The Project Gutenberg EBook of Children's Classics in Dramatic Form
by Augusta Stevenson

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Title: Children's Classics in Dramatic Form
Book Two

Author: Augusta Stevenson

Release Date: July 28, 2005 [EBook #16379]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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CHILDREN'S CLASSICS IN DRAMATIC FORM

BOOK TWO

BY AUGUSTA STEVENSON

Formerly a Teacher in the Indianapolis Public Schools

1908

[Illustration]

FOREWORD

This series of books aims to serve three distinct purposes: first, to
arouse a greater interest in oral reading; second, to develop an
expressive voice--sadly lacking in the case of most Americans; and
third, to give freedom and grace in the bodily attitudes and movements
which are involved in reading and speaking. The stories given are for
the most part adaptations of favorite tales from folklore,--Andersen,
Grimm, AEsop, and the Arabian Nights having been freely drawn upon.

Children are dramatic by nature. They _are_ for the time the kings, the
fairies, and the heroes that they picture in their imaginations. They
_are_ these characters with such abandon and with such intense pleasure
that the on-looker must believe that nature intended that they should
give play to this dramatic instinct, not so much formally, with all the
trappings of the man-made stage, but spontaneously and naturally, as
they talk and read. If this expressive instinct can be utilized in the
teaching of reading, we shall be able both to add greatly to the child's
enjoyment and to improve the quality of his oral reading. In these days
when so many books are hastily read in school, there is a tendency to
sacrifice expression to the mechanics and interpretation of reading.
Those acquainted with school work know too well the resulting
monotonous, indistinct speech and the self-conscious, listless attitude
which characterize so much of the reading of pupils in grades above the
third. It is believed that these readers will aid in overcoming these
serious fau