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#1129. reader's theatre Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester

4 Blocks, level: 3-5
Posted Fri Jun 25 20:41:59 PDT 1999 by deb (d-smith@cybersol.com).
coloma elementary, south haven, MI USA
Concepts Taught: reader's theatre, reading, 4 blocks

Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester

Narrator 1: There once lived a penguin.

Narrator 2: His home was a nice icy land he shared with his companions.

Narrator 3: His companions were named Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, and Perfect.

Narrator 4: The penguin's name was Tacky. Tacky was an odd bird.

Narrator 5: Every day Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, and Perfect greeted each other politely.

Goodly: Hi!

Lovely: Hi!

Angel: Hi!

Neatly: Hi!

Perfect: Hi!

Narrator 1: Tacky greeted them with a hearty slap and a loud

Tacky: WHAT'S HAPPENING?!?!?!

Narrator 2: Goodly, Lovely, Neatly, Angel, and Perfect always marched

Goodly: 1-2-3-4

Lovely: 1-2-3-4

Neatly: 1-2-3-4

Angel: 1-2-3-4

Perfect: 1-2-3-4

Narrator 3: Tacky always marched 1-2-3 4-2 3-6-0 2 ½ 0.

Narrator 4: His companions were graceful divers.

Narrator 5: Tacky liked to do splashy cannonballs.

Narrator 1: Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly and Perfect always sang songs like "Sunrise on the Iceberg."

Narrator 2: Tacky always sang songs like "How Many Toes Does a Fish Have?" Tacky was an odd bird!

Narrator 3: One day the penguins heard the thump, thump, thump of feet in the distance.

Narrator 4: This could only mean one thing.

Narrator 5: Hunter's had come!

Narrator 1: They came with maps and traps and rocks and locks, and they were rough and tough.

Narrator 2: As the thump...thump...thump drew closer, the penguins could hear growly voices chanting,

Hunter 1: We're gonna catch some pretty penguins,

Hunter 2: And we'll march them with a switch,

Hunter 3: And we'll sell them for a dollar,

Hunter 4: And get rich, rich, RICH!

Narrator 3: Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, and Perfect ran away in fright.

Narrator 4: They hid behind a block of ice.

Narrator 5: Tacky stood alone.

Narrator 1: The hunters marched right up to him, chanting,

Hunter 1: We're gonna catch some pretty penguins,

Hunter 2: And we'll march them with a switch,

Hunter 3: And we'll sell them for a dollar,

Hunter 4: And get rich, rich, RICH!

Tacky: What's happening?

ALL Hunters: We are hunting for penguins. That is what's happening."

Tacky: PENGUINS? Do you mean those birds that march neatly in a row?

1-23 4-2 3-6-0 2 ½ 0

Narrator 2: The hunters looked puzzled.

Tacky: Do you mean those birds that dive so gracefully?

Narrator 3: And he did a splashy cannonball. The hunters looked wet.

Tacky: Do you mean those birds that sing such pretty songs?

Narrator 4: Tacky began to sing and from behind the block of ice came the voices of his companions, all singing as loudly and dreadfully as they could.

Goodly: How many toes does a fish have?

Lovely: And how many wings on a cow?

Angel: I wonder, yup

Neatly: I wonder!

Narrator 5: The hunters could not stand the horrible singing.

Narrator 1: This could not be the land of the pretty penguins.

Narrator 2: They ran away with their hands clasped tightly over their ears,

Narrator 3: leaving behind and traps and rocks and locks,

Narrator 4: and not looking at all rough and tough.

Narrator 5: Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, and Perfect hugged Tacky. Tacky was an odd bird but a very nice bird to have around.