Lori  Mortensen

Nina Victor Crittenden

Chicken Lily may be a lot of things—a careful colorer, a patient puzzler, and a quiet hide-and-seeker (she never made a peep!)—but brave has never been one of them. That’s why, when a school-wide poetry jam is announced in class, Lily is terrified. Will she sound like a bird brain?

Although Lily’s friends Baabette and Pigsley try to encourage her, Lily feels like a rotten egg. Finally, Lily realizes that she must put her best claw forward and prove that even chickens aren’t chicken all the time.

Chicken Lily

Lucy Cousins

Are you ready for the big show? Maisy and her friends show little ones what it’s like to attend their first live performance. Today, Maisy and her friends are off to the theater to see a show starring Flora Fantastica! First they line up to show their tickets. After the usher helps them all find their seats, the lights go down, and Maisy and her friends take in a feast for the senses: dramatic flashing lights, colorful costumes, amazing songs, and lots of exciting characters. From the rise of the curtain through intermission (and snacks) to a standing ovation at the end, Maisy takes her fans on a trip to the theater that makes a new experience familiar and fun.

Maisy Goes to a Show

Maisy and her pals discover the magic of the big screen as they go to a movie theater for the first time. Maisy and her friends are so excited! They’re going to see a fun adventure film. With tickets and snacks at the ready, they scramble for seats and settle in for the movie to begin. Cyril’s a little afraid of the dark, but Maisy is happy to hold his hand. When Eddie enthusiastically shouts at the screen, he quickly learns a lesson in movie etiquette! After little ones share this outing with Maisy, they’ll be raring to go on their own movie-theater adventure.

Maisy Goes to the Movies

Tomie dePaola

Jim Lewis

Andy and Sandy hit the stage in this fourth book of an easy-to-read picture book series about friendship—from Caldecott and Newbery Honoree Tomie dePaola and Emmy Award–winning writer for the Muppets Jim Lewis. Outgoing Sandy convinces shy Andy to do a dance at the big talent show. The only problem? Andy doesn’t know how to dance! Luckily, Sandy is a good teacher. But when showtime finally arrives, it’s Sandy who freezes up! A true friend through and through, Andy overcomes his shyness to save the performance. Let’s give a standing ovation to friendship! Written in simple words and short, declarative sentences, this book is perfect for little ones just learning to read on their own.

Andy & Sandy and the Big Talent Show

Sharon Creech

Leo’s papa stood in the doorway, gazing down at him. “Leo, you make gold from pebbles,” and the way he said it, Leo could tell that this was a good thing. He may have been given a bit part in the school play … but Leo dreams he is the biggest star on Broadway. Sure, his big, noisy family makes him feel like a sardine squashed in a tin … but in his fantasy he gets all the attention he wants. Yes, his papa seems sad and distracted … but Leo imagines him as a boy, tap-dancing and singing with delight. That’s why they call Leo “fog boy.” He’s always dreaming, always replaying things in his brain. He fantasizes about who he is in order to discover who he will become. As an actor in the school play, he is poised and ready for the curtain to open. But in the play that is his life, Leo is eager to discover what part will be his.

Replay

James Dean

Kimberly Dean

Join Pete in New York Times bestselling artist James Dean’s Pete the Cat picture book series as Pete celebrates Thanksgiving in this groovy lift-the-flap book! Starring in the school Thanksgiving play would make even the coolest cat nervous. But when Pete the Cat gets onstage, he makes learning the story of the first Thanksgiving fun. With thirteen flaps that open to reveal hidden surprises, this book is sure to be a holiday favorite for every Pete the Cat fan.

Pete the Cat: The First Thanksgiving

Catherine Lazar Odell

Frannie loves to have an audience. Pepper prefers to perform when no one is around. Pepper and Frannie are best friends, and they both love a good show.

When they decide to stage a performance themselves, Pepper is content to work behind the scenes as Frannie prepares an epic, extravagant spectacle: it will have lights, and action, and drama! She’s just forgetting one thing…to practice her song. When Frannie’s lack of preparation leaves her stuck in front of a crowd, can anything save her act? Luckily Pepper knows just how to help. The show must go on!

Utterly charming, energetic illustrations and simple, funny text highlight the power of celebrating each other’s strengths and working as a team in this return of the lovable pair.

