Which Shoes Do You Choose?

By Aaron Shepard
For more readers theater, visit Aaron Shepards RT Pae at
!!!"aaronshep"com#rt
Story copyright 1997 Aaron Shepard. Script copyright 1998, 2002 Aaron Shepard. Scripts in this
series are free and may be copied, shared, and performed for any noncommercial purpose, ecept they may
not be posted online !ithout permission.
"#$%&$'( 'ith so many )inds of shoes at the store, ho! can *atie e+er choose,
-$.#$( /umor, poetry
01231#$( American
3/$4$( 4a)ing choices

#$A5$#S( 12
#$A5$# A-$S( 679
2$.-3/( 8 minutes
#92$S( .arrators 1 : 2, 0ler)s 179, *atie
.93$S( ;or best effect, place .A##A39# 1 at far left, and .A##A39# 2 at far right, as seen from the
audience.
Aaron<s $tras
All special features are at !!!.aaronshep.com=etras.
.A##A39# 1( *atie !as tired of !earing the same old shoes.
.A##A39# 2( She !ent to the store to buy ne! ones.
.A##A39# 1( 3he cler)s as)ed her,
A22 02$#*S( 'hich shoes do you choose,
*A3&$( & !ant shoes that are braggy, not baggy.
A22 02$#*S( (thinking about it) /mmm. 2et me see.
02$#* 1( 'e ha+e small shoes,
02$#* 2( and tall shoes,
02$#* 8( and !al)>on>the>!all shoes.
02$#* ?( 'e ha+e red shoes,
02$#* @( and head shoes,
02$#* 6( and do!n>the>hill>sled shoes.
02$#* 7( 'e ha+e blue shoes,
02$#* 8( and A99 shoes,
02$#* 9( and paddle>canoe shoes.
A22 02$#*S( 'hich shoes do you choose,
*A3&$( & !ant shoes that are slic)y, not stic)y.
A22 02$#*S( /mmm. 2et me see.
02$#* 1( 'e ha+e Bog shoes,
02$#* 2( and log shoes,
02$#* 8( and hop>li)e>a>frog shoes.
02$#* ?( 'e ha+e tied shoes,
02$#* @( and !ide shoes,
02$#* 6( and carni+al>ride shoes.
02$#* 7( 'e ha+e trail shoes,
02$#* 8( and snail shoes,
02$#* 9( and !ind>in>your>sail shoes.
A22 02$#*S( 'hich shoes do you choose,
*A3&$( & !ant shoes that are spiffy, not iffy.
A22 02$#*S( /mmm. 2et me see.
02$#* 1( 'e ha+e blac) shoes,
02$#* 2( and snac) shoes,
02$#* 8( and ride>on>a>trac) shoes.
02$#* ?( 'e ha+e !et shoes,
02$#* @( and pet shoes,
02$#* 6( and super>speed>Bet shoes.
02$#* 7( 'e ha+e moon shoes,
02$#* 8( and goon shoes,
02$#* 9( and hot>air>balloon shoes.
A22 02$#*S( 'hich shoes do you choose,
*A3&$( & choose all these shoes.
A22 02$#*S( (gasp)
.A##A39# 1( She bought the shoes and too) them home.
.A##A39# 2( And no! the store has
A22 02$#*S( (to audience) .9 49#$ S/9$S 39 0/99S$C
$e%p& $i%ary& $e%p&
By Aaron Shepard
Readers Theater 'dition ()*
Adapted for reader<s theater Dor readers theatreE by the author
For more readers theater, visit Aaron Shepards RT Pae at
!!!"aaronshep"com#rt
Story copyright 1997 Aaron Shepard. Script copyright 1998, 2002 Aaron Shepard. Scripts in this
series are free and may be copied, shared, and performed for any noncommercial purpose, ecept they may
not be posted online !ithout permission.
"#$%&$'( /ilary gets the chance to sho! Bust ho! helpful she can be.
