Curtain Up!

A Book for Young Performers

Illustrated by France Brassard
Young Amaya is auditioning for a role in a professional play. Although she longs to perform, she is about to learn how much team effort and hard work is involved.

As the reader follows her progress from a nervous hopeful at an audition through the fittings for costumes, the rehearsals, the memory work, and even stage fright, Dirk McLean introduces the many people and jobs involved in staging a play. A glossary provides descriptions of terms like casting, choreography, and blocking. Written by an author with extensive firsthand theater experience, this is a must-have resource for young children who are performers. And for those who only dream of a career on stage, it is entertaining to share Amaya's journey and to feel the thrill of a peek behind the scenes.
Dirk McLean was born in Trinidad and came to Toronto as a teenager. He studied creative writing, as well as speech and drama, and since 1978 has focused his attention on theater. He has published plays and screenplays, a children’s book, Steel Drums and Ice Skates, as well as hosted playwriting workshops in Canada, the Caribbean, and South Africa.

Ras Stone was born in Trinidad and has lived in Toronto since 1974. He is a self-taught artist who paints, designs jewelry, and creates pieces in papier mache. He also designs costumes that have appeared in several Carnivals and have been exhibited at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. View titles by Dirk Mclean
France Brassard was born in Quebec. At a very young age, she received, in a Christmas stocking, a tiny picture book. She was enchanted and thought that it was the most wonderful gift. The magical world of illustration has fascinated her ever since. After pursuing studies in both Interior and Graphic Design, she decided to become a professional illustrator. With more than fifteen years of experience in her chosen field, France has now illustrated numerous children's books. She lives in a little city in the province of Quebec with her adorable five-year-old son, Luke. View titles by France Brassard

About

Young Amaya is auditioning for a role in a professional play. Although she longs to perform, she is about to learn how much team effort and hard work is involved.

As the reader follows her progress from a nervous hopeful at an audition through the fittings for costumes, the rehearsals, the memory work, and even stage fright, Dirk McLean introduces the many people and jobs involved in staging a play. A glossary provides descriptions of terms like casting, choreography, and blocking. Written by an author with extensive firsthand theater experience, this is a must-have resource for young children who are performers. And for those who only dream of a career on stage, it is entertaining to share Amaya's journey and to feel the thrill of a peek behind the scenes.

Author

Dirk McLean was born in Trinidad and came to Toronto as a teenager. He studied creative writing, as well as speech and drama, and since 1978 has focused his attention on theater. He has published plays and screenplays, a children’s book, Steel Drums and Ice Skates, as well as hosted playwriting workshops in Canada, the Caribbean, and South Africa.

Ras Stone was born in Trinidad and has lived in Toronto since 1974. He is a self-taught artist who paints, designs jewelry, and creates pieces in papier mache. He also designs costumes that have appeared in several Carnivals and have been exhibited at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. View titles by Dirk Mclean
France Brassard was born in Quebec. At a very young age, she received, in a Christmas stocking, a tiny picture book. She was enchanted and thought that it was the most wonderful gift. The magical world of illustration has fascinated her ever since. After pursuing studies in both Interior and Graphic Design, she decided to become a professional illustrator. With more than fifteen years of experience in her chosen field, France has now illustrated numerous children's books. She lives in a little city in the province of Quebec with her adorable five-year-old son, Luke. View titles by France Brassard

2024 Elementary School Collection

The Penguin Random House Education Elementary School Collection features outstanding fiction, nonfiction, and picture books from Penguin Young Reader’s, Random House Children’s, DK, and Grupo Editorial, as well as children’s publishers distributed by Penguin Random House. Explore online or download this valuable resource to discover great books in specific topic areas such as: Leveled Readers,

Read more

DK Learning Phonic Books Sampler Request

Thank you for your interest in DK Learning | Phonic Books. To download the DK Learning | Phonic Books sampler with four complete readers, please click here and complete the form. Once your information is successfully submitted, a link to download the sampler will be provided on the confirmation screen.   Click here to learn

Read more

PRH Education Translanguaging Collections

Translanguaging is a communicative practice of bilinguals and multilinguals, that is, it is a practice whereby bilinguals and multilinguals use their entire linguistic repertoire to communicate and make meaning (García, 2009; García, Ibarra Johnson, & Seltzer, 2017)   It is through that lens that we have partnered with teacher educators and bilingual education experts, Drs.

Read more

PRH Education Classroom Libraries

“Books are a students’ passport to entering and actively participating in a global society with the empathy, compassion, and knowledge it takes to become the problem solvers the world needs.” –Laura Robb   Research shows that reading and literacy directly impacts students’ academic success and personal growth. To help promote the importance of daily independent

Read more