GUS AND IZZY COME HOME
Reader's Theater © 2007
by Judy Engell
(ctrl-p to print)
7 READERS: Narrator 1, Narrator 2, Jasmine, Katie, Chris, Mom, Dad
Narrator 1: One sunny morning on the school playground, Jasmine ran very
fast to catch up with her best friend Katie.
Jasmine: Katie, Katie! My little dog had two cute puppies last night! One is
shiny and brown and the other one is brown and black..
Katie: Wow! I really want a puppy. Maybe I could have one!
Narrator 2: At school the next day, Jasmine said sadly,
Jasmine: Sorry Katie. My mom is giving the puppies to her friend.
Katie: Oh, I’m so sad. I have always wanted a shiny little puppy just like
yours.
Narrator 1: Every day at school, Jasmine told Katie many funny stories about
the puppies. One day she said,
Jasmine: Katie, the puppies are so cute and they keep licking my face!
Katie: They licked your face? EEEEW!!!
Jasmine: That just means they’re kissing me.
Narrator 2: Over the next few weeks, Jasmine told Katie all about the fun she
was having with the puppies.
Jasmine: The puppies keep chasing each other around the house like little mice!
Last night, they even chewed on my dad’s shoes!
Narrator 1: Another day she told Katie,
Jasmine: Guess what? Before school today, the dogs tried to climb into the
garbage can, but it tipped over onto them and made a big mess!
Katie: Wow! Having puppies sounds so fun and exciting!
Narrator 2: Every night, Katie dreamed about how much fun it would be to have puppies.
She dreamed of playing with them, petting them, brushing them, walking them,
and even putting cute clothes on them!
Narrator 1: A few weeks later on a Monday morning Jasmine came to school
very excited.
Jasmine: Katie! Good news! My mom’s friend decided not to take the puppies!
Katie: Yipee!! Maybe I can have one after all.
Narrator 2: The next day, Jasmine brought pictures of the two little puppies to
school.
Katie: They’re just as I imagined! The girl is so lovable and huggable with her
big sweet eyes and shiny brown fur. And look at the adorable boy
puppy!
Jasmine: Yeah, he’s a little bigger and he has light brown fur with black on his
nose, paws, and the tip of his tail.
Katie: I love these puppies! I want them both!
Narrator 1: After school, Katie ran all the way home with the pictures tucked
safely in her backpack.
Narrator 2: She couldn’t wait to show them to her family.
Narrator 1: When she got home, she quickly pulled the pictures from her
backpack and showed them to her mother and her brother Chris.
Chris: Wow! These dogs are so cute I can’t take my eyes off these pictures.
Mom: You’re right! These puppies really are cute! But I’m not sure your dad
wants a new dog. We’d better ask him when he gets home.
Chris: Katie, while we wait for dad to get home, let’s think of names for
the puppies. How about Russ, Spot, Max or Superman?
Katie: No! I want the girl puppy. I want a pretty name like Princess, Beauty,
Belle, or Sugarpie.
Narrator 2: Later that night, when their dad finally came home, Katie and Chris
hurried to the door, yanked it open and showed him the pictures of
the puppies.
Katie: Dad, look at these puppies that Jasmine’s dog had. Chris and I really
want a new puppy!
Narrator 1: Their dad looked at the pictures for a long, long, long, time. Finally
with a sad look on his face, he said
Dad: Sorry kids, I just don’t want puppies right now.
Narrator 2: Big, drippy tears began to form in Chris and Katie’s eyes. They put
their heads down and started to walk away.
Narrator 1: All of a sudden…………. their dad laughed and said,
Dad: I’m kidding! I’ve always wanted a little puppy like this. But puppies
are a lot of work so you’ll have to choose just one.
Narrator 2: Chris and Katie were so excited that they did a doggy dance!
Narrator 1: The next day at school Jasmine gave Katie a piece of paper.
Jasmine: Katie, here’s my phone number. Have your mom call so you can
come over to see the puppies!
Narrator 2: After school they quickly did their homework and then,
Chris: Katie, hurry up and eat your dinner so we can go to Jasmine’s house!
Narrator 1: When they arrived at Jasmine’s house Chris scooped up the boy
puppy.
Chris: Oh, he looks so small and scared. EEEW, he licked my face!
Katie: That means he’s kissing you. He must like you a lot.
Narrator 2: Katie picked up the shiny, brown girl puppy and she shook in her
arms. Katie thought the puppy was afraid of her but then,
Katie: Oh, she’s kissing me! She likes me!
Narrator 1: Chris and Katie played with the dogs for a little while. Then,
Mom: Okay kids, now you need to make a choice.
Dad: Which puppy do you want to take home?
Chris: This one! This one!
Katie: NO! I really, really, really want this one!
Narrator 2: The two kids couldn’t agree. They tried to convince their parents
to let them take both puppies home.
Katie: Please, please let us take them both! Brothers and sisters belong
together.
Chris: Look at them. They look so happy together!
Mom: No, it’s really a lot of work to take care of puppies. We’re only
taking one.
Narrator 1: Katie looked over at her little brother. He was so happy cuddling
the little boy puppy. She knew what she should do.
Katie: Okay, mom. We’ll take the boy puppy.
Narrator 2: Chris’s smile was so big that Katie knew she did the right thing.
Narrator 1: When they arrived at home, Chris, Katie and Dad looked on the
computer for dog names.
Chris: How about Austin, Bandit, Cody, Dingo, Elvis, Fido, Gus…?
Katie: That’s it! Gus! I like Gus! It’s a great name!
Chris: Okay. He looks like a Gus to me too! Let’s call him Gus.
Narrator 2: For the next two days, Gus was so lonely and sad.
Narrator 1: He didn’t want to play. He didn’t want to eat. He didn’t want to do
anything.
Narrator 2: He just wandered around the house and whined and cried.
Katie: Mom, I think Gus really misses his sister.
Mom: Why do you think that?
Katie: Well, he looks so sad and he keeps looking everywhere for his sister.
And, even though Chris makes me crazy sometimes, I always miss him
when we aren’t together.
Narrator 1: A few days later when Katie got home from school, her mom
surprised her by saying,
Mom: Katie! Your dad and I agree that brothers and sisters belong together.
Since Gus really misses his sister we’re going to Jasmine’s house to get
the girl puppy!
Narrator 2: Katie was so excited she hopped over to Gus and picked him up.
Katie: Gus, we’re going to get your sister so you can always be together!
Mom, I think he knows what I’m saying because he’s wagging his tail
and licking my face!
Narrator 1: Later that night they brought Gus’s sister home.
Chris: Look! The puppies are so happy that they’re doing a doggy dance!
Now they’re zipping around the house going in and out of every room!
Narrator 2: After a while, the family looked on the computer for girl doggy
names.
Katie: Chris, how about Angel, Belle, Cookie, Dolly, Emily, Fuzzy,
Goldie, Holly, Isabella…?
Chris: Well, Isabella is nice but it’s too long for such a small puppy. How
about Izzy for short?
Katie: I love Izzy!
Narrator: And that’s the story of how Gus and Izzy found a new home together.