It's Showtime!: A Pepper and Frannie Story

Kathi Appelt

Melissa Sweet

The Bat Jamboree was held early this year, at the old drive-in movie not too far from here. It was standing room only as the houselights went down. The spotlight came up – there wasn’t a sound! Then: DD1 bat sang.DD2 bats flapped. DD3 bats cha-cha-edDD4 bats tapped. Every year a troupe of 55 buoyant bats comes up with 10 fabulous acts to entertain and instruct an enthusiatic audience. And every year the bats top themselves when they perform the grandest finale of all . . . With its exuberant text and enchanting illustrations, Bat Jamboree is both a counting book and a thrilling theatrical event.

Bat Jamboree

Lizi Boyd

It’s time for bed. Everyone is asleep. Or are they? Arlo and his stuffed animal friends like to put on pretend plays. But after Arlo falls asleep, his friends don’t want to stop. Can they work together to put on their play? Through fanciful paintings and a lively text, Lizi Boyd has once again tapped into the imaginary world of children. Her hallmark use of die-cut pages, along with a showstopping gatefold, will have readers of all ages shouting “Bravo!”

Night Play

Nan Marino

feelings and emotions

musicians

stage fright

being famous

“When musical prodigy, Elvis Ruby, completely freezes up on television, he is forced to hide out in the Pinelands of New Jersey and try to find his way back to the music once again with the help of a new friend”–

Hiding Out at the Pancake Palace

Raina Telgemeier

braces (orthodontic appliances)

self-esteem

health and daily living

Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But one night after Girl Scouts she trips and falls, severely injuring her two front teeth. What follows is a long and frustrating journey with on-again, off-again braces, surgery, embarrassing headgear, and even a retainer with fake teeth attached. And on top of all that, there’s still more to deal with: a major earthquake, boy confusion, and friends who turn out to be not so friendly.

Smile

Audrey Wood

When a princess who behaves like a dragon meets a dragon who wants to be a princess, the unexpected happens.

The Princess and the Dragon 

Alex Woolf

To read or not to read? With a pulse-pounding historical thriller series like The Shakespeare Plot there’s really only one answer! Journey back in time to danger-filled Elizabethan London. Alice Fletcher is a stagehand at the Globe theatre. When her brother, Richard, goes missing, Alice seeks him with the help of Tom Cavendish, servant to the power-hungry Earl of Essex. Packed with a heady Elizabethan atmosphere of political scheming, romance and murder. The swiftly paced, suspenseful plot will keep young readers on the edge of their seats while giving them an insight into the history of Shakespeare’s England.

Assassin's Code

Suzanne Morris

In this wildly amusing, unconventional shape concept book, Trapezoid is here to declare that he’s a shape, too. He’s NOT a type of dinosaur! Shape up, shapes! Triangle is hosting auditions for all the best shapes to be in his play. Circle, Square, and Star each get a part. But Trapezoid just doesn’t “fit in.” Is he even a shape? The others think he sounds like a type of dinosaur. Determined to show off his usefulness, Trapezoid tries to act like the other shapes, to no avail. Eventually, though, Trapezoid celebrates his own distinct shape properties in order to become part of the performance.

A Trapezoid Is Not a Dinosaur!

Mary Ann Fraser

Wade Bradford

This is the story of a little girl named Goldilocks. Well, that’s what it’s supposed to be, but there’s a problem. When Papa Bear discovers he’s inside of a book and there are readers out there looking at him, he gets very nervous and forgets his lines. Poor Papa Bear . . . he has Page Fright! Can Mama Bear, Baby Bear, and Goldilocks help him find the courage to remember his lines and finish the story?

Papa Bear's Page Fright

Dana Simpson

New York Times Bestselling Author! The second Phoebe and Her Unicorn graphic novel! Summer is here, and Phoebe and Marigold are headed to drama camp. Phoebe’s expecting some quality time with her best friend, but in a surprise twist, Marigold has invited her sister, Florence Unfortunate Nostrils! While the unicorn sisters head to camp in a magical rainbow pod, Phoebe is stuck riding with her parents in their boring car, wondering where it all went wrong. But at Camp Thespis, there are more daunting tasks at hand: writing, producing, and acting in an entirely original play! The second Phoebe and Her Unicorn graphic novel is a sparkling tale of sisterhood and summer fun, as well as a reminder that sometimes it takes a bit of drama to recognize true friendship.

Unicorn Theater

Victoria Jamieson

Ladybug knows she was born to be a star. She can’t wait to sing and dance in her newest musical, which will be her best show ever. Ladybug won’t let anyone get in the way of her performance…especially her little brother, Fly. He’s a pest! But Fly is determined to be part of the act, no matter what. Is the show big enough for this sibling rivalry?

This sing-along, read-aloud, funny tribute to the budding Broadway star in all of us is sure to be a smash hit, and shows that working together really does pay off.

