Francie Furlong
H-810F
10/21/08
Annotated Bibliography
Books for Reader’s Theatre for Grades K-3
Introduction
In this annotated bibliography on suggested books for Reader’s Theatre, I include
fictional picture books, collected anthologies and textbooks for the K-3 school classroom.
By definition, reader’s theatre is when stories are acted out by children in any given class.
While there are many approaches for implementing reader’s theatre, the basic foundation of
this teaching strategy is to find the right book for the activity. It should be noted, however, that
there are other books such as biographies and information books may be used in Reader’s Theatre
as well, depending on the needs and comfort level of each teacher or librarian implementing
Readers’ Theatre into their work. In an effort to narrow the scope of this bibliography assignment,
I am recommending starting off with mostly fictional books that have imaginative, fun characters or
books with action-packed storylines. I find that children love to act out animals, fairytales,
and folktales. Therefore, the following list includes books and stories that are easily adaptable
for Reader’s Theatre in any classroom environment that includes those genres. No theatrical
staging or equipment is needed for Reader’s Theatre, as it is meant to be done in literature circles,
with desks in front of a classroom, or in a library setting where the noise of little actors is not an
issue. I have also included a few good puppetry books with stories and the “how to’s” of incorporating
puppets with Reader’s Theatre.
Animal Books
Angelina on Stage by Katherine Holabird. Illustrated by Helen Craig. 1986, Clarkson Potter/
Crown Books. Fiction, Children and Theatre, Mice. Grades K-3. HBG: 2. Located: LL.
Angelina is a ballerina mouse character who appears in a series of many books. This book was chosen as a good selection for Reader’s Theatre because of its inherent “play within a play” setting in this story. The mice inadvertently get put on the stage not knowing what to do. The rodent’s dealing with the classic “the actor’s nightmare” dilemma makes this book an excellent opportunity for fun role play.
Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson. Illustrated by Jane Chapman. 2002, Margaret McElderry Books/Simon and Schuster. Fiction, Animals, Stories in Rhyme, Parties. Grades K-3. HBG: 4.
Located: LL.
What else do bears do in children’s imaginations but sleep and eat? This book is a fun diversion to the idea of what happens to bears when they hibernate. Here, all of the other animals have a bash in the forest without them! This is a wonderful book to act out. Not only is there a full array of forest animals but a rhyming text and animal party!
If You Hopped Like a Frog by David M. Schwartz. Illustrated by James Warhola. 1999. Scholastic. Fiction, Picture Book, Frogs, Animals. Grades: K-1. HBG: 3. Located: LL.
This book a great Reader’s Theatre option for smaller children who enjoy kinesthetic
experiences such as hopping around as a frog. Probably one of the most frequently used animals that children enjoy becoming, the frog provides ample character development options with story arcs in creative dramatic role-play activities. This book is not for the
week-kneed teacher who wants to participate acting out the frogs themselves!
Jumanji. Written and Illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg.1981, Houghton Mifflin Company.
Fiction, Board Games, Animals. Grade 2. HBG: NA. Located: LL.
Jumanji is an excellent book to use for Reader’s Theatre with its extremely fast moving plotline, curiously strange illustrations, and good characters. The animals are somewhat scary and using this with older second graders is recommended. More importantly is that this book could also be a great way to introduce students to the concept of book adaptation and film, as students may be more familiar with the movie than the book.
Rainbow Crow: A Lenape Tale retold by Nancy Van Laan. Illustrated by Beatriz Vidal. 1989. Knopf/Random House. Folklore, Animals, Fire, Indians of North America. Grades K-2. HBG: NA.
Located: LL.
This book is an authentic folktale great for exposing kids to a Native American story based on a retold legend of the Lenape tribe. The forest animals make it an excellent opportunity to act out. Reader’s Theatre students could especially love imagining simple creative movement interpretations for the fire in the story. Here, fire melts snow away and Crow’s friends are now freed from the frozen snow drifts and live.
Stella and Roy Go Camping. Written and Illustrated by Ashley Wolff. 1999. Dutton Children’s
Books/Penguin Putnam Books. Grades: K-3. Fiction, Picture Books, Bears, Animal Tracks, Camping. HBG: 2 Located: LL.
This book has adorable pictures of bears rolling on barrels as well as opportunities to act out a coyote, marmot, and deer. Set at a campsite in what looks like Yosemite, this story offers lots of fun role play while camping activities for Reader’s Theatre. There is an “animal tracker” instrument that children will explore pretending to be hunting for tracks of bears.
Swimmy. Written and Illustrated by Leo Lionni. 1963, Knopf. Fiction, Picture Book, Fish, Marine Life. Grades K-3. HBG: 1. Located: LL.