-$.#$( 3all tales, humor
01231#$( American
3/$4$( /elpfulness, heroines

#$A5$#S( 12 or more
#$A5$# A-$S( 679
2$.-3/( 8 minutes
#92$S( .arrators 178, 4om, /ilary DfemaleE, Aad -uys 1 : 2, DSerpentE
.93$S( ;or best effect, place .A##A39#S 1 to ? at far left, and @ to 8 at far right, as seen from the
audience.
Aaron<s $tras
All special features are at !!!.aaronshep.com=etras.
494( /ilaryC
.A##A39# 1( Fsaid her mom.
494( 0an<t you be more of a help,
/&2A#G( & !as trying!
.A##A39# 8( Fsaid /ilary.
.A##A39# 2( She !ent to her room and slammed the door. She played !ith her toys.
494( (offstage) /elpC /ilaryC /elpC
.A##A39# 7( &t !as her momC
/&2A#G( (yelling) &<m coming.
.A##A39# 8( 3!o bad guys !ere carrying her mom a!ayC
.A##A39# 6( /ilary ran after them do!n the street.
AA5 -1G 1( 2oo) outC
.A##A39# ?( Fsaid one.
AA5 -1G 1( 3hat )id is chasing usC
AA5 -1G 2( 2et<s get out of here fast.
.A##A39# @( Fsaid the other.
.A##A39# 1( 3hey stuffed her mom in a car and dro+e off.
494( /elpC /ilaryC /elpC
.A##A39# 8( /ilary got in another car and raced after them.
.A##A39# 2( 3hey stopped at an airport and headed for a plane.
.A##A39# 7( /ilary !as right behind them.
/&2A#G( (yelling) 5rop my momC #&-/3 .9'C
.A##A39# 8( 3he bad guys dropped her mom and ran off.
.A##A39# 6( Aut something s!ooped do!n. A giant birdC
.A##A39# ?( &t pic)ed up her mom and fle! a!ayC
494( /elpC /ilaryC /elpC
.A##A39# @( /ilary got in the plane and too) off after the bird.
.A##A39# 1( She fle! right abo+e it and climbed do!n a rope.
.A##A39# 8( Aut the bird dropped her momC
494( /elpC /ilaryC /elpC
.A##A39# 2( /ilary got bac) in the plane and fle! a loop>de>loop>de>loop.
.A##A39# 7( /er mom landed on top.
/&2A#G( (yelling) /old onC
.A##A39# 8( Aut the !ind ble! her offC
494( /elpC /ilaryC />e>l>l>l>l>pC
.A##A39# 6( /ilary Bumped from the plane.
.A##A39# ?( 3hey landed in a ri+er.
494( SPLASH!
/&2A#G( SPLASH!
.A##A39# @( Aut a !aterfall !as Bust aheadC
494( /elpC Blub. /ilaryC Blub. /elpC
.A##A39# 1( /ilary grabbed her mom in time and started for shore.
.A##A39# 8( Aut a giant serpent rose from the !ater.
.A##A39# 2( &t opened its mouthC
494( /elpC /ilaryC $$$$$$$$$$*C
.A##A39# 7( 3he serpent s!allo!ed themC
.A##A39# 8( 9n the !ay do!n, /ilary tic)led its throat.
.A##A39# 6( 3he serpent coughed, and they fle! through the air.
.A##A39# ?( 3hey passed o+er the to!n.
.A##A39# @( 3hey landed in their o!n bac)yard.
494( /ilaryC Gou<re such a great big /$2"C
Who Was +in
CHARACTERS (5) NARRATOR 1 NARRATOR 2 WHALE
ELEPHANT RABBIT
N 1: A BIG WHALE LIVED IN THE WATER. HE WAS A VERY BIG WHALE.
He said
WHALE: I A THE BIGGEST WHALE IN THE WATER. I A THE BIGGEST
WHALE IN THE WORLD. I A !ING O" ALL THE WORLD
N 1: ONE DAY THE WHALE LOO!ED O#T O" THE WATER. HE SAW A BIG
ELEPHANT. THE WHALE LOO!ED AT THE ELEPHANT. HE LOO!ED
AT THE ELEPHANT$S BIG HEAD. HE LOO!ED AT THE ELEPHANT$S
BIG "EET.
