Included in A Steamroller for Christmas Readers’ Theatre Unit: 9 page script 1, 2, or 3 Narrators 1 Main Character and 8 Supporting Characters 40 Metacognitive Questions Book review activity Student Success Criteria Student Friendly Goals Teacher’s Reader’s Theatre Checklist A Steamroller for Christmas synopsis: Daisy has received the strangest Christmas gift from her parents: a steamroller! Filled with joy and curiosity, Daisy enters the steamroller and begins rumbling down the street. Unfortunately, she doesn’t know how to stop the steamroller, so she begins squashing objects and people throughout the city: pigs, chickens, her teacher, a bus, her friends and even Aunt Chelsey! Oh, great; and now her best friend is down the street. Will Daisy figure out how to stop the steamroller in time? What else will she run over, and what will be the consequences? Find out in A Steamroller for Christmas readers’ theatre unit! SQUASH! Mr. Marvel’s Musings: -Daisy does SQUASH animals and people but it is not graphic. The aftermath of a squash when Daisy looks back is compared to a pancake. Much like what would be seen in a Looney Tunes cartoon. No blood or graphic descriptions. No one dies in this story (just like the Looney Tunes; they come back) -Daisy’s character has the most dialogue. -The narrators can be collapsed into 1 or 2. 3 fits my class size. Do not fear the reader’s theater format. Students love these adapted stories because they are listening to the story and they are a part of the story by playing a character within the story. Reader’s theatre inspires reluctant readers to join in the fun. The strongest and most advanced readers in your class will encourage other students to raise their hand and participate in the story. I also use reader’s theatre to add to my drama marks. I hope you, and your students enjoy reading A Steamroller for Christmas and continue to do so for many years. Excelsior and Merry Christmas! Mr. Marvel: The King of Reader’s Theatre

Included in the Snow White’s Christmas Readers’ Theatre Unit: 8 page script 1, 2, or 3 Narrators 7 Characters Student Success Criteria Student Friendly Goals Teacher’s Reader’s Theatre Checklist Snow White’s Christmas synopsis: The seven dwarfs are preparing for Snow White’s Christmas visit. Dopey decides to sneak away into the forest so he can walk Snow White to the dwarf’s home. Unfortunately, a snow storm passes by and traps Dopey in the forest. The other dwarfs worry about Dopey and decide to look for him. Will the dwarfs be able to find Dopey, and will Snow White be able to make it to Dwarfs’ home safely? Find out in Snow White’s Christmas Readers’ Theatre Unit! Try reading the preview with your students. Do not fear the reader’s theater format. Students love these adapted stories because they are listening to the story and they are a part of the story by playing a character within the story. Reader’s theatre inspires reluctant readers to join in the fun. The strongest and most advanced readers in your class will encourage other students to raise their hand and participate in the story. I also use reader’s theatre to add to my drama marks. If the reader’s theatre format did not work for my students and I, then I would have stopped creating and adapting them years ago. Reluctant readers sometimes feel anxious looking at pages of text, whereas a reader’s theater script is broken up into narration and different characters speaking, thus making the story more accessible to those students who have not discovered the incredibly fun activity of reading for entertainment. I use shorter stories with minimal characters in literature circles.When can one make time for a reader’s theatre story in class? When I am not reading a reader’s theatre unit with my class, I usually reserve Friday’s for the reading of a one-off story. It is an event that the class looks forward to, since they do not know which story I will choose. Great for Librarians and small groups. I project the stories on the screen and assign characters in class. Some characters only have 1 line. A supporting character like that is perfect for a reluctant reader. I have read these stories remotely/online and in class/in-person. I encourage teachers and instructors to allow students to practice their parts at home before they read in front of the class. They can try different voices and tones when they practice. It is also good for family bonding time. The student’s parent/guardian can play another role and they can read together. I hope you, and your students enjoy reading Snow White’s Christmas and continue to do so for many years. Excelsior and Merry Christmas! Mr. Marvel: The King of Reader’s Theatre