This book is a classic Caldecott Honor Book and a wonderful story to bring out to children of “the ‘Finding Nemo’ generation.” The story is based on the “big fish/little fish” survival of the fittest theory; and, here Swimmy outsmarts the big fierce swift tuna. The illustrations are a great jumping off point to get kids acting out marine creatures.
The Very Busy Spider. Written and Illustrated by Eric Carle. 1984, Philomel Books/Putnam and Grosset. Picture Book, Fiction, Animals, Toy and Moveable Books. Grades K-1. HBG: 1. Located: LL.
The story is about a spider who is very busy spinning a web and doesn’t want to stop and be interrupted by various farm animals. This is a great book to use for reader’s theatre as there is a plethora of farm animals that children can relate to and act out.
They will especially love the opportunity to act out more than just an insy-weensy-spider web with this book!
Fairytales and Folktales
Alice the Fairy. Written and Illustrated by David Shannon. 2004. Blue Sky Press/Scholastic. Fiction, Picture book, Fairytales. Grades: K-3. HBG: 2. Located: LL.
This book is a read-aloud that could be great for Reader’s Theatre.
As a model fairytale book, it could also be used for creative writing workshops where kids could write their own fairytales to act out. There are lots of spells that lend themselves to turning young actors into “things.” The pictures are fun and not “cutesy” and many kids’ wheels for imaginative role play could happen with this book.
Casey At The Bat by Ernest Lawrence Thayer. Illustrated by Barry Moser. 1988. David Godine Publishers. Grades: K-3. Fiction, Poetry, Baseball. HBG: 3 Located: LL.
This poem can be acted out with great success as a Reader’s Theatre piece if used with
music or the song, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” The story is better understood by children who are studying fictional folk heroes in poems that describe the drama of when someone strikes out at a baseball game. It can also teach pro-social skills after losing a game.
The Fisherman and His Wife by the Brothers Grimm, translated by Randell Jarrell. Illustrated by
Margot Zenach. 1980. Farrar, Straus, Giroux. Fiction, Fairytale, German Folklore. Grades K-2.
HBG: NA. Located: LL.
The fisherman and his wife story is a great reader’s theatre story to act out. The lesson of “too much greed will get you nowhere” is one that kids love to role play. The magical fish is a favorite as well and the little rhyming scheme “Flounder, flounder in the sea--it is I, Hans Deedledee, etc.” adds an easy onomatopoetic verse to memorize.
Goldie and the Three Bears. Text and illustrations by Diane Stanley. 2003. Harper Collins.
Grade: K-1. Fiction, Fractured Fairytales, Bears. HBG: 2. Located: LL.
The story takes a fresh spin on Goldilocks’ adventures at the 3 bear’s house. The story makes Goldilocks’ trip through their front door as accidental and random as opposed to her being portrayed as a criminal for “breaking and entering.” It would be fun to use this with the classic version and act out comparing both stories as a part of concept development/attainment activities.
The Great Round-the-World Balloon Race. Written and Illustrated by Sue Scullard. 1991. Dutton Children’s Books/McMillan Children’s Books. Grade 2. Fiction, Balloon Races, Voyages, Travels. HBG: NA. Located: LL.
This tale is about two children who go travelling around the world with their aunt in a balloon attempting to win a contest. What makes this book an excellent Reader’s Theatre book is the adventure of the voyage and the geography lesson that comes along with it! The balloon voyage takes the reader from Europe to the Sahara Desert to the Himalayas to the Pacific Islands to the Arctic and NYC and back.
The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch. Illustrated by Michael Martchenko. 1980. Annick Press. Fiction, Fractured Fairytales, Gender Stereotype, Dragons. Grades: K-3. HBG: NA. Located: LL.
When there is a need to jump out of the “happily-ever after” fairytale ending, this book is perfect for that discussion. As a fractured fairytale making a parody of the infamous “damsel in distress” theme, this story breaks the stereotype that all princesses have to marry their man. The kids especially love to act out the dragon and girls love to act out Princess Elizabeth.
The Princess Knight by Cornelia Funke. Illustrated by Kerstin Meyer. 2001. The Chicken House Press/Scholastic. Grades: K-3. Fiction, Fairytales, Gender Stereotypes. HBG: 3. Located: LL.
Princess Violetta switches places with her nursemaid Emma to convince her father the king that she can become a knight because of her superior jousting skills. She has to compete with “Sir No-Name;” and, in disguise wins. The action here is great to act out,
despite the book’s use of “put down language” such as “Dimwit in a tin suit.”
The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde. Illustrated by S. Saeling Gallagher. 1995. Harper Collins. Fiction, Picture Book, Fairytale, Giants. Grades: K-1. HBG: NA. Located: LL.
