International Children's Book Day Assembly or Class Play

International Children's Book Day Assembly or Class Play
This script was written in celebration of International Children's Book Day April 2nd 2017 including characters from Horrid Henry, Peter Pan, The Gruffalo, Charlotte's Web, Captain Underpants, Matilda, The Tales of Narnia, Alice in Wonderland and The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
NB This is the same script as World Book Day Assembly but adapted to International Children's Book Day.
Cast of 30 (easily adapted up or down)
Duration: Around 20 minutes not including music suggestions
Sample Text:
Narrator: Thank you! Of course there is so much to celebrate in the world of literature! All those wonderful inspirational characters!
(Enter Horrid Henry, scowling)
Horrid Henry: Dah! I suppose you’ve got a whole line up of squeaky clean characters for us today? Just got one word to say to that – BORING!
Narrator: And you are? (Pauses) Oh, don’t tell me – Horrid Henry!
(Aside to Audience) A shame he had to start us off today! Definitely not one of our more likeable characters!
(To Henry) Now, if you don’t mind, I do have a lot of other, shall we say ‘more wholesome characters’ to introduce!
Horrid Henry: (Scowling) Please yourself!
(Exit Horrid Henry, giving exaggerated ‘yawns’)
Narrator: (To Audience) Oh dear! Sorry about that! Let’s see if we can ‘raise the bar’ a little!
(Peter Pan ‘flies’ onto the stage)
Narrator: Ah! Peter Pan! How nice to meet you!
Peter Pan: The pleasure is all mine!
(Enter Wendy and Tinkerbell)
Peter Pan: I’d like you to meet
Wendy: (Curtseying) Wendy (looking at Peter Pan adoringly) Darling!
Tinkerbell: (Trying to ‘swoosh’ Wendy out of the way) And Peter’s favourite, Tinkerbell!
Peter Pan: (Laughing) Now, now Tinkerbell! We have spoken about that jealousy thing!
(Tinkerbell pulls a face, sulking)
Wendy: Oh but she’s so adorable! You can’t be cross with her for long!
(Enter Horrid Henry)
Horrid Henry: What was I saying about those yukky sugary-sweet characters? Time to introduce some more interesting ones!
(Horrid Henry beckons to Captain Cook and Crocodile)
(Enter Captain Cook and Crocodile, snapping at Narrator’s heels)
Narrator: (Angrily) Who let this beast on here? (Glaring at Horrid Henry) Oh I might have known you’d be up to no good!