Readers Theater Sites

Annotated Mediagraphy

Compiled by Mariah Smith, Forest Creek Elementary Librarian, Round Rock ISD, Texas

There are more than 180 readers theater scripts available through the following sites. Many of these scripts are versions of children’s books that are popular for elementary school curriculum and instruction.

The most prolific sites are at the top of this list:

ReadingLady.com has a large collection of children’s reader’s theater scripts. Many of these are also available on the following sites, as well. This is a good one-source link:

Rick Swallow has a very long list of reader’s theater scripts for classroom use:

This site might be the best choice for K-1 teachers. Most of these are poems for choral reading, and most are about an animal or help teach a simple phonics skill. These scripts are the most simple, and there are a lot to choose from, arranged alphabetically:

Teaching Heart also has a lot of scripts available on an attractive interface:

Whootie Owl has 25 free reader’s theater scripts, all of which are folk tales around the world, including Baba Yaga:

Timothy Rasinski, PhD, has offers four free reader’s theater scripts in addition to a number of other useful materials for reading instructors at

Reading Online has some scripts available in addition to a number of resources on how to implement them.

This Pro Teacher site offers several links that can help teachers who want help making their own scripts in addition to links to script sources:

This FictionTeachers site provides about a dozen scripts as a promotion for several books it publishes.

Alan Shepherd offers free reader’s theater plays of his books:

Title List of Reader’s Theater plays available from sources listed above:

THE ADVENTURES OF MOUSE DEER: TALES OF INDONESIAANDMALAYSIA

All for a Paisa (a play script based on a riddle story from India).
View the complete play script, the riddle story it's based on, and a wide selection
of reading & writing exercises, to boot.
4 roles + narrator(s)
The Apple Dumpling (a play script based on a folk tale from England).
View the complete play script, the story it's based on, and a wide selection
of reading & writing exercises, to boot.
5 roles + narrator(s)
Ali Cogia & the Merchant of Bahgdad (a play script based on this riddle story
from Iraq).
12 roles + narrator(s)

AMERICA (RSwallow)

AND THE DISH RAN AWAY WITH THE SPOON (RSwallow)

THE ANIMAL TRAINER (RSwallow)

THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER (RSwallow)

ARTHUR’S CHRISTMAS (Rdg Lady, RSwallow)
Baba Yaga (a play script based on this classic story from Russia).
7-9 roles + narrator(s)

A BAD CASE OF STRIPES (Rdg Lady, RSwallow)

THE BAD KANGAROO (RSwallow)

THE BAKER’S DOZEN: A SAINT NICHOLAS TALE (Shepherd)

THE BATTLE OF SONG: A FINNISH TALE OF MAGIC (Shepherd)

THE BEE AND THE GOATS (RSwallow)

BELLING THE CAT (RSwallow)

BIRBAL PARADISE (RSwallow)
Boots & His Brothers (a play script based on this folk tale from Norway).
View the complete play script, the story it's based on, and a wide selection
of reading & writing exercises.
6 roles + townspeople(s) + narrator(s)

THE BORROWER AND THE BOY (Shepherd)

THE BOY WHO WANTED THE WILLIES (Shepherd)

BRAVE IRENE (Rasinski)

BREMEN TOWN MUSICIANS (RSwallow)

THE CALABASH KIDS: A TALE OF TANZANIA (Shepherd)

CASEY AT THE BAT (Shepherd)

CAPTAIN CULLY (Shepherd)
A Caterpillar's Voice (a play script based on this African folk tale).
View the complete play script, the story it's based on, and a wide selection
of reading & writing exercises.
7 roles + narrator(s)

CHICKEN LITTLE (RSwallow)

THE CHILD AND THE BAKER (RSwallow)

A CHRISTMAS CAROL (RSwallow)

CHRISTMAS EVERYWHERE (RSwallow)

THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE (Shepherd)

CINDERELLA (RSwallow)