Included in the A White Christmas Vacation Unit: 8 page script 1 - 3 narrators 10 characters Book review activity Student Success Criteria Student Friendly Goals Teacher’s Reader’s Theatre Checklist A White Christmas Vacation synopsis Donald’s nephews: Huey, Dewey, and Louie, want to spend Christmas in the snowy mountains so they can go skiing and sledding. Donald would rather stay at home where it is cozy and warm. Will the boys get their snowy white Christmas, or will they have to settle with Donald’s staycation? Find out in A White Christmas Vacation readers’ theatre unit! Do not fear the reader’s theater format. Students love these adapted stories because they are listening to the story and they are a part of the story by playing a character within the story. Reader’s theatre inspires reluctant readers to join in the fun. The strongest and most advanced readers in your class will encourage other students to raise their hand and participate in the story. I also use reader’s theatre to add to my drama marks. If the reader’s theatre format did not work for my students and I, then I would have stopped creating and adapting them years ago. Reluctant readers sometimes feel anxious looking at pages of text, whereas a reader’s theater script is broken up into narration and different characters speaking, thus making the story more accessible to those students who have not discovered the incredibly fun activity of reading for entertainment. I use shorter stories with minimal characters in literature circles.When can one make time for a reader’s theatre story in class? When I am not reading a reader’s theatre unit with my class, I usually reserve Friday’s for the reading of a one-off story. It is an event that the class looks forward to, since they do not know which story I will choose. Great for Librarians and small groups. I project the stories on the screen and assign characters in class. Some characters only have 1 line. A supporting character like that is perfect for a reluctant reader. I have read these stories remotely/online and in class/in-person. I encourage teachers and instructors to allow students to practice their parts at home before they read in front of the class. They can try different voices and tones when they practice. It is also good for family bonding time. The student’s parent/guardian can play another role and they can read together. I hope you, and your students enjoy reading A White Christmas Vacation and continue to do so for many years. Excelsior and Merry Christmas! Mr. Marvel: The King of Reader’s Theatre

Included in the Uncle Scrooge Saves Christmas Readers’ Theatre Unit: 8 page script 1-4 Narrators & 7 Characters Book review activity Student Success Criteria Student Friendly Goals Teacher’s Reader’s Theatre Checklist Uncle Scrooge Saves Christmas synopsis: Donald plans on visiting Grandma Duck for Christmas with his family. He invites Uncle Scrooge, but his dear old uncle has no interest in the holidays. On Christmas day, Donald and his family’s car stall near Uncle Scrooge’s house. Will Scrooge be of any help to his nephew, or will he make them walk to Grandma’s house? (The title is an indicator :) ) Find out in Uncle Scrooge Saves Christmas Readers’ Theatre Unit. Mr. Marvel’s Musings: There is the possiblity of 4 narrators, but those 4 narrators could be condensed to 1, 2 or 3 narrators. Do not fear the reader’s theater format. Students love these adapted stories because they are listening to the story and they are a part of the story by playing a character within the story. Reader’s theatre inspires reluctant readers to join in the fun. The strongest and most advanced readers in your class will encourage other students to raise their hand and participate in the story. I also use reader’s theatre to add to my drama marks. If the reader’s theatre format did not work for my students and I, then I would have stopped creating and adapting them years ago. Reluctant readers sometimes feel anxious looking at pages of text, whereas a reader’s theater script is broken up into narration and different characters speaking, thus making the story more accessible to those students who have not discovered the incredibly fun activity of reading for entertainment. I use shorter stories with minimal characters in literature circles.When can one make time for a reader’s theatre story in class? When I am not reading a reader’s theatre unit with my class, I usually reserve Friday’s for the reading of a one-off story. It is an event that the class looks forward to, since they do not know which story I will choose. Great for Librarians and small groups. I project the stories on the screen and assign characters in class. Some characters only have 1 line. A supporting character like that is perfect for a reluctant reader. I have read these stories remotely/online and in class/in-person. I encourage teachers and instructors to allow students to practice their parts at home before they read in front of the class. They can try different voices and tones when they practice. It is also good for family bonding time. The student’s parent/guardian can play another role and they can read together. I hope you, and your students enjoy reading Uncle Scrooge Saves Christmas and continue to do so for many years. Excelsior and Merry Christmas! Mr. Marvel: The King of Reader’s Theatre

Included in the How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) Readers’ Theatre Unit: 8 page script 5 characters 1 page of trivia 24 page quiz with answers Write a Verse about the Grinch activity 4 pages detailing how to make a Grinch paper craft 1 template 5 Writing Activities Student Success Criteria Student Friendly Goals Teacher’s Reader’s Theatre Checklist Mr. Marvel’s Musings: A highly requested adaptation every year, and it is finally here. The 1966 adaptation of the beloved Grinch complete with lyrics. My class will be performing this script for the Christmas assembly. I will also add a slideshow that we will use a backdrop for the performance. -For the role of Whoville, you can include the other students who do not have a role or everyone can sing the verses. -I had altering students sing the “You’re a Mean One…” song due to popular demand. If your students are shy, then one singer is fine. It is easy to modify and accomodate this script. The words can also be spoken if you have a shy/quiet group for this performance.

