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STAGESTRUCK by Tomie dePaola

STAGESTRUCK

by Tomie dePaola & illustrated by Tomie dePaola

Pub Date: Feb. 1st, 2005
ISBN: 0-399-24338-0
Publisher: Putnam

DePaola recounts another anecdote from his childhood in this school story that explores the concept of “stealing the show.” The main character, Tommy, is very interested in dancing and acting, and he hopes to be cast as Peter Rabbit in the class play. When he’s cast instead in a minor role as Mopsy the rabbit sibling, he upstages everyone during the performance, earning lots of laughs and applause, but displeasing his mom and teacher. Tommy has to apologize to his teacher and to the boy who played Peter Rabbit, but he can’t forget the laughter and applause and can’t wait for his next performance opportunity. Teachers putting on classroom plays of their own will find this story useful, both for its thoughtful exploration of appropriate behavior on stage and for a general introduction to the theatrical experience. As in DePaola’s other stories that incorporate his childhood memories, this classroom is a peek back into an earlier time, with boys in knickers and girls in dresses and hair bows, but the emotions of a budding thespian remain the same. (Picture book. 5-8)