Then the country mouse said...
Country Mouse: Welcome, cousin! Come and eat some of my tasty food.
City Mouse: This is not what I would call tasty food. Why, in the city I eat cakes, pies, and fancy goodies all day long.
Narrator #1: The city mouse told the country mouse.
Narrator #2: Then the city mouse said...
City Mouse: Why don't you come to the city with me and see what you have been missing.
Narrator #3: So the country mouse followed her cousin back to the city. Narrator #1: The two mice climbed on top of a table piled high with all kinds of fancy foods.
Narrator #2: There were cakes, pies, and cookies.
Country Mouse: Oh, my! How I have wasted my time in the country. I like the city. This is great!
Narrator #3: The country mouse told her cousin.
Narrator #1: Just then the doors to the dining room opened and a huge cat ran right toward the two little mice.
City Mouse: Hurry! Run! Run! It's the cat!
Narrator #2: The city mouse called out to her cousin.
Narrator #1: The two mice ran to the nearest hiding place.
Narrator #2: As soon as the cat went away the country mouse said... Country Mouse: Good-bye, cousin. You're welcome to your city life. It is not for me. I will be happy with my simple country life. Your life may be fancy, but it's just not safe.
Narrator #3: And so the country mouse ran all the way home and never again returned to the city.
All: And today's fable has this moral:
Country Mouse: A simple life lived in peace is better than a life of luxury lived in fear.

Rumplestiltskin A Reader's Theatre Script
Narrator #1
Miller
Narrator #2
King
Narrator #3
Daughter
Narrator #4
Rumplestiltskin
Narrator #1: Once upon a time there was a man who owned a mill. All day long he worked at the big stone wheel, grinding wheat into flour for baking bread.
Narrator #4: The miller was poor as a church mouse and dreamed of a brilliant future for his beautiful daughter.
Narrator #3: One morning the king's carriage passed by the village in a grand procession. The miller began to boast and brag about his daughter and said...
Miller: My daughter is not only beautiful and intelligent, why she can spin straw into gold!
Narrator #2: Now the king was very, very fond of gold, so he ordered his carriage to stop and said...
King: Straw into gold? Why if what you say is true, I will marry your daughter and make her my queen.
Narrator #1: Now the foolish miller continued to tell his tale and the very next day he took his daughter to the king's castle. As soon as they arrived, the king said...
King: Here is a room full of straw and a spinning wheel. You must spin this straw into gold by morning or I shall have your head.
Narrator #3: And with that, he locked the door behind him and left the miller's daughter all alone.
Narrator #4: Of course this beautiful girl had no idea how to spin straw into gold. She looked at the room full of straw and began to cry.
Narrator #2: Just then the door opened and a strange little man hopped into the room.
Rumplestiltskin: Why are you crying my dear?
Daughter: I must spin this straw into gold.
Rumplestiltskin: Why, that's easy as pie.
Daughter: Do not tease me. I cannot spin straw into gold. It is impossible. Rumplestiltskin: Impossible for you...but not for me! What will you give me if I spin the straw into gold for you?
Daughter: I shall give you my necklace if you promise to help me.
Narrator #4: The little man took the necklace and sat at the spinning wheel. In no time at all the room was filled with gold.
Narrator #1: The next morning, when the king opened the door, he was overjoyed. But he was also greedy. He filled an even larger room with straw and demanded that the miller's daughter spin the straw into gold. Narrator #2: Once again she began to cry and once again the strange little man appeared and offered to spin the straw into gold...for a price, of course.
Daughter: I shall give you my ring if you promise to help me.
Narrator #3: The little man took the ring and began to spin the straw into gold. When the king opened the door the next morning, he gasped in delight.
Narrator #4: He put the miller's daughter into a huge room filled with straw and demanded that she spin the straw into gold.
Narrator #1: Once again she began to cry and once again the strange little man appeared and offered to spin the straw into gold...for a price, of course.
Daughter: I have nothing left to give you. I already gave you my necklace and my ring.
Rumplestiltskin: Then promise me your firstborn child.
Daughter: I could never promise such a thing.
Rumplestiltskin: Very well, it is your choice. I will not help you.
Narrator #4: Now what choice did the miller's daughter have? She agreed to give the strange little man her firstborn child.
