Read Picture Book Drama resource and Kit Lists for 3 books. Remember to focus on the process as well as the product if using this resource.

Choose your own Picture Book and create your own Kit List for use in school. (When you have your own class, remember to involve the children in preparing their own kit list!)

Evidence: Your portfolio should contain a short description of the story you have selected, as well as the Kit List you have made.

Kit List – The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Schleffer.

This is a rhyming story involving a clever mouse who takes a stroll through the woods. Three large animals that want to eat him and an imaginary monster, a Gruffalo, who turns out to be only too real. He tells the Gruffalo that he, the mouse is the scariest animal in the wood. The Gruffalo laughs at this but agrees to follow him as the mouse demonstrates how everyone is afraid of him. The two walk through the wood, meeting the animals who had earlier threatened the mouse.  They are all frightened at and run off and each time the Gruffalo becomes more impressed with the mouse. Exploiting this, the mouse then threatens to eat the Gruffalo, who then flees.

Casting

Narrators –   2 older children who are confident readers read aloud from the book.

Alternatively, with younger or reluctant readers, you can narrate and ask them to contribute the repeated phrases and rhyming sequences.

Give narrators their own special place to stand/sit, where they can see the action.

Characters and Actions   

Character	Actions
Mouse	Walks slowly like a mouse as he walks through the woods. Is frightened every time he meets a new character but then builds confidence as he talks about the Gruffalo in order to frighten off the animals who are trying to eat him.
Fox	Walks with confidence, grinning at the mouse. Is a cunning character who speaks with a deep voice. Quivers when the mouse mentions the Gruffalo and runs away as fast as he can, with a frightened look on his face.
Owl	Spreads her/his arms and happily takes off to fly around acting area. Flies away in fear when the Gruffalo is mentioned.
Snake	1 child slithering/sliding along the floor, or 2 /3 children forming a long twisting line which moves together.
Gruffalo	Appears to be confident. Stomps his feet as he walks. Starts to get become more startled as he can see that the other animals are scared of the mouse.

 

This cast would involve 8 children in the storytelling and action.

Setting

Hiding places (from which each animal emerges as the story unfolds)

Large pieces of cardboard covered to look like trees which can cover each animal or big paper leaves or rocks which can be made by the children.

• Old sheets/curtains which can be painted by the children in an art activity
• An inexpensive roll of wallpaper (with embossed patterning) can be roller painted by the children and divided into long lengths to represent jungle leaves.

Each place should be clearly defined and provide the character with a starting point and a finishing point for them to return to after their individual action.

You will need manipulators for these leaves to move – 2 for each animal/leaf. This can be the same two children or pairs assigned to their own particular leaf.

Costume

The most effective costume is impressionistic and easy for the children to move in.

Lengths of material, cloaks, neckerchiefs or headbands can denote character and often aid the movement the children make.

The children can have their faces painted (unless allergic to face paint) in order to help the audience, understand what child is playing what character. If any child is allergic to face paint, all of the other children will not get their face painted either. Explain to the children that the most important thing to remember is how their character might act, move and what their facial expressions should be at certain parts of the drama. This will help the audience to see who they are playing.

Narrators – Ask the children what they think would be appropriate to wear as the narrators. If they are struggling to think of something, then suggest something smart, for example, their school uniform.

Characters

Character	Costume
Mouse	Fur fabric waist coat. Fur cuffs around wrists and ankles. A tail which can be made out of the same fabric which will Velcro around the waist. Stage make up.
Fox	Fur fabric waist coat. Fur cuffs around wrists and ankles. A tail which can be made out of a bushier fabric which will Velcro around the waist. Stage make up.
Owl	An owl mask or face painted. Brown tights with a long brown top. Wings made from different pieces of brown felt sewed together with arm holes.
Snake	Green cloaks, mittens, fabric leggings/boots/stage make up.
Gruffalo	Fur fabric waist coat with purple prickles sewn on the back. Fur mittens and boots made with claws on both. Stage make up for the Gruffalos teeth, eyes, tongue and wart.

 

Props

Forrest leaves can be cut out and painted by the children themselves. They can make different sizes. Larger leaves for the characters to hide behind.

Wallpaper rolls and mini – rollers to cover the wallpaper in greens, greys, and browns. This can be used for the backdrop of the drama.

Sound

With the children’s help choose the most appropriate sound/instrument to   accompany the appearance of each character. Allow time for the instrument player to present the sound as the character moves around the acting area.

Character	Sound
Mouse	tambourine tapped lightly so as to jingle the bells
Fox	Chimes to make the fox sound mysterious
Owl	Vocal Twit twoo
Snake	Marracca or ocean drum
Gruffalo	Drum