Pest in Show

Akiko Miyakoshi

It’s the day of Momo’s first piano recital. As she nervously waits for her turn to play, she tells herself, “I’ll be okay … I’ll be okay …” Then she hears a voice nearby, also saying, “I’ll be okay … I’ll be okay …” It’s a mouseling! And the little mouse is nervous about her first performance, too. The mouseling invites Momo through a small door backstage, where Momo is amazed to find a miniature theater filled with an audience of finely dressed mice there to watch singers, dancers and circus performers! When it’s the mouseling’s turn, Momo agrees to accompany her on piano. The mouse audience is so appreciative! But then, as she rises to take her bow, Momo is surprised to discover - it isn’t a mouse audience at all! Here’s another magical, dreamlike picture book from Akiko Miyakoshi, the multi-award-winning and internationally bestselling author-illustrator. The imaginative narrative is woven around the common childhood experience of anxiety, felt by performers but also by every child who faces a new life challenge. Momo serves as a wonderful example to children, using the power of her imagination to understand and work through her feelings. Even the youngest readers will be able to follow this story through the beautiful and fantastically detailed illustrations, which perfectly capture Momo’s emotions as she transitions from the real to the imagined and back again.

The Piano Recital

Marsha Qualey

Kristyna Litten

Gracie the pig has a part in a movie with with Tilda Swinetune, the champion swim racer and movie star, but she is upset when she realizes she is just a stunt double–however a small change in the script makes her able to do that and also fulfill her dream with a part of her own.

Gracie LaRoo on the Big Screen

Blair Thornburgh

Kate Berube

A girl is disappointed with her “rotten” role in the school play—but the show must go on  
   
The kids in Mrs. Millet’s class are putting on their annual nutrition pageant. Every kid plays a food. Every kid gets a line. It is a big deal. But this year, there aren’t quite enough parts for everybody. So the class is cast: Fish, Cheese, Broccoli, Blueberry, Banana, and . . . Second Banana. Second Banana feels rotten. She wants to be the ONLY banana!  
In this deliciously original school story, Blair Thornburgh and Kate Berube recognize the dreadful disappointment that a casting list can cause—as well as the power of friendship, creative thinking, and a good attitude to turn a rotten situation into one that’s quite ap-peel-ing. Showtime!

Second Banana

Dan Gutman

Jim Paillot

With more than 11 million books sold, the My Weird School series really gets kids reading!

In this ninth book in the new My Weirdest School series, Miss Universe is coming to Ella Mentry School! Her real name is Miss Tracy, and she’s a retired scientist who will teach the students about planets and the solar system. But what happens when A.J. is cast as the planet Uranus in the school play?

Perfect for reluctant readers and word lovers alike, Dan Gutman’s hugely popular My Weird School chapter book series has something for everyone. Don’t miss the hilarious adventures of A.J. and the gang!

Miss Tracy Is Spacey!

Janet Gurtler

Katie Wood

Since her dad died, Shyanna has not been able to sing. But in one bold move, all of that is going to change thanks to the mermaid Melody Pageant. Shyanna must conquer her stage fright and other obstacles to bring song back into her (and her mom’s) life.

Shyanna's Song

Kristyn Crow

Molly Idle

Zombelina loves to dance, and going to school is just as fun! She leaps on the bus and twirls down the aisle. In class she raises her hand high in the air, even if sometimes it falls under her chair. When it’s time for show-and-tell, Zombelina can’t wait to share her hip-hop moves, but a new student named Morty has his own case of stage fright . . . something Zombelina knows how to fix. She has the perfect idea to make Morty feel welcome: a big rockin’ dance party! After all, friends who dance together, stay together!

Zombelina School Days

Binny Talib

Peek behind the curtain and find the Ballet Bunnies in this new full-color chapter book series featuring the most darling dancers you will ever meet! The Ballet Bunnies dance to the rescue! The Ballet Bunnies live at Miss Luisa’s School of Dance. The only kid who knows about them is their new friend, Millie. They love helping her learn ballet. Now Millie is ready to show off her new moves in her very first performance. The bunnies can’t wait! But Millie is a little nervous to go on stage–she has butterflies in her stomach. It’s time for the Ballet Bunnies to lend a paw and help Millie dance those butterflies away! Twirl and spin with the Ballet Bunnies in Ballet Bunnies #1: The New Class!

Let's Dance

Rob Scotton

Splat’s class is preparing to sing on Parents’ Night, but Splat has stage fright! What will it take for him to overcome his fear?