CINDERELLA BIGFOOT (Rdg Lady, RSwallow)

CITY MOUSE, COUNTRY MOUSE (RSwallow)

CLEVER LUCY (RSwallow)

CLICK, CLACK, MOO, COWS THAT TYPE (Rasinski, Rdg Lady, RSwallow)
The Contest of the Fairies (a play script based on this fairytale from France).
10 roles + 10 other princesses + narrator

COUNT ALARIC’S LADY (Shepherd)

THE CRYSTAL HEART: A VIETNAMESE LEGEND (Shepherd)

DAISY-HEAD MAYZIE (Rdg Lady, RSwallow)

THE DENTIST (RSwallow)

DINORELLA (Rdg Lady, RSwallow)

DOGBREATH (Rdg Lady, RSwallow)
A Donkey to Market (a play script based on a Cambodian version of the classic Aesops fable
about the man and boy who try to please everyone as they take their donkey to market).
View the complete play script, the story it's based on, and a wide selection of reading & writing
exercises.
14 roles + narrator(s)

DORIS: A DOG’S LIFE –From Yo, Aesop, Get a Load of these Fables! (Rdg Lady, RSwallow)

DOUBLE TROUBLE IN WALLA WALLA (Rdg Lady, RSwallow)

EAST OF THE SUNAND WEST OF THE MOON (RSwallow)

THE ELEPHANT’S CHILD (RSwallow)

THE ENCHANTED STORKS: A TALE OF BAGDAD (Shepherd)
The Enormous Nose (a play script based on this French fairytale).
7 roles + narrator

THE FISH TANK (RSwallow)

FORTY FORTUNES: A TALE OF IRAN (Shepherd)

THE FOURTH LITTLE PIG (RSwallow)

FROG OR TOAD? –a nonfiction script (Rdg Lady, RSwallow)

THE FROG PRINCE CONTINUED (Rdg Lady, RSwallow)
From the Elephant Pit (a play script based on this animal story from Tibet.
9 roles + narrator
Fur & Feathers (a play script based on an African folk tale). View the complete play script,
the story it's based on, and a wide selection of reading & writing exercises
11 roles

THE GIANT’S WIFE: A TALL TALE OF IRELAND (Shepherd)

THE GIFTS OF WALI DAD: A TALE OF INDIAANDPAKISTAN (Shepherd)

THE GINGERBREAD BOY (Rdg Lady, RSwallow)

THE GINGERBREAD MAN (RSwallow)
The Girl-Fish (a play script based on this adventure story from Spain).
12 roles + narrator

GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS (James Marshall’s version) (Rdg Lady)

THE GREAT APPLE SLICE ESCAPE (RSwallow)

THE GREAT BIG ENORMOUS TURNIP (RSwallow)

THE GREAT KAPOK TREE (Rdg Lady, RSwallow)

THE GREEN KANGAROO (RSwallow)

GRETCHEN GROUNDHOG, IT’S YOUR DAY! (Rdg Lady, RSwallow)

GULLIBLE’S TROUBLES (Rdg Lady, RSwallow)

THE HALLOWIENER (Rdg Lady, RSwallow)

HANSEL AND GRETEL (Dom DeLuis’s version) (Rdg Lady)

THE HAT (Rdg Lady, RSwallow)

HELP, HILARY, HELP! (Shepherd)

THE HIDDEN ONE: AN AMERICAN INDIAN LEGEND (Shepherd)

HOLDUP AT AMBUSHCANYON (RSwallow)

HOOWAY FOR WODNEY WAT (Rdg Lady)

HOW FROG WENT TO HEAVEN: A TALE OF ANGOLA (Shepherd)

HOW I GREW UP (RSwallow)

HOW VIOLENCE IS ENDED: A BUDDHIST LEGEND (Shepherd)

THE HULA HOOP CHAMPION (RSwallow)

IT WASN’T MY FAULT (Rdg Lady, RSwallow)

