Judy Freeman, author of the Books Kids Will Sit Still For series, gives practical how-to tips on how to tell a story, and write and stage a Reader's Theater script that gets children involved with creative drama. Reader's theater teaches children how to become better listeners, enriches their thinking skills, and encourages their response to literature. Included are ideas on using folk and fairy tales, songs, chants and nonsense rhymes, and a reader's theater script. Also included in this handbook are 400 plus annotated children's books every storyteller should know, 100 great titles for creative drama and reader's theatre and professional books and Web sites for storytelling, creative drama and reader's theater. Grades PreK-6.

Judy Freeman, author of the Books Kids Will Sit Still For series, gives personal and practical how-to tips on how to learn and tell a story, how to act out a story using creative drama, and how to write and stage a Reader's Theater script. All are guaranteed to get your children listening, thinking, reading, loving, and living stories with comprehension, fluency, expression, and joy.
Once Upon a Time pulls together a wealth of ideas, activities, and strategies for using folk and fairy tales, songs, chants, and nonsense rhymes. Also included in this handbook are the texts of 10 of Judy's favorite stories you can read today and tell tomorrow; a songbook of songs, chants, and nonsense rhymes; and a Reader's Theater script. You'll also find annotated bibliographies: 400+ children's books every storyteller should know; 100+ great children's books to use for creative drama and Reader's Theater; professional books and Web sites for storytelling, creative drama, and Reader's Theater; and a title and author index.
Chapters include:

; Getting Started with Storytelling
; Judy Freeman's Songbook: Including Songs, Chants, Riddles, and Plenty of Nonsense
; Judy Freeman's Storybook: Tales You can Hear Today and Tell Tomorrow
; 400+ Children's Books Every Storyteller Should Know
; Getting Started with Creative Drama and Reader's Theater
; 100+ Children's Books Just Right for Creative Drama and/or Reader's Theater

JUDY FREEMAN (www.JudyReadsBooks.com) is a well-known consultant, writer, and speaker on children's literature and storytelling, and a visiting lecturer at the School of Information, and Library Science at Pratt Institute, New York City. A former school librarian, she gives conferences, workshops, speeches, and performances throughout the U.S. and the world for teachers, librarians, parents, and children, and is a national seminar presenter for BER (Bureau of Education and Research). Freeman served as a member of the Newbery Committee to select the Newbery Award book for the year 2000 and was on the Sibert Committee for 2008. Freeman's Library Unlimited books include Once Upon a Time: Using Storytelling, Creative Drama, and Reader's Theater with Children in Grades PreK-6, the Books Kids Will Sit Still For series, and the yearly The Winners Handbook, reviewing her top 100 children's books of the past year. Judy's latest and most exciting project is writing children's book reviews and other content for author James Patterson's new website for parents, librarians, and teachers, www.READKIDDOREAD.com.