WHALE: WHO ARE YO#%
ELEPHANT: I A THE BIGGEST ELEPHANT IN THE WORLD. I A THE !ING O"
THE WORLD&
WHALE: NO' NO& YO# ARE NOT THE !ING O" THE WORLD. I A THE !ING O"
THE WORLD&
N 1: A LITTLE RABBIT LIVED IN THE WOODS. HE HEARD WHAT THE
WHALE SAID. HE ALSO HEARD WHAT THE ELEPHANT SAID. THE
RABBIT SAID:
RABBIT: THE ELEPHANT IS THE !ING O" ALL THE WORLD% THE WHALE IS
THE !ING O" ALL THE WORLD% I WILL "IND O#T WHO IS !ING
O"
THE WORLD.
N 2: THE NE(T DAY THE RABBIT SAID:
RABBIT: I WILL SEE )#ST WHO IS !ING.
N 1: HE RAN TO THE WATER WITH A BIG ROPE.
RABBIT: WILL YO# HELP E% Y COW "ELL INTO THE #D. I CANNOT
P#LL
HER O#T.
N 2: HE CALLED TO THE WHALE.
N 1: THE WHALE SAID:
WHALE: I A THE BIGGEST WHALE IN THE WORLD. I A THE !ING O" THE
WORLD& I CAN P#LL YO#R COW O#T O" THE #D.
N 2: THE LITTLE RABBIT SAID:
RABBIT: COE HERE . . . I WILL TIE ONE END O" THE ROPE TO YO#R
TAIL.
I WILL TIE THE OTHER END O" THE ROPE TO Y COW. YO# P#LL
THE ROPE WHEN YO# HEAR Y DR#.
NA 1: AWAY RAN THE LITTLE RABBIT TO GET HIS DR#.
N 2: THE LITTLE RABBIT RAN TO THE ELEPHANT.
RABBIT: WILL YO# HELP E% Y COW "ELL INTO THE #D. I CANNOT P#LL
HER O#T.
ELEPHANT: I A THE BIGGEST ELEPHANT IN THE WORLD. I A THE !ING O"
THE WORLD& I CAN P#LL YO#R COW O#T O" THE #D.
NA 1: SAID THE ELEPHANT.
N 2: THE LITTLE RABBIT SAID:
RABBIT: I WILL TIE ONE END O" THE ROPE TO YO#R HEAD. I WILL TIE
THE
OTHER END O" THE ROPE TO Y COW. YO# P#LL THE ROPE WHEN
YO# HEAR Y DR#.
N1: AWAY RAN THE RABBIT.
N 2: THE ELEPHANT HEARD THE DR#: HE P#LLED AND P#LLED THE
ROPE.
N 1: THE WHALE HEARD THE DR#. HE P#LLED AND P#LLED THE ROPE.
N 2: THE WHALE P#T HIS TAIL DOWN INTO THE WATER. HE P#LLED
AND P#LLED.
NR 1: THE ELEPHANT P#T HIS HEAD DOWN. HE P#LLED AND P#LLED.
WHALE: WHAT A BIG COW&
N2: SAID THE WHALE. HE P#LLED AND P#LLED.
ELEPHANT: WHAT A BIG COW&
N1: SAID THE ELEPHANT. HE P#LLED AND P#LLED.
NARRATOR 2: THE BIG ROPE BRO!E. OVER "ELL THE ELEPHANT ON SOE
LITTLE TREES. DOWN WENT THE WHALE INTO THE WATER
.
NARRATOR 1: THE LITTLE RABBIT RAN AWAY. HE DID NOT "IND O#T WHO
WAS THE !ING O" THE WORLD. DO YO# !NOW%
The +in,s Wish
PARTS: (2) STAR 1 NEEDS TO BE A GIRL
STAR 2 NEEDS TO BE A BOY
READERS A!E OTIONS WHILE READING LI!E WAL!ING' CARRYING PAIL.
