Folktales on Stage: Children's Plays for Readers Theater, with 16 Reader's Theatre Play Scripts from World Folk and Fairy Tales and Legends, Including Asian, African, Middle Eastern, & Native American (Paperback)

by Aaron Shepard (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Aaron Shepard is a national treasure. [His] new collection never fails to delight and enthrall. -- Judy Freeman, Author, More Books Kids Will Sit Still For

Brings the joy inherent in folk literature to life. Children will love reading aloud for an audience. --Shirlee Sloyer, Author, From the Page to the Stage: The Educator's Complete Guide to Readers Theatre

Easy-to-perform, dynamic reader's theater scripts. You and your actors will have a world of fun. -- Dr. Caroline Feller Bauer, Author, Presenting Reader's Theater and New Handbook for Storytellers

The quality of the scripting is flawless and faithfully reflects the expertise we have come to expect from Aaron Shepard. -- R. Demers, Readers Theatre Digest, Winter 2004

The work of a master of the craft. Will be enjoyed by young readers, and by audiences of all ages. -- Dr. Judy Sierra, Folklorist and Author, Multicultural Folktales and Nursery Tales Around the World

These easy-to-use scripts are just the thing for the social studies or language arts curriculum. -- Peggy Sharp, Children’s Literature Consultant

What a gift for the classroom teacher! A rich addition to reading programs. -- Susan Finney, Author, Independent Reading Activities That Keep Kids Learning While You Teach Small Groups

Product Description
Folktales on Stage is a collection of reader's theater scripts for young readers, adapted by award-winning children's author Aaron Shepard from his own folktale retellings. A wide variety of countries and cultures is represented, including Native America, Africa, the Middle East, Russia, Southeast Asia, and China. The scripts may be freely copied, shared, and performed for educational, noncommercial purposes. While aiming mostly at ages 8 to 15, the collection features a full range of reading levels.

The scripts in this collection are "The Adventures of Mouse Deer" (Indonesia, Malaysia), "The Calabash Kids" (Tanzania), "The Hidden One" (Native America), "The Boy Who Wanted the Willies" (Europe), "The Princess Mouse" (Finland), "The Legend of Slappy Hooper" (U.S.), "The Gifts of Wali Dad" (India, Pakistan), "The Baker's Dozen" (U.S.), "Master Maid" (Norway), "The Magic Brocade" (China), "Forty Fortunes" (Iran), "Master Man" (Nigeria), "Savitri" (India), "The Enchanted Storks" (Iraq), "The Crystal Heart" (Vietnam), and "The Sea King's Daughter" (Russia).

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: Shepard Publications (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0938497200
• ISBN-13: 978-0938497202
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: No customer reviews yet. Be the first.
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #51,365 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #4 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > Drama > Children's
  #12 in	Books > Children's Books > Arts & Music > Performing Arts > Drama & Theater > Plays, Skits & Musicals
  #64 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > United States > Asian American

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A superb resource for schools, November 14, 2003

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Compiled and written by author and actor Aaron Shepard, Folktales On Stage: Scripts For Reader's Theater collects theater scripts designed for young readers and adapted from the folktale retellings. Each of Shepard's script is quite brief (only a few pages in length), and intended for aspiring young actors ages 8 to 15 and appropriate for a range of reading levels. All of the scripts comprising Folktales On Stage may be freely copied, shared, and performed for educational and/or non-commercial purposes. A superb resource for schools, libraries, and youth-friendly community theater organizations, Folktales On Stage is a welcome and highly recommended addition to school and community theater collections.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Folktales on Stage: Children's Plays for Reader's Theatre, April 14, 2005

A Kid's Review

As a junior high school Theatre teacher, I had been searching for the best folktale scripts to perform for our elementary feeder schools -(schools that send their 6th grade graduating classes to our junior high.) A fellow English teacher recommended Aaron Shepard's book Folktales on Stage which we purchased. My Advanced Theatre class, consisting of 8th and 9th graders, read each folktale aloud in class and thoroughly enjoyed each story. When it came time to select 3 of the 16 folktales to perform for our elementary schools (time constraints), the battle was fast and furious. Every student seemed to be supporting a different folktale (because they were all so good!) It took nearly all class period and 5 or 6 secret votes to narrow the field down to the final 3! We will probably select 3 other folktales from Mr. Shepard's book for next year's performances. Thank you for such good writing!

Jeff Rockoff
Cedarcrest Jr. H.
Spanaway, WA 98387

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent RT resource for Teachers, October 9, 2005

By	M. Royston (Washington DC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Do you want an engaging activity to use with elementary students that fosters reading, performing and listening skills? Aaron Shephard's book is a wonderful resource for K-8 teachers to use in the classroom. This book has a variety of texts adapted for Reader's Theater from all parts of the world. It has been a great addition to our reading lessons!