Jump into adventure and ignite imagination as picture books come to life in this drama-focused story time! In this interactive play-based program, young learners deepen early literacy skills while exploring magical worlds, problem-solving plot points, and becoming characters in connection with an age-appropriate picture book. Let’s Play! Programming can travel to early learning sites and community centers.

Find Let’s Play! Drama Storytime on:

Thursdays 9:30 - 10:00 AM at The Yard Off Main

Select Fridays 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM at Mesa Public Libraries, see the library events calendar for specific locations.

This in-school residency program uses a series of techniques from a student-centered process called Creative Drama to promote literacy skills in young learners. Each session introduces a new discovery box filled with a picture book and objects to guide story exploration. Students deepen their understanding of stories by becoming characters, exploring major plot points, and imagining themselves within the story. Young learners also explore important SEL skills such as emotion-tracking, empathy, and confidence.

Page to Stage engages youth in a play production process to activate learning in key literacy concepts such as: comprehension, recall, story sequence and theme. A school curriculum-aligned book provides the inspiration for a script students create and perform with the assistance of a teaching artist. Additionally, students are involved in technical aspects of the play-making process by creating costumes, props and scenic elements for the performance. Key social emotional learnings such as self-confidence, taking calculated risks and empathy for others are promoted and practiced throughout this ensemble-building, community-based approach to learning. Page to Stage can be implemented as an in-school residency, afterschool theatre club or summer program.