Included in the A Lion in the Night Readers’ Theatre Unit: 5 page script 4 narrators & 8 Characters Student Success Criteria Student Friendly Goals Teacher’s Reader’s Theatre Checklist A Lion in the Night synopsis: A baby in a royal household is frustrated by being stuck in her crib. One night, the baby makes a wish, and her toy lion grows into a real, enormous lion. The baby climbs onto the lion’s back, and they escape the castle together. A wild chase ensues, as the household staff—including the Queen, the King, the Admiral, the Captain, the General, the Sergeant, and even the little dog—discover the baby is gone and pursue the lion across various landscapes, including fields, forests, oceans, and mountains. Will the royal family be able to subdue the lion and rescue their baby? Find out in the A Lion in the Night Readers’ Theatre script! I hope you, and your students enjoy reading A Lion in the Night and continue to do so for many years. Excelsior! Mr. Marvel: The King of Reader’s Theatre

Included in the Henny Penny Readers’ Theatre Unit: 4 page script 3 narrators (this role can be condensed to 1 or 2) 6 characters Student Success Criteria Student Friendly Goals Teacher’s Reader’s Theatre Checklist Henny Penny synopsis: A chicken named Henny Penny believes the sky is falling after an acorn hits her on the head. She sets out to warn the king and gathers other animals like Rocky Locky, Ducky Lucky, and Goosey Loosey. Along the way they meet Foxy Loxy who says the king is meeting him at his home for dinner. Foxy Loxy invites Henny Penny and her friends over to his place. Can Henny Penny and her friends trust Foxy Loxy? Will the king really be at his place? Find out in the Henny Penny readers’ theatre story! I hope you, and your students enjoy reading Henny Penny and continue to do so for many years. Excelsior! Mr. Marvel: The King of Reader’s Theatre

Included in The Enormous Turnip Readers’ Theatre Unit: 7 page script 4 narrators and 6 characters The Enormous Turnip synopsis: An elderly couple see an enormous turnip in their garden. They try to pull it out but they are not strong enough. The elderly couple enlist the help of their neighbours (both human and animals) to help them pull out the turnip so that they can make soup with it. Will the elderly couple and their new friends be able to pull out the turnip for their soup that evening? Find out in The ENORMOUS Turnip readers’ theatre unit! I have read these stories remotely/online and in class/in-person. I encourage teachers and instructors to allow students to practice their parts at home before they read in front of the class. They can try different voices and tones when they practice. It is also good for family bonding time. The student’s parent/guardian can play another role and they can read together. Do not fear the reader’s theater format. Students love these adapted stories because they are listening to the story and they are a part of the story by playing a character within the story. Reader’s theatre inspires reluctant readers to join in the fun. The strongest and most advanced readers in your class will encourage other students to raise their hand and participate in the story. I also use reader’s theatre to add to my drama marks. If the reader’s theatre format did not work for my students and I, then I would have stopped creating and adapting them years ago. Reluctant readers sometimes feel anxious looking at pages of text, whereas a reader’s theater script is broken up into narration and different characters speaking, thus making the story more accessible to those students who have not discovered the incredibly fun activity of reading for entertainment. I use shorter stories with minimal characters in literature circles. I hope you, and your students enjoy reading The ENORMOUS Turnip and continue to do so for many years. Excelsior! Mr. Marvel: The King of Reader’s Theatre

Included in the My Neighbour is a Witch Readers’ Theatre Unit: 9 page script 8 characters + the narrator Drawing conclusions activity Book review activity Student Success Criteria Student Friendly Goals Teacher’s Reader’s Theatre Checklist My Neigbour is a Witch synopsis: David is trick-or-treating with his friends. When they pass by David’s neighour’s home, his friends dare him to prank Mrs. Oliver. The neigbourhood kids believe she is a witch. They want David to ring her doorbell and run away. Feeling peer pressure, David goes up the stairs of Mrs. Oliver’s porch when he trips on something. When David looks at the ground, what he witnesses will change his perception of Mrs. Oliver from now on. What did David discover? Find out in My Neighbour is a Witch! Mr. Marvel’s Musings: David is bullied by his friends and they in turn make up rumours about Mrs. Oliver. One of the kids says that she thinks Mrs. Oliver poisoned her cat. Spoiler: David finds Mrs. Oliver laying on the front of her porch in the dark after having a medical episode. I hope you, and your students enjoy reading My Neighbour is a Witch and continue to do so for many years. Excelsior! Mr. Marvel: The King of Reader’s Theatre

Included in The Button Readers’ Theatre Unit: 15 page script 4 characters + the narrator 10 synonym/antonym questions 38 comprehension questions with selected answers (this story brings up more questions than it answers. It proves to be an interesting class discussion) 18 multiple choice questions with 4 possible answers 27 metacognitive questions Drawing conclusions activity Book review activity 25 book report questions with rubric Student Success Criteria Student Friendly Goals Teacher’s Reader’s Theatre Checklist The Button synopsis: Norma and Arthur Lewis are a married couple who receive a mysterious box with a button from a man named Mr. Steward. Steward tells them they will receive $50,000 if the button is pressed, but it will cause the death of a stranger. Norma feels intrigue towards the idea, while Arthur is offended by it. The story details the couples moral debate over whether to press the button as an answer to their financial struggles. The temptation and selfishness brought on by the button causes conflict between Norma and Arthur. Will the button be pushed or are the Lewis’ moral compasses too strong? Find out in The Button readers’ theatre unit! Mr. Marvel’s Musings: I would like to thank R.G. for asking for this unit. This story goes by 3 titles, and went with the title R.G. wanted. Thanks again, dear reader! I hope you, and your students enjoy reading The Button and continue to do so for many years. Excelsior! Mr. Marvel: The King of Reader’s Theatre