Narrator #2: So the strange little man spun the straw into gold and when the king opened the door the next morning he was overjoyed. He married the miller's daughter in a joyous celebration.
Narrator #3: Time passed and the new queen forgot all about her promise to the strange little man.
Narrator #4: When she gave birth to a beautiful child, the strange little man appeared and said...
Rumplestiltskin: A promise is a promise. I have come for the child. Daughter: Please do not take my child. I shall give you any treasure in the kingdom.
Rumplestiltskin: A promise is a promise. You must give me the child. Narrator #3: The queen began to sob. She cried so hard, the little man felt sorry for her and said...
Rumplestiltskin: I will give you three days. If you can guess my name in that time, you can keep your child.
Narrator #1: The queen thought and thought. She could not sleep. When the little man returned on the third day he said...
Rumplestiltskin: Well, my queen? What is my name?
Daughter: Is it Michael? Is it Matthew? Could it be Devin?
Rumplestiltskin: Ha! Ha! Ha! You will never guess my name! Daughter: Could it be Golden-nose? Could it be Dumpling Bottom?
Rumplestiltskin: No! No! No! I shall give you one more day to guess my name.
Narrator #2: Now the queen thought and thought. She held her beautiful baby and began to cry. Just then the king walked in and said...
King: Why my darling, why are you weeping so?
Daughter: Oh, I suppose it's a change in the weather, my dear.
Narrator #4: The queen could not bear to tell her husband the real reason for her tears. The king did not like to see his wife so sad and miserable so he decided to tell her a story to cheer her up.
King: This morning as I rode through the forest I saw a strange little man dancing about and singing a funny little tune. He sang...
Rumplestiltskin: My name is Rumplestiltskin, That's my name, Yes, that's my name. And no one shall ever win my game!
Narrator #3: The queen was overjoyed with her husband's words and when the strange little man appeared the next day she said...
Daughter: Is your name Kevin? Is your name Adam? Is your name Twinkle Toes?
Rumplestiltskin: Ha! Ha! Ha! No! No! No!
Daughter: Then is your name Rumplestiltskin?
Rumplestiltskin: How did you know? It's impossible!
Daughter: Why nothing is impossible little man.
Narrator #1: And with that the little man grew so angry, he stomped his feet as hard as he could. He sank right into the floor and disappeared and was never seen again.
All: And the king and queen lived happily ever after.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears A Narrator's Theatre Script Adapted by Lisa Blau Narrator #1 Narrator #2 Narrator #3 Papa Bear Mama Bear Baby Bear Goldilocks Narrator #1: Once upon a time a family of bears lived in a little house in the forest. Every morning Mama Bear made some delicious porridge for their breakfast. Baby Bear: Oh dear! This porridge is too hot for me to eat. Papa Bear: Very well then. Let's go on a walk and when we return your porridge will be just right, Baby Bear. Narrator #2: While the Bear family strolled in the forest, a little girl named Goldilocks arrived at their house and knocked on the door. Of course no one answered, so the little girl walked right in. Narrator #3: Goldilocks saw the three bowls of porridge and took a bite from Papa Bear's big bowl. Goldilocks: Ouch! This porridge is much too hot. Narrator #2: Next, Goldilocks tried Mama Bear's porridge. Goldilocks: Yuck! This porridge is too cold. I will try the porridge in this tiny bowl. Oh yummy! This porridge is just right! Narrator #1: And Goldilocks ate every bite of Baby Bear's porridge. Narrator #2: Goldilocks decided to take a look around the Bear's house. She went into their cozy living room where she saw three chairs. Papa Bear's chair was very big. Mama Bear's chair was medium size. Baby Bear's chair was very small. Narrator #3: Goldilocks sat in Papa Bear's chair. Goldilocks: This chair is much too hard. Narrator #1: Next, Goldilocks tried Mama Bear's chair, but it was much too soft. So Goldilocks tried Baby Bear's chair. Goldilocks: Ah! This little chair is just right for me! Narrator #2: CRASH!!! Baby Bear's little chair was much too small for Goldilocks and it broke into many little pieces. Goldilocks: I think I'll go upstairs and have a look around. Narrator #3: So Goldilocks went upstairs and she saw three beds. Goldilocks tried Papa Bear's great big bed. It was much too hard. Narrator #1: Goldilocks tried Mama Bear's bed, but it was much too soft. Narrator #2: Goldilocks tried Baby Bear's bed. It was just right. Soon Goldilocks fell fast asleep. Narrator #3: Very soon, the bears returned from their walk. Papa Bear: Someone has been eating my porridge! Mama Bear: Someone has been eating my porridge! Baby Bear: Someone has been eating my porridge and ate it all up! Narrator #1: The bears went into the living room. Papa Bear: Someone has been sitting in my chair! Mama Bear: Someone has been sitting in my chair! Baby Bear: Someone has been sitting in my chair and broke it! Narrator #2: The bears went upstairs. Papa Bear: Someone has been sleeping in my bed! Mama Bear: Someone has been sleeping in my bed! Baby Bear: Someone has been sleeping in my bed and there she is! Narrator #3: Goldilocks woke up. When she saw the bears staring at her, she jumped up and ran out of the house. She ran all the way home and she never returned to the forest again. Narrator #1: And as for the three bears... Papa Bear: We still eat porridge every morning. Mama Bear: And we still take a walk to let our porridge cool. Baby Bear: But now we always lock our door before we go! All: The end.

