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 has developed a comprehensive handbook with thoroughly annotated lists of the 2008's best children's books, lesson plans, teacher's guides, stories, songs, and Internet resources. Grades K-6.

The WINNERS! Handbook starts with an extensive booklist of Judy's 100 best books of 2008, including many of the big award winners. (If you own Judy's Books Kids Will Sit Still For 3, it follows the same format. Indeed, you can consider the new The WINNERS! Handbook the first update to that book.) Each entry includes a meaty and thoughtful annotation, a germ (a series of practical, do-able, useful, pithy ideas for reading, writing, and illustrating prompts and other activities across the curriculum); a useful list of exemplary related titles; and subject designations for each title to ascertain where the book might fit thematically into your curricular plan or program. There's also a title, author, and subject index for easy access.

You find scores of useful and fun ideas, activities, lessons, and ways you can incorporate literature into every aspect of your day and your life. From story hour to school curriculum tie-ins, the many connections include strategies for comprehension, critical thinking skills, research, and problem-solving; games, crafts, songs, plenty of great across-the-curriculum poetry, creative drama and Reader's Theater, storytelling, booktalking, and book discussion. Most of the books included are fabulous read-alouds, read-alones, and natural choices for Guided Reading, Literature Circles, or Book Clubs. Grades K-6.

Based on her extensive experience as a school librarian and storyteller, the author features 2,000 carefully selected titles that will keep children in grades K-6 enthralled. All published within the last 10 years, these range from picture books, fiction, folklore, and poetry to biography and nonfiction. Each annotated entry provides a brief plot summary, related titles, and subject designations. In addition, there are curriculum tie-ins and suggested activities including drama, crafts, research, and problem solving. The book starts with all-new chapters offering entertaining and informative tips on effective reading aloud, storytelling, and classroom and library activities. There is also a bibliography of professional books.

Based on her extensive experience as a school librarian and storyteller, the author features 2,000 carefully selected titles that will keep children in grades K-6 enthralled. All published within the last 10 years, these range from picture books, fiction, folklore, and poetry to biography and nonfiction. Each annotated entry provides a brief plot summary, related titles, and subject designations. In addition, there are curriculum tie-ins and suggested activities including drama, crafts, research, and problem solving. The book starts with all-new chapters offering entertaining and informative tips on effective reading aloud, storytelling, and classroom and library activities. There is also a bibliography of professional books. Books Kids Will Sit Still For 3: A Read-Aloud Guide is the latest all-new volume in the Books Kids Will Sit Still For series, which includes Books Kids Will Sit Still For: A Read-Aloud Guide, Second Edition and More Books Kids Will Sit Still For: A Read-Aloud Guide.

The three books together constitute a tour of the best of children's literature and how to use it, with a total of more than 5,000 invaluable annotations of exemplary children's books.