Included in the Fear Theatre Volume 4 Readers’ Theatre Unit: 5 stories Student Success Criteria Student Friendly Goals Teacher’s Reader’s Theatre Checklist 25 Book Report questions with Rubric Book Review assignment 1-The Lady in the Rain Coat 2 characters - 4 pages Howard is an overworked accountant who is looking forward to his European vacation at the end of the week. On his way to work, Howard notices a woman in a rain coat who is holding an umbrella. Every time he turns a corner or gets on and off the subway, he sees her in his proximity. The lady then begins calling out to him and asks Howard to stand under her umbrella. What could this lady really want from Howard and how come no one else can see her? 2-The Deadly Dress 7 characters - 11 pages Jane Martinek is excited to attend her friend’s birthday party in a few days. Her brother picks up her dress, but an encounter with a local bully tears and ruins the dress. Not wanting her daughter to skip the party, Mama Martinek goes out into the night and looks for a shop where she can find a dress. Mrs. Martinek enters an odd curios shop that is owned by an odd man named Umer. It just so happens that Umer has a dress that is Jane’s size. Mrs. Martinek pays for it and disregards the origin of the dress. Will she regret not listening to how Umer obtained the dress? What secret does it hold? 3-The Hand of Fate 3 characters - 3 pages Master Tawfiq’s servant, Sanger Singh, has returned from the market in a panic. He asks his master to supply him with a fast horse because he has just seen the grim reaper in the market place looking for him. Tawfiq allows Sanger to take the horse so he can visit his family. Intrigued, Tawfiq travels to the market so he can speak with the grim reaper and ask why he was looking for Sanger. 4-Don’t Lose Your Head 10 characters - 8 pages Traveling salesperson, Danny Wallins is in Shanghai, China and he is about to embark on a huge sale to a hopeful business partner named Mrs. Mingze. This sale will propel Danny into the big leagues so he needs a good night’s sleep. While resting in a hotel and preparing for tomorrow’s business meeting, Danny meets some ghosts who died in his room, and now they want him to join them. 5-Call Me At Midnight 4 characters - 8 pages John Legrew is a former soldier who once fell in love with a girl named Hafsa in Iraq. During a suprise bombing, Hafsa and her family are killed. John returns to the area and he cannot find her, so she is presumed dead. Feeling depressed after the war, John returns to America to live with his mother and works in a peanut butter factory. One day, his mother says that Hafsa called and that she wants John to call her again at midnight on a specific number. John’s mind and heart are racing in excitement and disbelief. Could Hafsa still be alive? Why did she wait so long, and why must he only call at midnight?

Included in the A Boy and his Doll Readers’ Theatre Unit: 8 page script 2 Main Characters + the narrator 3 Supporting Characters 6 Minor Characters with 1 or 2 lines for nervous readers 27 Metacognitive Questions Student Success Criteria Student Friendly Goals Teacher’s Reader’s Theatre Checklist A Boy and his Doll synopsis: Homer forgets that it’s his son Bart’s birthday, so he goes to a creepy antique store and buys a talking Krusty the Clown doll that comes with a free frogurt. Whenever Homer is alone with the doll, it speaks to him and threatens to kill him. Homer’s family doesn’t believe that the doll is alive so Homer tries to get rid of it. Will Homer be able to get rid of the doll before it’s too late? Find out in A Boy and his Doll readers’ theatre unit! Mr. Marvel’s Musings: A dear reader asked for this story specifically. I hope you and your class enjoy it! I am working on the anthology that this story came from. Do not fear the reader’s theater format. Students love these adapted stories because they are listening to the story and they are a part of the story by playing a character within the story. Reader’s theatre inspires reluctant readers to join in the fun. The strongest and most advanced readers in your class will encourage other students to raise their hand and participate in the story. I also use reader’s theatre to add to my drama marks. If the reader’s theatre format did not work for my students and I, then I would have stopped creating and adapting them years ago. Reluctant readers sometimes feel anxious looking at pages of text, whereas a reader’s theater script is broken up into narration and different characters speaking, thus making the story more accessible to those students who have not discovered the incredibly fun activity of reading for entertainment. I use shorter stories with minimal characters in literature circles.When can one make time for a reader’s theatre story in class? When I am not reading a reader’s theatre unit with my class, I usually reserve Friday’s for the reading of a one-off story. It is an event that the class looks forward to, since they do not know which story I will choose. Great for Librarians and small groups. I project the stories on the screen and assign characters in class. Some characters only have 1 line. A supporting character like that is perfect for a reluctant reader. I have read these stories remotely/online and in class/in-person. I encourage teachers and instructors to allow students to practice their parts at home before they read in front of the class. They can try different voices and tones when they practice. It is also good for family bonding time. The student’s parent/guardian can play another role and they can read together. I hope you, and your students enjoy reading A Boy and his Doll and continue to do so for many years. Excelsior! Mr. Marvel: The King of Reader’s Theatre