Gorillas... Africa's Amazing Apes A Reader's Theatre Script by Lisa Blau Narrator #1 Silverback Gorilla Narrator #2 Baby Gorilla Narrator #3 Mountain Gorilla Narrator #1 Good morning! My name is ___________. I am one of the narrators. Narrator #2 Hello! My name is ___________. I am also a narrator. Narrator #3 Hi there! My name is ___________. I am a narrator. Silverback Gorilla Hello! My name is ___________. I will be playing the part of the Silverback Gorilla. Baby Gorilla Hello! My name is ___________. I will be playing the part of the Baby Gorilla. Mountain Gorilla Hello! My name is ___________. I will be playing the part of the Mountain Gorilla. Narrator #1 Welcome to our presentation of... All Gorillas...Africa's Amazing Apes. Narrator #2 We're here to tell you all about gorillas. You will learn that gorillas are truly amazing animals. Narrator #3 Gorillas live in two main areas in Africa. Some live in the lowlands. Some gorillas live in the mountains. Mountain Gorilla Gorillas are the largest of the apes. A male gorilla weighs about 450 pounds and stands about 6 feet tall! Narrator #2 Gorillas look fierce, but they are really gentle and very shy creatures. Narrator #1 A gorilla will not hurt people unless it is attacked or threatened. Silverback Gorilla I am a Silverback Gorilla. We silverbacks are the leaders. We tell our group when to get up and when to eat. Narrator #3 Silverbacks are the oldest members of the gorilla group. They are called Silverbacks because they have gray hair down their backs. Narrator #2 Gorillas lead peaceful lives. They spend their days eating and sleeping. Gorillas eat leaves, buds, bark, and fruit. Silverback Gorilla Gorillas wake up just before sunrise. After a tasty breakfast of plants, we gorillas will take a nice nap until the afternoon. Narrator #1 Just before dark, the gorillas will build a nest. Gorillas make their nests from leaves and branches. Silverback Gorilla Adult gorillas will build nests on the ground. We are too heavy to sleep in trees. Baby Gorilla Good morning! I am a baby gorilla. I will snuggle with my mother in our nest at night. Narrator #2 Baby gorillas like to ride piggyback on their mother's back. Baby Gorilla Baby gorillas only weigh 3 pounds when they are born. Babies will stay with their mothers until they are about 3 years old. Narrator #1 Mother gorillas will rock and cuddle with their babies. Narrator #2 All of the gorillas in a group will take care of the baby gorilla. They may even give a naughty baby a smack on its bottom! Mountain Gorilla Gorillas are very intelligent animals. They will use a stick to reach for food. They will cup their hands to hold water. Narrator #1 Some gorillas have been taught to use sign language. Narrator #2 Many things that people do, gorillas do also. Gorillas yawn, hiccough, burp, and shed tears. Narrator #3 Gorillas are gentle giants. They are amazing animals They have no real enemies except for man. Silverback Gorilla People have hunted gorillas for many years. They have also cut down the gorilla's homes. Narrator #1 We must do al that we can to protect gorillas. Afterall, they are... All Africa's amazing apes. Baby Gorilla The End.