STAR 1: DO YO# !NOW WHO H#PTY D#PTY IS%
STAR 2: I GIVE #P' WHO IS HE%
STAR 1: HE$S AN EGG& YO# !NOW . . . *H#PTY D#PTY SAT ON A
WALL'
H#PTY D#PTY HAD A GREAT "ALL.*
STAR 2: NO WONDER HE "ELL. ANYDODY !NOWS AN EGG CAN$T SIT ON A
WALL WITHO#T "ALLING O"".
STAR 1: ALL THE !ING$S HORSES AND ALL THE !ING$S EN CO#LDN$T
P#T
H#PTY T+GETHER AGAIN.
STAR 2: IT$S NO WONDER. WHY BOTHER P#TTING AN EGG BAC! TOGETHER
AGAIN ANYWAY% )#ST A!E SCRABLED EGGS O#T O" HI&
STAR 1: #GH& HOW ABO#T THE LITTLE OLD WOAN WHO LIVED IN A SHOE%
STAR 2: WHAT ABO#T HER% DID SHE !NOW H#PTY D#PTY%
STAR 1: NO' NO. SHE HAD SO ANY CHILDREN SHE DIDN$T !NOW WHAT TO
DO.
STAR 2: I CAN #NDERSTAND WHY. HOW CO#LD ALL THOSE CHILDREN
SLEEP IN A SHOE%
STAR 1: (HESITATES' LOO!S "#NNY AT STAR 2) WHAT$S THE ATTER'
DON$T YO# LI!E N#RSERY RHYES%
STAR 2: NO. NONE O" THE A!E ANY SENSE TO E.
STAR 1: OH' WELL. LET$S GET GOING THEN' )AC!. WE NEED TO GET THAT
WATER.
STAR 2: O!' )ILL' B#T THIS IS THE LAST TIE I$ GOING TO GO #P
THIS
HILL. (PIC!S #P PAIL) (THEY WAL! O"" HAND IN HAND)
3ac)y the "enguin by /elen 2ester
.arrator 1( 3here once li+ed a penguin.
.arrator 2( /is home !as a nice icy land he shared !ith his companions.
.arrator 8( /is companions !ere named -oodly, 2o+ely, Angel, .eatly, and "erfect.
.arrator ?( 3he penguinHs name !as 3ac)y. 3ac)y !as an odd bird.
.arrator @( $+ery day -oodly, 2o+ely, Angel, .eatly, and "erfect greeted each other
politely.
-oodly( /iC
2o+ely( /iC
Angel( /iC
.eatly( /iC
"erfect( /iC
.arrator 1( 3ac)y greeted them !ith a hearty slap and a loud
3ac)y( '/A3HS /A""$.&.-,C,C,C
.arrator 2( -oodly, 2o+ely, .eatly, Angel, and "erfect al!ays marched
-oodly( 1>2>8>?
2o+ely( 1>2>8>?
.eatly( 1>2>8>?
Angel( 1>2>8>?
"erfect( 1>2>8>?
.arrator 8( 3ac)y al!ays marched 1>2>8 ?>2 8>6>0 2 I 0.
.arrator ?( /is companions !ere graceful di+ers.
.arrator @( 3ac)y li)ed to do splashy cannonballs.
.arrator 1( -oodly, 2o+ely, Angel, .eatly and "erfect al!ays sang songs li)e JSunrise
on the &ceberg.J
.arrator 2( 3ac)y al!ays sang songs li)e J/o! 4any 3oes 5oes a ;ish /a+e,J 3ac)y
!as an odd birdC
.arrator 8( 9ne day the penguins heard the thump, thump, thump of feet in the distance.
.arrator ?( 3his could only mean one thing.
.arrator @( /unterHs had comeC
.arrator 1( 3hey came !ith maps and traps and roc)s and loc)s, and they !ere rough and
tough.