Included in The Sawney Bean: Scotland’s Most Notorious Cannibal Reading Comprehension: 3 pages detailing the cannibal Sawney Bean family’s origins, crimes and punishment 31 questions ranging from short answer to multiple choice to true and false. 2 critical thinking/subjective questions. Answer page Sawney Bean: Scotland’s Most Notorious Cannibal Sawney Bean was an infamous Scottish cannibal who hunted down travelers each night who were around his cave. Over 1000 people were reported to have been captured and eaten by the Sawney clan. Public outrage and fear led to King James VI being called to investigate. Will James VI be able to stop the cannibal Bean clan? Find out in the Sawney Bean: Scotland’s Most Notorious Cannibal reading comprehension activity. Mr. Marvel’s Musings: I recieved a message from a dear reader who asked if I had a readers’ theatre based on a “bloody historical figure”. I have been working on a Vlad the Impaler readers’ theatre but it is not finished. I watched a documentary about The Hills Have Eyes and learned that Wes Craven based the film on the Sawney Bean family. So I did some research and wrote a 3 page reading comprehension activity along with questions. I also highlighted questions that would spark a good class discussion. It is not a bloody read, but I would say it is for mature audiences due to the nature of the family and their inhumane ways. I hope you, and your students enjoy reading and discussing Sawney Bean: Scotland’s Most Notorious Cannibal and continue to do so for many years. Excelsior! Mr. Marvel: The King of Reader’s Theatre

Included in the Witchy Stories Readers’ Theatre Unit: 3 stories 25 Book Report questions with Rubric Student Success Criteria Student Friendly Goals Teacher’s Reader’s Theatre Checklist 1-Witch Cat 8 pages - 4 characters Kowashi has noticed a change in his mother lately. She demands that her fish be raw and bloody, and when she eats, she grows fangs and looks like a furry monster. One night, Kowashi’s friend, Yusei, is going home from the fish market. He is approached by a group of cats. One of the cats asks Yusei to give them his leftover fish. He refuses, so the leader cat calls out for Kowashi’s mother. Yusei is confused, until he sees a large cat approaching who tries to attack him. Yusei hits the cat over the head with his fishing gaff and cuts the cat’s head. The next morning, Yusei visits Kowashi and recalls the strange feline encounter he had the night before. Kowashi finds it odd that his mother has complained about a headache that morning and she has a cut on her head. What will Yusei and Kowashi do if his mother transforms into her true form? Find out in Witch Cat! 2-More Gravy! 6 pages - 4 characters Harvey owns a successful mill and with his business booming, he needs an extra hand to help him send out the orders. A young man named Jack answers the call. Harvey warns Jack that anyone he hires does not last a day in the mill because of odd occurences, but Jack decides to stay. In the evening, when Jack is eating dinner, the candle goes out on the dinner table. When he lights the candle again, he is surrounded by cats. A big cat steps forward and slaps her hand in Jack’s dinner while shouting “I love gravy! More gravy!” Jack warns the cat that he will cut off her paw if she does it again. The cat slaps his bowl again and has its paw cut off. The paw turns into a human hand, and Jack keeps it. The next morning, Jack tells Harvey about his dinner guests, and then shows him the hand. Harvey is shocked when he sees the ring on the hand. It belongs to a loved one! Who could it be and what is their secret? 3-Don’t Pull My Hair! 6 pages - 4 characters Foul witch, Jiji, wants to make her daughter, Luna, just as cruel as she is. Jiji asks Luna to fill a basket with pears from a tree on the hill. Luna does so, while Jiji dresses up as an old lady and waits for her at the bottom of the hill. There is only 1 pear on the tree, so Luna takes it. Jiji in disguise tells Luna that she is too old and weak to climb the hill, so Luna gives her the pear. Jiji races home and confronts Luna about her generosity. Disappointed in her daughter, Jiji cuts off Luna’s head and buries it in the potato patch. Jiji asks her son, Phillip, to get some potatoes for dinner. Phillip sees hair protruding from the soil. He pulls on it and hears Luna’s voice saying that their mother killed her for a single pear. Phillip enters the house and quietly tells his father what happened to Luna. How will father Thomas react to Jiji’s bad parenting?

