Picture book productions

This guide provides resources to support Mr. Weiss' Theatre 9/10 Picture Book Productions. If you have questions, suggestions for improving this page, or encounter any issues with the links, please email [email protected].
The first step in this assignment is to select a picture book to dramatize for elementary students. 

​Mr. Weiss recommends asking the following questions to help ensure students make appropriate book choices:
  • What is the teachable message of the book? 
  • What is the learning that the audience will interpret? 
  • How can you bring fun, comedy, or at least dynamic characters to the story?​​
​​Nespeca and Reeve (2003, p. 28) also offer the following tips:
  • Make sure the story has conflict and action.​
  • The characters should have distinct personalities.
  • There should be strong dialogue that is independent of much description.​​
  • There should be a happy ending or one where vice is punished and virtue is rewarded. (Young children expect stories to have poetic justice).

​Additionally, consider the the ages of the audience.  A book that is appropriate for younger primary students may not be the best choice for intermediate students.  There are also limitations on time and resources that must be considered. 

​The picture book section has a large selection of books to choose from.  See below for some suggestions.
​
The Imposter, by Kelly Collier
Call # E COL  [Picture Book Section]
 
"Skunk wants to be a dog. Everyone loves dogs. And every dog seems to have exactly what he's looking for: a home and a family. When Skunk sees a 'lost' poster for Max the dog, he wonders if he can pass himself off as the missing pet. He enlists the help of three neighborhood critters--a racoon, a cat, and a squirrel--who train him in the art of being a dog with hilarious results. But, uh-oh, there's just one thing Skunk didn't account for"--Provided by publisher
Robot in Love, by T.L. McBeth
Call# E MCB [Picture Book Section]

A shy robot  falls in loves and works up the courage to speak to its crush.
Larf by Ashley Spires
Call # E SPIRES  [Picture Book Section]
 
Larf, who has always believed he was the only sasquatch in the world, is thrilled to hear that another sasquatch is scheduled to make an appearance in the nearby city of Hunderfitz, and Larf dresses up as a city slicker before leaving for Hunderfitz.
The Day Fin Flooded the World, by Adam Stower
Call # E STO [Picture Book Section]

A forgetful boy remembers to brush his teeth--but forgets to turn off the tap. Overnight, the entire world is flooded with water, which leads to a surprising turn of events.
Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs, by Mo Willems 
Call # E WIL [Picture Book Section]

A spin on the traditional tale with dinosaurs who visit Norway as the main characters.
After selecting a picture book, the next step is to create a script.  Start by creating an outline that contains the acts, scenes, when the characters appear and general stage directions.  

Once the outline is completed, begin drafting the script by adding dialogue, actions, and technical elements like costumes and props.  To improve the readability of the script, follow the guidelines below: 
​
  1. Font should be Courier 12 pt. 
  2. Title of play should be in ALL CAPS.
  3. Cast of characters, setting, and time appear after the title. 
  4. Character names should appear in ALL CAPS, on the centre of the page, and before each line of dialogue. 
  5. Characters names also appear in ALL CAPS in the stage directions. 
  6. All stage directions appear in brackets. 
  7. When the scene ends, write END OF SCENE in ALL CAPS and parenthesis.  ​
  8. See here for a sample. 
Watch this video for more tips!
Works Cited
Carys Playwrights' Forum. The Standard Stage Play Format, 2012. https://caryplaywrightsforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/CPF_play_formatting2.pdf
​Nespeca, Sue and Joan Reeve. “Chapter Three: Extending Picture Books Through Drama.” 100 Extension Activities in Art, Drama, Music, Math and Science, uploaded by the American Library Association, 2003. www.ala.org/sites/default/files/aboutala/content/publishing/editions/samplers/NespPBPlus.pd

​This page was last updated 12/13/2025