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Texas Reading Club Manual 53
people puppets that can be dressed as the characters, use the patterns provided at the end of this
chapter to make cardboard stick characters. Patterns for hand weights, a barred cage door, a
cottage, and a bird are also provided. Props may be cut from flannel or other material. Felt is
inexpensive, comes in many colors, and may be used to create unique and colorful cardboard
stick characters.
Feel free to change the characters names, modernizing them from Hansel and Gretel to Heather
and Garrett, Holly and Greg, Hunter and Gretchen, or other names of your choosing. If
including a witch in the story is not appropriate for your community, substitute a troll, goblin,
Boggart, or other yucky fairy tale creature.
Use music to begin and end the puppet show and during the chase scenes. Refer to licensing
information in the “Legalities” section of this manual to be sure that you are not violating
copyright when using music. Suggestions for compositions to use during entrances, interludes,
and exits, which are available on a wide variety of audio recordings, include the following.
Beethoven’s “5th Symphony”
Chopin’s “Minute Waltz”
Ravel’s “Bolero”
Handel’s ‘Hallelujah Chorus”
Mozart’s “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik”
The theme from “Exodus”
The theme from “Rocky”
Professional Resources
On Stage: Theater Games and Activities for Kids by Lisa Bany-Winters.