Included in The Haunting of Hill House Readers’ Theatre Unit: 256 pages divided among 9 chapters 8 Discussion Questions 67 Short Answer Questions (Half of the questions have answers. Some questions are subjective and do not have clear answers from the story) 25 Metacognitive Questions Drawing Conclusions about Characters activity Student Success Criteria Student Friendly Goals Teacher’s Reader’s Theatre Checklist The Haunting of Hill House synopsis: Dr. Montague, a parapsychologist and anthropologist, invites his guests: Eleanor and Theodora, to stay at the famously haunted Hill House to investigate paranormal phenomena. The heir to the house, Luke Sanderson, joins them. Later on, Dr. Montague’s wife joins the team with her sympathy and planchette, along with her friend, Headmaster Arthur and his revolver. As the group experiences inexplicable events like unexplained noises, ghostly mumbling, doors slamming, a child’s laughter, messages written in blood, and an apparition dog; the line between genuine haunting and psychological breakdown blurs, particularly for one guest, who becomes increasingly consumed by the house’s malevolent power. The story explores themes of isolation and the fragility of the human mind, culminating in the house choosing one of the inhabitants to stay in Hill House forever. Who will it be? Find out in The Haunting of Hill House Readers’ Theatre Unit! Chapters Chapter 1: Careful and Conscientious 26 pages - 10 characters Chapter 2: A Place of Despair 23 pages - 3 characters Chapter 3: A Mad Face in the Growing Darkness 35 pages - 4 characters Chapter 4: Foul Filthy House 46 pages - 5 pages Chapter 5: Hide and Seek 30 pages - 5 characters Chapter 6: Pathways of the Heart 13 pages - 4 characters Chapter 7: Stay Together After Dark 29 pages - 6 characters Chapter 8: A Struggle Between Good and Evil 22 pages - 8 characters Chapter 9: The House Wants Me to Stay 22 pages - 7 characters I hope you, and your students enjoy reading The Haunting of Hill House and continue to do so for many years. Excelsior! Mr. Marvel: The King of Reader’s Theatre

Included in the Night of the Living Dead Readers’ Theatre Unit: 63 page script divided among 6 chapters Student Success Criteria Student Friendly Goals Teacher’s Reader’s Theatre Checklist 25 Book Report questions with Rubric 27 Metacognitive Questions Chapter 1: They’re Coming to Get You 4 characters - 8 pages Chapter 2: It’s Dangerous Out There 3 characters - 10 pages Chapter 3: Do You Feel Like Cinderella? 6 characters - 11 pages Chapter 4: A Better Chance of Survival 6 characters - 12 pages Chapter 5: All We Have to do now is Get Out of Here 5 characters - 8 pages Chapter 6: We’ll Never Get Out Alive! 6 characters - 7 pages Night of the Living Dead synopsis: A disparate group of individuals takes refuge in an abandoned farm house when zombies begin to leave the graveyard in search of humans to devour. The bold protagonist, Ben, does his best to control the situation, but when the zombies surround the house, the other survivors begin to panic. As the night continues, the zombies begin to find ways inside. Ben not only has to deal with the zombies, but also with Harry, as both men battle for the role of leader of the survivors. Will Ben be able to lead the others to survive the night, or will the zombies over-power them, along with Harry’s insurbordinaton? Find out in the Night of the Living Dead readers’ theare unit! Mr. Marvel’s Musings: This story was recently requested for Halloween. I used an early draft and melded it with the final draft. There is no profanity and the violence is not graphically depicted. A major question I ask after reading this story is: is it safer to stay in the cellar or on the top floor? A variety of good examples emerge for both possibilities in the discussion. You could also ask the students to write out their response and use sketches to show their survival stronghold. The first 2 chapters contain a lot of narration and world-building. As the story progresses, more characters and dialogue are involved.

Included in the Guardians of the Galaxy Readers’ Theatre Unit: 75 page script divided among 10 chapters Reader’s Theatre Evaluations based on 4 levels and 5 criteria. Student Success Criteria Student Friendly Goals Teacher’s Reader’s Theatre Checklist 27 Metacognitive Questions Book Report Rubric based on 4 levels Drawing Conclusions about Characters activity Guardians of the Galaxy synopsis: Brash space adventurer Peter Quill, finds himself the target of relentless bounty hunters after he steals an orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain. To evade Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with four misfits: hot-tempered Rocket Raccoon, talking tree-like-humanoid Groot, enigmatic Gamora, and vengeance-driven Drax the Destroyer. But when Quill discovers the orb’s true power and the cosmic threat it poses, Quill must rally his ragtag group to save the universe. Will they be able stop Ronan from taking the orb? Find out in The Guardians of the Galaxy Readers’ Theatre Unit! Prologue- The Light in the Sky 3 pages - 3 characters Chapter 1 - Star-Lord: The Legendary Outlaw 6 pages - 3 pages Chapter 2 - Sisters of Destruction 5 pages - 7 characters Chapter 3 - Mall Mayhem 6 pages - 6 pages Chapter 4 - The Stomach of the Prison System 6 pages - 5 characters Chapter 5 - Prison Break 7 pages - 7 characters Chapter 6 - We’re Supposed to be Partners! 6 pages - 5 characters Chapter 7 - Knowhere 7 pages - 8 characters Chapter 8 - A Bunch of Maniacs 6 pages - 7 characters Chapter 9 - Sanity is the Refuge of Cowards 6 pages - 8 characters Chapter 10 - Last-Minute Gamble 5 pages - 6 characters I hope you, and your students enjoy reading The Guardians of the Galaxy and continue to do so for many years. Excelsior! Mr. Marvel: The King of Reader’s Theatre