JACK IN THE BEANSTALK (RSwallow)

JESSICA by Kevin Henkes (Rdg Lady)

KING O’ THE CATS (Shepherd)

THE KING’S BREAKFAST (RSwallow)

THE KING’S WISH (RSwallow)

LAST NIGHT I DREAMED OF CHICKENS –a short Jack Prelutsky poem (Rdg Lady)

THE LEGEND OF LIGHTNING LARRY (Shepherd)

THE LEGEND OF SLAPPY HOOPER (Shepherd)
The Lion's Enchantment (a play script based on a Spanish folk tale). View the complete play script,
the story it's based on, and a wide selection of reading & writing exercises.
8 roles + attendant(s) + cow(s) + pig(s) + narrator(s)

LISTEN, BUDDY (Rdg Lady)

THE LITTLE RED HEN (Rasinski)

  • Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anythingpdf
  • Little Red Hen, Thepdf
  • Little Red Riding Hoodpdf

THE MAGIC BROCADE: A TALE OF CHINA (Shepherd)

  • Magic Carpet Ride, Thepdf
  • Magic Flamingo, Thepdf

MAGIC MUSHKIL GUSHA: A TALE OF IRAN (Shepherd)

  • Magicians Of Bremenpdf

MASTER MAN: A TALL TALE OF NIGERIA (Shepherd)

MONKEY LIVES: A SUPERHERO TALE OF CHINA (Shepherd)

The Long Winter (a play script based on a Canadian First Nation tale). View the complete play script,
the story it's based on, and a wide selection of reading & writing exercises.
10 roles + narrator(s)
The Maiden & the Boy Who Vanished (a play script based on a Russian folk tale).
View the complete play script, the story it's based on, and a wide selection of reading & writing
exercises.
9 roles + animal(s) + narrator(s)

MASTER MAID: A TALE OF NORWAY (Shepherd)

MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE RANCH (Rdg Lady)

  • Meet The Big Catspdf
  • Me Firstpdf
  • No Bath Tonight!pdf

ME FIRST (Rdg Lady)

THE MILLIONAIRE MISER: A BUDDHIST FABLE (Shepherd)

MISS NELSON IS MISSING (Rasinski)

MOP TOP: A TALE OF NORWAY (Shepherd)

MORE THAN A MATCH (Shepherd)
The Native American Cinderella (a version of the Cinderella tale told by the Abenaki
of southeastern Canada and the New England area). View the complete play script,
the story it's based on, and a wide selection of reading & writing exercises.
8 roles + brave(s) + maiden(s) + narrator(s)

ONEEYE, TWO EYES, THREE EYES: A VERY GRIMM FAIRY TALE (Shepherd)
Outwitting the Imp (a play script based on a riddle story from the Congo).
View the complete play script,
the riddle story it's based on, and a wide selection of reading & writing exercises, to boot.
6 roles + narrator(s)

OWEN (Rdg Lady)

PEDDLER POLLY AND THE STORY STEALER (Shepherd)

PIGGIE PIE (Rdg Lady)

  • Pippi Goes To Schoolpdf
  • A Porcupine Named Fluffypdf

THE PRINCESS MOUSE: A TALE OF FINLAND (Shepherd)

  • Principal's New Clothes, Thepdf
  • Red Balloon, Thepdf

PORCUPINE (Rdg Lady)

THE PRINCIPAL (Rdg Lady)
The Pumpkin in a Jar (a play script based on a riddle story from the Philippines).
View the complete play script,
the riddle story it's based on, and a wide selection of reading & writing exercises, to boot.
5 roles + narrator(s)
The Ram & the Pig Who Set Up House (a play script based on a folk tale from Norway).
View the complete play script,
the story it's based on, and a wide selection of reading & writing
exercises.
8 roles + narrator(s)

REDHEADED ROBBIE’S CHRISTMAS STORY (Rdg Lady)

THE RED HEN BALL (Rdg Lady)