Splat the Cat Sings Flat

Kwame Alexander

Tim Bowers

On the eve of singing at a community festival, a bout of stage fright threatens a little girl’s confidence. As Indigo Blume drifts off to sleep, she isn’t sure she’s brave enough to take the stage. But once she falls asleep, Indigo finds herself in a dream world with the characters of her favorite book, Acoustic Rooster and his Barnyard Band. The band’s members, including Miss Dairy Parton and Chickee Minaj, are rehearsing, and they invite Indigo to join the group. But when a storm destroys their barn, the animals are left with almost nothing. Can Indigo rally the band to work together and save their home? And will she find her voice in time for the festival?

Acoustic Rooster's Barnyard Boogie Starring Indigo Blume

In this adorable and silly graphic novel written for young readers, Kitty Sweet Tooth runs a movie theater that serves up magical (and unpredictable) desserts. Featuring delicious text from author Abby Denson, and bright, colorful illustrations by Utomaru. There’s just one thing Kitty Sweet Tooth loves more than going to movies, and that’s eating delicious desserts. Now that Pop-Pop’s movie theater has fallen on hard times, Kitty decides that only dessert can keep it from closing its doors. With a coat of paint, a tasty new menu, and a lot of hard work, Kitty and her friends transform this ramshackle theater into the Taste-O-Rama, a combination movie house restaurant. At the Taste-O-Rama, special film screenings are paired with custom-made dishes. But when you have a mad scientist and a witch working in the kitchen, recipes can go awry! On opening night, the theater is flooded with magical jelly that grows out of control. How can Kitty Sweet Tooth and her friends save the day?

Kitty Sweet Tooth

Join Thea Stilton and the Thea Sisters on an adventure through Mouseford Academy!To celebrate Mouse Academy’s 600th anniversary, the headmaster and teachers decide to stage a performance of William Squeakspeare’s favorite play Mouseo &amp;amp; Juliet! The Thea Sisters all want the part of Juliet, but so does their rival, Ruby Flashyfur. Who will be the star of the show?

Drama at Mouseford

H. A. Rey

The movie that George and the man with the yellow hat have been waiting to see is now playing! Once inside the darkened theater, George is curious about the light coming from the back of the room. As usual, George’s curiosity gets him into trouble but his clever tricks save the day.

Curious George Goes to a Movie

Welcome to the Puppy Place–where every puppy finds a home! While rehearsing for a play, Charles meets Cooper, a corgi with a whole lot of personality. Charles only feels comfortable onstage with Cooper there with him. Can Charles find this star of a pup a home?

Cooper

Daisy Meadows

Can Rachel and Kirsty help save the big holiday play, or will Jack Frost take the merry out of Merry Christmas? This is our 11th Rainbow Magic Special Edition! There’s trouble at center stage. . . . Rachel is dancing in Tippington’s annual Christmas play! She can’t wait for her moment in the spotlight. But when Jack Frost’s goblins steal the three magic shoes that make Christmas plays sparkle, it looks like the performance is over before it begins. Paige the Christmas Play Fairy knows that the show must go on! Can Rachel and Kirsty help her save the day? Or will Jack Frost take the merry out of Merry Christmas? Find the magic shoes in all three stories inside this Rainbow Magic Special Edition to help save Christmas plays everywhere!

Paige the Christmas Play Fairy

Janet Tashjian

Jake Tashjian

Janet and Jake Tashijan, the author and illustrator team behind the My Life series, deliver a hilarious sequel to the illustrated chapter book Einstein the Class Hamster.  We follow Ms. Moreno’s class as they face off against the students of Crackerjack Elementary on the hit game show Kids Know Stuff. But when Principal Decker sneaks Twinkles the python into the studio, there’s widespread panic; the show’s host is afraid of snakes and walks off the set. Now is Einstein’s chance to shine! With the assistance of a sound engineer who can also hear Einstein, Ned and Marlon help Einstein get ready to host the show and save the day. But something goes wrong. Does Einstein have… STAGE FRIGHT? Oh no! Ned and Marlon must find a way to help Einstein and win the game show in Einstein the Class Hamster and the Very Real Game Show. “Jake Tashjian’s manic, kid-scrawled spot illustrations have an energy that matches Einstein’s, and there’s an abundance of humor (generally goofy or gross-out) in both his artwork and in Janet Tashjian’s writing.” –Publishers Weekly “A kinder, gentler Wimpy Kid with all the fun and more plot.” –Kirkus Reviews, starred review,  on ‘My Life as a Book’

Einstein the Class Hamster and the Very Real Game Show

Cynthia Rylant

Sucie Stevenson

Annie is the star of a school play in this Level 2 Ready-to-Read story from the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award-winning creators of Henry and Mudge! Annie is excited for her school play. She gets to be a star and wear a costume that sparkles and shines! Annie practices and practices in front of her cousin, Henry, and his big dog, Mudge, to prepare. But when the big night comes, Annie is nervous and scared. Can Annie’s family and pet bunny, Snowball, help to calm her before the show begins?