Included in the Ghost Stories Readers’ Theatre Unit Volume 2 Unit: 7 scary ghost stories/scripts 2 page preamble explaining why people like to read ghost stories Student Success Criteria Student Friendly Goals Teacher’s Reader’s Theatre Checklist 25 Book Report questions with Rubric 1-William Returns 2 characters - 2 pages Margret is waiting at home for her husband, William to return from war. She hears a knock at the door. Margret answers and sees that William has returned, and he looks battered; almost dead. He asks Margret to follow him to the cemetery. What will happen to Margret once she reaches the cemtery with William? 2-The Silent Thief 3 characters - 7 pages Liam owns a grocery store in the heart of town. One day, a pale women enters and steals a bottle of milk from him. She returns every few days and steals another bottle of milk. Liam asks his neighbours Elijah and Martha for advice. They propose to wait outside his store, and then they will follow the pale lady to see where she goes and what she does with the milk. 3-The Lovelorn Heart 5 characters - 9 pages Duncan and Flora have been sweethearts since elementary school. The entire town thought they would get married and live happily ever after. They would have if Anna had not moved into town. Duncan falls for her and decides to leave Flora. Heartbroken, Flora dies. When Duncan moves to pursue his new job, he and Anna notice that a pig keeps following them whenever they are outside. 4-The Ghosly Hitch Hiker 4 characters - 3 pages Karen is stuck in the rain without any change. The bus driver feels sorry for her and lets Karen board. She sits beside another passenger named Natasha. As she is getting to know Karen, she turns away, and when she looks back, Karen has vanished. Where could she be? 5-Where is Aunt Tilly? 5 characters - 4 pages Nadia, Luke, Jasleen, and Allison are waiting for Aunt Tilly to attend their family celebration. No one expects Tilly to show up since she keeps to herself, that is until Nadia sees Aunt Tilly in the yard smiling at them. The family calls out to Tilly, but she runs into the forest. 6-The Cradle that Rocked Itself 4 characters - 3 pages Elizabeth is at home with her children, Olivia and Gary. While a storm rumbles outside, Olivia says that she hears a baby crying. Her mother forbids her to go out. The next morning Olivia and Gary search the area and find an empty cradle . They bring it indoors and Olivia puts her baby in it. Now the cradle rocks by itself when the baby is in it. 7-The Smoking Car 5 characters - 6 pages Dana and Simon are in a used car lot looking for a vehicle. They see a red Packard that they absolutely love. They run to Lloyd the salesperson, but he is not eager to sell it. Everyone who has owned the red Packard has returned it within a month. Dana and Simon ignore Lloyd’s warning and buy the car. As they drive it each day, they notice strange things.