RESTHAVEN (Shepherd)

  • Rhymes Ruinedpdf
  • Rumplestiltskinpdf
  • Rump and Uglapdf

SAVITRI: A TALE OF ANCIENT INDIA (Shepherd)

THE SEA KING’S DAUGHTER: A RUSSIAN LEGEND (Shepherd)

  • Shiela Ray The Bravepdf
  • Similepdf
  • Sleeping Beauty (Briar Rose)pdf
  • Story of Sleeping Ugly, Thepdf

SHEILA (Rdg Lady)

SNOWBALLS (Rdg Lady)
The Spellbook in the Forbidden Room (a play script based on a Polish folk tale. View the complete
play script, the story it's based on, and a wide selection of reading & writing exercises.
6 roles + narrator(s)

STELLALUNA (Rdg Lady)

  • Stonecutter, Thepdf

STONE SOUP (Rasinski)
Sunlight & Moonlight (a play script based on a folk tale from Tibet). View the complete play script,
the story it's based on, and a wide selection of reading & writing exercises.
15 roles + narrator(s)
Susu & the Magic Mirror (a play script based on a folk tale from Argentina). View the complete
play script, the story it's based on, and a wide selection of reading & writing exercises.
9 roles + narrator(s)

TACKY THE PENGUIN (Rdg Lady)

  • Thanksgiving ABC'spdf
  • There's a Werewolf In Townpdf

THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF (Rdg Lady, RSwallow)

THE THREE LITTLE JAVELINAS (Rdg Lady)

THE THREE LITTLE PIGS (James Marshall’s version) (Rdg Lady)

THE THREE LITTLE WOLVES AND THE BIG BAD PIG (Rasinski)

THREE SIDEWAYS STORIES FROM WAYSIDESCHOOL (Shepherd)

  • Three Wishes - 6 partspdf
  • Too Much Noise - 17 Partspdf
  • Trial of Socrates, Thepdf

The White Tiger (an adventure story from Korea based on this story)
6 roles + narrator(s)

THE TRUE STORY OF HUMPTY DUMPTY –Did he fall or was he pushed? (Rdg Lady)

THE TRUE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS (Rdg Lady)

  • Turkey Trottenpdf
  • TV Repair Person, Thepdf
  • Very Hungry Caterpillar, Thepdf

The Wager (a play script based on a folk tale from Denmark). View the complete
play script, the story it's based on, and a wide selection of reading & writing exercises.
15 roles + narrator(s)

THE WAR PRAYER (Shepherd)

A WEEKEND WITH WENDAL (Rdg Lady)

WEMBERLEY WORRIED (Rdg Lady)

WHALES –nonfiction by Gail Gibbons (Rdg Lady)

  • What, No Santa?pdf

WHEN THE TWINS WENT TO WAR: A FABLE OF FAR EAST RUSSIA (Shepherd)

WHERE ONCE THERE WAS A WOOD –a poem (Rdg Lady)

  • Where The Wild Things Arepdf

WHICH SHOES DO YOU CHOOSE? (Shepherd)

  • Who Was King?pdf

THE WIZARD, THE FAIRY, AND THE MAGIC CHICKEN (Rdg Lady)

THE WORRYWARTS (Rdg Lady)
Yuuki & the Tsunami (a play script based on a legend from Japan). View the complete
play script, the story it's based on, and a wide selection of reading & writing exercises.
6 roles + villager(s) + narrator(s)

Source Citation:

This list began with a list of Readers Theater sites provided within this very impressive article, written by a Texasteacher who is also a doctoral student at the University of North Texas. He describes his successful implementation of Readers Theater into his classroom practices as they benefit his students’ reading fluency and presentation skills within an enjoyable venue.

Young, Chase, and Timothy Rasinski. "Implementing Readers Theatre as an Approach to Classroom Fluency Instruction." Reading Teacher: a Journal of Research-Based Classroom Practices. 63.1 (2009): 4-14. Print.