Stupendous Snakes A Science Script by Lisa Blau Reader #1 Reader #2 Reader #3 Kingsnake Python Rattlesnake Reader #2: Good Morning! We are here to tell you all about one of the world's most fascinating animals... All: S - s - s - s - snakes! Reader #3: Snakes are reptiles. Their long bodies are covered with dry scales. Reader #1: There are about 2,500 different kinds of snakes. Snakes come in a wide variety of sizes and colors. Reader #2: The anaconda is the world's longest snake. It can grow to be over 30 feet long. Reader #1: The world's smallest snakes are called thread snakes. These tiny snakes measure just 4 inches in length. Python: Hello! I am a python. I live in the jungle. My green colors help to hide me in my tropical home. Reader #3: Please tell us more about pythons. Python: I'd be glad to. Pythons are excellent swimmers and climbers. Pythons wrap their massive bodies around the limbs of a tree. Reader #2: What else can you tell us about pythons? Python: Mother pythons protect their eggs until hatching time. Once the baby pythons are hatched, they are on their own. Baby pythons can be brown, red, or yellow. As they grow, their skin changes to a deep green. Reader #1: Snakes live almost everywhere on earth. They live in deserts, forests, oceans, lakes, and streams. Snakes do not live in polar regions. They could not survive the severe climate. Reader #3: And here's a curious fact, snakes are often absent from islands including Ireland and New Zealand. Reader #2: The scaly skin of a snake has two layers. Snakes will shed the outer layer of skin when it becomes worn. This process is called molting. Rattlesnake: Hello! I am a rattlesnake. I am a poisonous snake with a rattle on the end of my tail. I use my rattle to warn my enemies to stay away. Reader #3: Please tell us more. Rattlesnake: Rattlesnakes live in the Western Hemisphere from Canada all the way south to Argentina. Most rattlesnakes live in the desert and feed on birds and small mammals. Kingsnake: Hello! I am a kingsnake. I live in the United States. I am harmless to people. Farmers are glad to see me because I eat rodents that may destroy their crops. Reader #2: Tell us more, please. Kingsnake: Kingsnakes reach a length of about 3½ feet and can have brown, black, white, yellow, or red markings. Most kingsnakes are black with white bands. Reader #3: Snakes use an inner ear as well as other sensors in their bodies to detect vibrations around them. They use their tongues to pick up scents in their environment. Reader #1: Snakes do not have any eyelids. Snakes never blink. Reader #2: About one-fourth of the world's snakes are venomous. Snakes use their venom to paralyze their prey or for self-defense. Most snakes would rather flee than fight. Reader #3: We hope you have enjoyed learning all about stupendous snakes. All: The End.

The Bundle of Sticks A Fable by Aesop A Reader's Theatre Script by Lisa Blau Reader #1 Reader #2 Reader #3 Farmer Aesop Reader #1 Good Morning! Welcome to our presentation of a fable by Aesop called... Aesop The Bundle of Sticks. Reader #2 Once there was a poor farmer who had many sons. Reader #3 But alas, his sons were always fighting. Reader #1 One day the farmer told his sons to come inside his little house. Reader #3 The farmer gave each of his sons a bundle of sticks and said... Farmer I have given you each a bundle of sticks. I want each of you to break this bundle of sticks in two. Reader #1 The sons tried and tried but they could not break the bundle of sticks. Reader #2 When each of his sons had given up, the farmer smiled and gave each son just one stick. Reader #3 Then the farmer said... Farmer I have given each of you one stick. I want you to try and break just one stick. Reader #2 Of course each son could easily break his stick. Farmer My sons I hope you have learned a lesson from this bundle of sticks. Reader #3 The farmer said to his sons Farmer If you work together you will be as strong as a bundle of sticks. But is you argue, you will be weak just like the single stick. Aesop And the moral of this story is: Working together brings strength. All The End