Included in the Scary Ghost Stories Readers’ Theatre Unit: 8 scary ghost stories/scripts 2 page preamble explaining why people like to read ghost stories Student Success Criteria Student Friendly Goals Teacher’s Reader’s Theatre Checklist 25 Book Report questions with Rubric 1-The Golden Arm 2 characters - 6 pages Kevin and Elvira are a happily married couple. Due to an accident, Elvira has one golden arm. One day, Elvira becomes ill and passes away. She asks Kevin to promise her that he will bury her with the golden arm. Kevin agrees. After her funeral, Kevin can’t stop thinking about Elvira’s golden arm. Infused with greed, Kevin goes out, digs up Elvira’s grave and takes her golden arm. Once he has the arm, Kevin begins to experience weird events around his home. The Dare 4 characters - 8 pages 4 friends named Jessica, Tim, Rebecca and Patrick are hanging out one evening trying to scare each other with ghost stories. Jessica said that old Tom Fitzy was buried recently, and the rumour is that if you stomp on his grave after midnight, old Fitzy will reach up out of the ground and grab your ankle. The three friends do not believe the rumour, but they are curious. Jessica was a well-known prankster to old Fitzy, so the group triple dares Jessica to see if the rumour is true. Jessica agrees and goes out to do the dare. The next morning, Jessica doesn’t return from the cemetery. Did Old Fitzy pull Jessica into his coffin, or is Jessica planning a prank on her friends? I’m in the Room 2 characters - 2 pages Rosie has a sixth sense and can see ghosts. The Headless Thing 3 characters - 5 pages Elmer was working on the farm and minding his own business, when out in the distance he sees a headless thing walking towards him. Elmer tries to remain silent, but he is curious, so he speaks to the creature. The Headless Thing tells Elmer to start digging under a tree, because that’s where it left a treasure chest when it had a head. Long in the Tooth 7 characters - 7 pages Harvey is enjoying his walk home after work, when he notices a comet flying across the sky. Afterwards, he meets various people on the once quiet road, who all transform into toothy creatures. The Legs 3 characters - 3 pages Little orphan Olsen has been abandoned and is sleeping on the streets. One day, a man tells him about the house on the hill. He tells Olsen that if he spends an entire night there, then the house belongs to him. Feeling nothing to lose and looking for a warm place to sleep for the night, Olsen agrees. Talk to Me 4 characters - 5 pages One evening, Roger sees a skull in the road near the cemetery. He begins kicking it and discovers that it can talk. Amazed at his discovery, Roger runs into town and tells everyone. The villagers don’t believe Roger, so he makes a bet: if they follow him and the skull doesn’t talk, then they can cut his head off. Dark, Dark, Dark 1 character - 1 page

Included in the Funny Ghost Stories Readers’ Theatre Unit: 7 Funny Ghost Stories 25 Book Report questions with Rubric 2 page preamble explaining why people like to read ghost stories Student Success Criteria Student Friendly Goals Teacher’s Reader’s Theatre Checklist 1-The Thing at the Foot of the Bed 4 characters - 7 pages Davis is the laughing stock of town. His funny reaction to seeing a mouse at work was recorded and has since gone viral. Wanting to prove that he is brave, Davis decides to spend the night in a haunted house. Will Davis survive the night or will there be another hillarious mishap? 2-Beware the Boggart 5 characters - 9 pages Marvin and his family are being annoyed by the boggart; a troublesome ghost who loves to prank people. Little Sally thinks that if they show the boggart kindness instead of anger that it will change its ways. Is Sally correct? Can the boggart be reasoned with? 3-The Guitar Player 2 characters - 2 pages Alonso is the best guitar player in town, until he meets a mysterious stranger who asks to see his guitar. Where did the stranger learn to play so well, and will he give Alonso his guitar back? 4-Nevermind the Watermelons 3 characters - 5 pages Tyler cannot be convinced that ghosts and haunted houses are real. His neighbour Miranda offers Tyler a wager: She will give him a wagon full of watermelons if he spends the night in a haunted house. Tyler gladly accepts the wager and enters the haunted house. It seems easy at first, until Tyler is visited by a few guests… 5-Wait Until Martin Comes 5 characters - 3 pages Wesley is on his way to the next city, when he notices a thunderstorm approaching. Not wanting to get caught in the hard rain, he enters a house on the side of the road. He starts a fire in the fireplace and gets comfortable for the night. A group of cats enter the house and tell Wesley to wait until Martin comes. Does Wesley have the courage to meet Martin? What will Martin do when he arrives? Will Wesley want to find out? 6-Big Fraid and Little Fraid 2 characters - 2 pages Alex’s father does not like his son walking around after dark singing to himself. Nothing he says can change the boy’s mind to come home after dark. Alex’s father decides to frighten his son so that he will never stay out after dark ever again, but could a real ghost be on the loose unbeknownst to Alex’s father? 7-The Lucky Man 2 characters - 3 pages Lloyd is trying to sleep but he keeps hearing something flapping outside. He gets up, looks out his window and sees a ghost flying around! His wife, Alice, asks if he knows how to get rid of a ghost. What will Lloyd do? Mr. Marvel’s Musings: There are no deaths in these stories. One character uses a pistol. One character uses a rifle.

Included in the Molly Meets the Giant Readers’ Theatre Unit: 10 page script 7 characters + the narrator Student Success Criteria Student Friendly Goals Teacher’s Reader’s Theatre Checklist Molly Meets the Giant synopsis: Molly and her 2 sisters are asked to leave their home by their father. The farm is suffering financially and Molly’s parents cannot afford to feed Molly and her sisters, so Molly goes out to seek fortune. She finds the King’s castle. The king says he will allow Molly and her 3 sisters to marry his three sons if Molly can obtain the 3 objects that the giant of the forest has stolen from him. Molly stands tall and accepts the challenge. Will Molly be able to steal the King’s items back from the King without being found and crushed by the giant? Find out in Molly Meets the Giant an Irish folktale. I hope you, and your students enjoy reading Molly Meets the Giant and continue to do so for many years. Excelsior! Mr. Marvel: The King of Reader’s Theatre