A once selfish giant welcomes children to his previously forbidden garden and is eventually rewarded by an unusual little child. This book is great for the pictures to
inspire children to act out many fun characters. More importantly, if a teacher is looking for a fun book to help teach pro-social skills while incorporating reader’s theatre, this book is a must!
Tasty Baby Belly Buttons by Judy Sierra. Illustrated by Meilo So. 1999. Knopf. Grades K-2.
Fiction, Picture Book, Japanese Folklore, Monsters. HBG: 3. Located: LL.
This is an excellent folktale from Japan about a young “melon princess” named Urike-hime who becomes a hero battling the monstrous “oni,” who are giants in Japanese folklore. The play is a great story to act out, as there are interesting animals to engage
children who want to portray a monkey, a pheasant and a dog.
Strega Nona. Written and Illustrated by Tomie de Paola. 1975. Simon and Schuster. Grades K-3.
Fiction, Folklore, Italy. HBG: 5 Located: LL.
Strega Nona is a classic Caldecott Honor Book that is a “must use” book for reader’s theatre. When Strega Nona leaves Big Anthony alone with her magic pasta pot, he is determined to show the townspeople how it works. Kids love acting out the townspeople alongside Strega Nona and Big Anthony.
Collections
Goha the Wise Fool. Retold by Denys Johnson- Davies. Illustrated by Hag Hamdy and Mohammed Fattouh. Sewing by Hany El Saed Ahmed. 2005. Philomel Books/Penguin Young Readers Group. Grade: K-3. Folklore, Turkey, Legendary Characters. HBG: 2. Located: LL.
A collection of fifteen tales from Turkey about the folk hero of Nasreddin Hoca, also known as Goha, a man with a reputation for being able to answer difficult questions in a clever way. Kids can be “investigators” in inquiry based learning where they ask open-ended questions about Muslim culture; and, stories from Turkey can be easily acted out. Do not to pick “Goha wonders where the cat is.”
Mother Goose Rhymes by Tomie de Paola. 1985. Putnam. Grade: K. Fiction, Nursery Rhymes,
Poetry. Nursey Rhymes, Poetry, Stories. HBG: 2. Located: LL.
This book is a collection of Mother Goose tales that is great to use as Reader’s Theatre for smaller children. The stories are familiar enough for younger actors to engage in shorter dramatic activities yet long enough to keep them engaged in creating a character. Tomie de Paola’s rich illustrations help to launch the dramatizing for a fun kinesthetic/poetic activity.
Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African American Folktales by Nelson Mandela. 2002. Norton. Grades K-3. Folklore, Africa, Storytelling. HBG:3. Located: LL.
A collection of traditional stories from different parts of Africa, this book features varied characters and themes with some familiar and some unfamiliar tales. “Anasi the Spider” and the Namaqualand story, ”Natiki” , a story resembling the European “Cinderella” are included in the collection. Students will love acting out parts of the lion, snake, hyena, and jackal.
Silly and Sillier: Read-Aloud Tales from Around the World. Told by Judy Sierra. Illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev. 2002. Grade: K. Knopf Publishers. Folklore, Storytelling, World Cultures.
HBG: 4. Located: LL.
This collection has numerous folktales from twenty cultures from around the world that is suited for young children. The tales are varied with stories ranging from Myanmar (Burma) to Ireland. The “Wonderful Pancake” story from Ireland is a good one to use as
a Reader’s Theatre piece. The children may inevitably enjoy picking out the story of their choice. They are arranged by country for easy access and have silly endings that make for much giggling and punch lines.
When Jaguars Ate the Moon and Other Stories About Animals and Plants of the Americas. Retold by Maria Christina Brusca and Tona Wilson. 1995. Henry Holt and Company. Grades: K-3. Fiction, Animals, Indians, Folklore. HBG: 3. Located: LL.
This is an “A-Z” collection of illustrated South American stories of exotic plants and animals. There are many animals that would be good characters to investigate as a pre-activity before attempting the Reader’s Theatre activity. For example, having kids find out what the zompopo (leaf cutter ant) is or the quetzal, a sacred bird of the Maya, is recommended for novelty topics.
Puppetry
Puppet Heroes by Joann Spencer Siegrist and Pat Hale. Illustrations by William Winsor. 2006.
Grade: K-up. New Plays, Inc. Textbook, Puppetry Arts, World Cultures, Folklore. HBG:NA. Located: NP.
This text is invaluable to both the Drama teacher using puppets for role play activities and to the Reader’s Theatre teacher using puppetry arts as a way to create stories and have the children enact them. The text has well researched, authentic, multi-cultural stories, as well as directions for putting on a puppet show. Reader’s Theatre is easily adapted to the classroom with hands-on tools such as making puppets as a pre- Reader’s Theatre activity.