.arrator 2( As the thump...thump...thump dre! closer, the penguins could hear gro!ly
+oices chanting,
/unter 1( 'eHre gonna catch some pretty penguins,
/unter 2( And !eHll march them !ith a s!itch,
/unter 8( And !eHll sell them for a dollar,
/unter ?( And get rich, rich, #&0/C
.arrator 8( -oodly, 2o+ely, Angel, .eatly, and "erfect ran a!ay in fright.
.arrator ?( 3hey hid behind a bloc) of ice.
.arrator @( 3ac)y stood alone.
.arrator 1( 3he hunters marched right up to him, chanting,
/unter 1( 'eHre gonna catch some pretty penguins,
/unter 2( And !eHll march them !ith a s!itch,
/unter 8( And !eHll sell them for a dollar,
/unter ?( And get rich, rich, #&0/C
3ac)y( 'hatHs happening,
A22 /unters( 'e are hunting for penguins. 3hat is !hatHs happening.J
3ac)y( "$.-1&.S, 5o you mean those birds that march neatly in a ro!,
1>28 ?>2 8>6>0 2 I 0
.arrator 2( 3he hunters loo)ed puKKled.
3ac)y( 5o you mean those birds that di+e so gracefully,
.arrator 8( And he did a splashy cannonball. 3he hunters loo)ed !et.
3ac)y( 5o you mean those birds that sing such pretty songs,
.arrator ?( 3ac)y began to sing and from behind the bloc) of ice came the +oices of his
companions, all singing as loudly and dreadfully as they could.
-oodly( /o! many toes does a fish ha+e,
2o+ely( And ho! many !ings on a co!,
Angel( & !onder, yup
.eatly( & !onderC
.arrator @( 3he hunters could not stand the horrible singing.
.arrator 1( 3his could not be the land of the pretty penguins.
.arrator 2( 3hey ran a!ay !ith their hands clasped tightly o+er their ears,
.arrator 8( lea+ing behind and traps and roc)s and loc)s,
.arrator ?( and not loo)ing at all rough and tough.
.arrator @( -oodly, 2o+ely, Angel, .eatly, and "erfect hugged 3ac)y. 3ac)y !as an odd
bird but a +ery nice bird to ha+e around.
The -aic Carpet Ride
CHARACTERS (2): STAR 1' STAR 2
SETTING: TWO CHILDREN ARE PLAYING IN A "IELD. THEY "IND A DIRTY
OLD
CARPET.
STAR 1: HEY' LOO! AT THIS.
STAR 2: HELP E SHA!E THE DIRT O"".
STAR 1: DID YO# "EEL THAT%
STAR 2: YEAH. THIS THING IS ALIVE& LET$S GET O#T O" HERE&
STAR 1: NO' WAIT. AYBE THIS IS A AGIC CARPET.
STAR 2: WELL' THERE$S ONLY ONE WAY TO "IND O#T. HOP ON&
STAR 1: IT$S OVING& WE$RE GOING #P&
STAR 2: WOW& THIS IS GREAT. WHAT A RIDE&
STAR 1: LOO! DOWN THERE. (POINTING) I CAN SEE Y HO#SE' AND O#R
SCHOOL.
STAR 2: S#RE' AND LOO! AT ALL THOSE CARS ON THE "REEWAY&
(A!E #P AT LEAST TWO ORE THINGS THAT YO# SEE AS YO# "LY.)
STAR 1: #H' OH& WE$RE GOING DOWN.
STAR 2: WE$RE HEADING BAC! TO THE "IELD. (B#P TO A LANDING AND
GET O"".)
STAR 1: HEY' IT DISAPPEARED& (POINTING AT CARPET) DID YO#
SEE
THAT%
STAR 2: BOY' IT #ST HAVE BEEN AGIC&
STAR 1: WAIT TILL WE TELL THE OTHER !IDS&
STAR 2: I DON$T THIN! THEY$LL BELIEVE #S.
STAR 1: YEAH' YO#$RE RIGHT. SO WE$LL )#ST !EEP THIS AS O#R
LITTLE
SECRET.
(WAL! O"" WITH ARS ARO#ND EACH OTHER$S SHO#LDERS.)