See-More's Workshop (SMWS) was created in 1992 in response to New York City teachers, parents, and children requesting to bring stories and songs based on Shadow Box Theatre productions into their homes and classrooms. The publishing arm added the "reading, writing and listening" philosophy of Whole Language Education to our impressive list of services. See-More books, companion audio CDs, show CDs and DVDs bring the excitement of theatre into the excitement of reading.

Read-Aloud Storybooks
& Companion Read-Along/Move-Along Audio Tapes

SMWS storybooks and tapes are:

• designed to stimulate children's creativity
• written to be read-aloud dramatically, bringing "the stage to the page."

The "Read-Along" side of the companion audio CD uses SBT's songs and music as background for the word-for-word reading of the story. The unique "Move-Along" side incorporates the songs, music, and drama of the production, encouraging children to "move along" creatively -- dancing, singing and acting out the story.

"A range of excellent folktales...These very well produced titles will be enjoyed by both children and adults." - Booklist (American Library Assn.)

SMWS also publishes complete audio soundtracks and new DVDs
of several of our mainstage productions.

The audio or video presents a great way to remember every bit of the music and story of the show.

For children who have not seen the performance, these CDs and DVDs evoke all the atmosphere,
music and fun of the show -- while allowing children to enjoy them over and over again as young children love to do.

Recommended Age Range

• The materials are intended for reading aloud, a wonderful interactive activity between teacher and student, or parent and child. Children as young as two can enjoy this activity.
• For beginning readers, the child can follow the story while listening to the CD. The CD includes a special sound when it is time to turn the page.
• As they develop more confidence in reading, children will enjoy our books up until about age 8 or 9.
• Kindergarten teachers say that the story CDs are ideal for listening to during rest time. Parents tell us how listening to our recordings has made traveling with their children in the car a pleasure.

If you would like to see how See-More Books and audio go hand-in-hand with SBT's Storybook Theatre & Creative Arts Workshops just click here.

See-More's Workshop: SBT's Storybook Theatre & Creative Arts Workshops

• 

  SMWS illustrated storybooks and accompanying CDs are the basis for Shadow Box Theatre's mini-musical storytelling performances (Storybook Theatre) and in-class creative arts workshops.

• We have found that these multicultural folk tales and holiday stories provide an excellent basis for literacy-through-the-arts student workshops.
• Because the books are based on SBT's mainstage musical puppet productions, they are easily dramatized for classroom use.
• When our performers come to a school to present a Storybook Theatre performance, they can instantly tell whether the audience has been exposed to the stories in advance, by the children's immediate and enthusiastic response as soon as they recognize a story they have studied!

Teacher/Parent Guides

SMWS also publishes Teacher's Guides, prepared by experienced educators, for every mainstage (shadow puppet) production. NEW guides are available for teachers who buy one of our books at our shows. They can also be purchased separately.

Kids (and adults!) get a kick out of buying SMWS's T-Shirts and other products as lasting mementos of their Shadow Box Theatre experience.

Use Our Books and CDs Creatively:

These materials are often used in novel and creative ways to enrich the lives of various populations.
For example, Vita Community Services, a Canadian organization, presented a dramatized version of The Growing Rock book.
It was acted out by their developmentally-disabled adult clients -- in costume and using props they made -- with our companion tape providing the soundtrack.

Their drama instructor wrote in gratitude: "Many of my clients know your story by heart. The energy and hard work put in by all of them made the play a wonderful success. We received a standing ovation and The Growing Rock reached the goal you have at Shadow Box Theatre -- the lives of all of us are deeply touched and enriched with this unforgettable experience."