On December 16th, the third graders at Central Elementary School brought two very dear pieces of classic literature to life through drama and music. Teachers acted as narrators and read the stories aloud. The three classes worked together to dramatize the books, as songs and choral recitations were interspersed throughout. They began with an exciting rendition of “In the Pages Of a Book” by Theresa Jennings. Next, they acted out Caps For Sale: A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Business by Esphyr Slobodkina. As student actors performed, student musicians used drums and xylophones to create a dramatic effect. Published in 1938, the story tells of a peddler who must outsmart some monkey thieves to recover the caps he is offering for sale. Following this act was the beloved Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. Student “wild things” encircled “Max” as he dreamt of a faraway land and then wished he could be home where someone loved him. Again, student musicians accompanied the drama. The program culminated with several holiday selections including “Happy Holidays” by Obe VanderTol and a traditional “Jingle Bells.”

Submitted by Janet Frazier, Central Elementary School