Annie and Snowball and the Shining Star

Mercer Mayer

Little Critter has a part in the school play, but when the performance night arrives he is struck with stage fright. Luckily he remembers his lines just in time after hearing his little brother out in the audience. He knows that the next time he’s in a play, it won’t be so hard.

The School Play

Henry Winkler

Lin Oliver

Hank stars the same Hank as in the bestselling Hank Zipzer series, only this time he’s in 2nd grade! Hank is a kid who doesn’t try to be funny, but he somehow always makes the kids in his class laugh. He’s pretty bad at memorizing stuff, and spelling is his worst subject. (But so are math and reading!) In the first book in this new series, Hank’s class is putting on a play, and Hank wants the lead part: Aqua Fly. But he freezes in his audition and can only buzz like a fly. His teacher creates a special part for Hank, a silent bookmark. This may seem like an insignificant role, but when his enemy, Nick McKelty, freezes during the performance, it’s up to Hank to save the play!

Bookmarks Are People Too!

Goodbye, classroom! Hello, summer! But for Troy, Gabriella, Chad, and Taylor, this vacation is no day at the beach; they’re all working at a country club founded by none other than Ryan and Sharpay’s grandfather! And with the club’s annual Midsummer Night’s Musical right around the corner, Sharpay’s competitive instincts are sizzling. If she can manage to win the Star Dazzle Award just one more time, the country club will name it after Sharpay, and it will be hers forever. But this year, Sharpay faces some tough competition-Gabriella! To have any hope of coming out on top, Sharpay knows that she’ll need a secret weapon. She dumps Ryan and starts wooing Troy to be her new partner. Gabriella is less than thrilled that Troy has fallen under Sharpay’s spell. How could he do that to her? Things are heating up on the lawns of high society. Will Troy and Gabriella realize that they’re meant to be? Or is it already too late for them to sing one last song together?

Disney High School Musical: The Junior Novel - #2

Jazz Taylor

A heartwarming story of secret pets and secret crushes… and learning to take center stage!Avery Williams can sing, but that doesn’t mean she can sing in front of people. She likes to stay backstage at her new school, which is where, to her surprise, she finds a cat tucked away into a nook. Avery names the stray Phantom and visits any time she’s feeling stressed (which is a lot these days).As she sings to Phantom one day, her crush, Nic, overhears her and ropes Avery into auditioning for the school’s musical. Despite her nerves, Avery lands the lead role!She knows she should be excited, but mostly Avery is terrified. Can Phantom help her through her stage fright? And what will happen if anyone finds out about her secret pet?

Meow or Never

Tomson Highway

Sue Todd

Timely, Fun, Challenging and Wise!
Tomson Highway’s musical cabaret, The Incredible Adventures of Mary Jane Mosquito, couldn’t be more vividly presented unless you were sitting in the middle seat of the front row watching the Cree playwright, performer, musician and poet himself. The story of a wingless little mosquito from Manitoba has all the whimsy and wise humour any audience could ask for.

The ageless theme of a misfit, who finds her voice through song and who learns to make friends by communicating directly with her audience, is a timely treat for anyone who has felt like an outsider, dealt with bullying, moved to a new place, or was different from the rest of the pack.

The entire script is here, complete with song lyrics, stage directions, Cree vocabulary, and challenging tongue twisters to delight all ages. A perfect book for drama students, teachers, and theatre enthusiasts, this beautiful full-colour volume serves as an interactive read-aloud for the young, or a great way to introduce students to the joys of staging a musical production.

The Incredible Adventures of Mary Jane Mosquito

Kelly Bennett

Noah Z. Jones

Can Norman the amazing goldfish overcome his stage fright? A much-awaited new adventure from the creators of Not Norman. Norman is one amazing goldfish! His owner knows Norman is sure to dazzle the crowd at Pet-O-Rama with his circles, bubbles, and flips–even though some kids don’t think a goldfish is a good pet. But when Norman is finally on stage, he freezes up and hides behind his plant. Poor Norman! Luckily, his owner plays a familiar song on the tuba, helping Norman to relax and show the crowd how amazing he really is. The popular stars of Not Norman return in a warm and wryly funny new story about being there for your fishy friend when he needs you most.

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