The Lion and the Mouse A Fable by Aesop A Reader's Theatre Script by Lisa Blau Narrator #1 Narrator #2 Narrator #3 Lion Mouse Narrator #2 Long, long ago a lion was sound asleep. A little mouse was scampering through the tall grass on his way home. Narrator #3 The little mouse ran past the lion but alas, as he ran he fell and he let out a very loud... Mouse SQUEAK!. Narrator #2 The lion woke up from his nap and roared... Lion Who is this who spoils my slumber? I do not like to be awakened in this way. Narrator #3 The lion looked down and saw the little mouse. Lion Well, well, well! I have found myself an afternoon snack! Mouse Oh please, mighty lion. Do not eat me. Perhaps someday I can pay you back. Please let me go. Lion Ha! How could someone so tiny help a brave and mighty lion like me? Be off with you then. Mouse Thank you, mighty lion. And remember my words to be true...Someday I may be able to help you. Narrator #1 Not long after the mouse was set free by the lion, he heard a terrible noise that echoed through the forest. Mouse That sounds like the lion. He may need my help. Narrator #2 The mouse ran off and found the lion, caught in the hunters' ropes. Mouse Oh, mighty lion. Do not roar and make such noise. The hunters will come for you. Let me help you. Lion How can you help me, you are so very small and I am so very big and strong? Narrator #1 The little mouse did not answer. He was too busy chewing through the ropes with his tiny, sharp teeth. Narrator #3 Soon the lion was free. Before he ran away to hide from the hunters he stopped and said... Lion Little mouse you have kept your word. You helped me when I needed you the most. You have proven to be a good and loyal friend. Narrator #1 And from that day forth the lion and mouse were always the very best of friends.

Happy Birthday, Dear September Authors! A Reader's Theatre Script by Lisa Blau Super Reader #1 Awesome Author #1 Super Reader #2 Awesome Author #2 Super Reader #3 Awesome Author #3 Super Reader #1 Good morning everyone! Welcome to our presentation called... All Happy Birthday, Dear September Authors! Super Reader #2 Some of our favorite authors celebrate their birthdays in September. Super Reader #3 Say, I've got a great idea! I'll give you a few clues about these super authors, and you try to guess who they might be! Awesome Author #2 Terrific! I really love a good mystery! Super Reader #3 Our first favorite author was born on September 15, 1934. Super Reader #2 This famous author has written and illustrated over one hundred and sixty books. Super Reader #1 Wow! No wonder why he's so super! Super Reader #3 This famous author has worked as a painter. He has painted murals on many, many churches across New England. He also uses his artistic talents to design greeting cards and calendars. Super Reader #2 Our favorite author loves cats. In fact, you'll find a cat on almost every page of his books. He even wrote a book called, The Kids' Cat Book! Awesome Author #3 Well now...let me see if I can guess the name of this super author. Super Reader #2 Well? Who do you think it might be? Awesome Author #3 He wrote Strega Nona, The Popcorn Book, Charlie Needs a Cloak, The Art Lesson, and The Cloud Book. His name is... All Tomie de Paola! Awesome Author #2 I can tell you one more fabulous fact about Tomie de Paola...he knew when he was a little boy that he wanted to be an artist! Awesome Author #1 Now, let me give a few clues about another favorite author who celebrates his birthday on September 8th. Awesome Author #2 This famous author once worked as a piano mover, and opera singer, a taxicab driver and even a bookseller! Awesome Author #3 He likes to collect books and model frogs. He enjoys making up word games. Awesome Author #1 This talented author writes the funniest poems ever. He wrote a poem about Sneepies. Super Reader #2 What in the world are Sneepies? Awesome Author #1 Sneepies are little tiny animals that hide in your underwear drawer! Awesome Author #2 This favorite author has written lots of terrific poetry books. And his name is... All Jack Prelutsky! Super Reader #3 You know someday I'm going to write and illustrate books just like Tomie de Paola. Super Reader #1 And someday I'll write hilarious poems just like Jack Prelutsky. Awesome Author #1 Say, where are you two going? Super Reader #3 We're on our way to the library to find some super books by Tomie de Paola and Jack Prelutsky. Super Reader #1 That's right! If we're going to be famous authors, we need to start reading right now! Super Reader #3 I'm also going to practice signing my autograph! Awesome Author #3 Wow! We sure learned a lot about our super authors! Awesome Author #2 I'll say! Now there's only one thing left to say... All Happy Birthday Tomie de Paola and Jack Prelutsky! Awesome Author #1 The End.