Step Into Salsoria
Welcome to Salsoria, where castles sparkle, dragons adore tacos, and even the best-laid fairy-tale plans can go hilariously wrong! When a celebration, an uninvited fairy, and a very long nap turn one princess’s world upside down, children discover that the greatest gifts aren’t found in a castle—they’re the qualities we carry within ourselves.
Bringing Salsoria to Life?
Start with the Reader Guide!
Everything you need to move from the classic tale to dramatic play, the Salsoria adventure, Head–Heart–Hands conversations, and hands-on activities—all in one printable guide.
Get Ready for the Adventure
Take a look around your classroom or playroom—you may already have everything you need to begin the adventure! Before visiting Salsoria, read a traditional version of Sleeping Beauty that is appropriate for the age of your group. Then give the children time to explore the story through pretend play. They might build a castle, become princes and princesses, wave imaginary magic wands, pretend to be fairies, or even become a dragon guarding the kingdom. There is no right way to play—let their imaginations lead the adventure.
“When everyone is ready, it's time to leave the traditional tale behind and step into Salsoria!”
Live the Story
Before you begin reading, invite the children into the Kingdom of Salsoria with a little imagination, a little ceremony, and a whole lot of magic!
Become the Royal Herald
The reader gets to join the adventure, too! Put on a cape, a crown or fancy hat, and become the Royal Herald of Salsoria. The Herald’s job is to welcome each guest into the kingdom and announce the beginning of the royal celebration. For extra flair, speak in your very best royal voice!
Print the Royal Proclamation
Become the Royal Herald
The reader gets to join the adventure, too! Put on a cape and your finest Royal Herald hat—the bigger the feather, the better! Take up the Royal Scroll and prepare to welcome each guest into the Kingdom of Salsoria. A grand voice and a little dramatic flair are highly encouraged.
Want to Go All Out? Make a Royal Herald Hat!
Turn a little cardboard and fabric into a fabulously dramatic Royal Herald hat! Cut a large circle from cardboard for the brim, then cut a smaller circle from the center to fit comfortably around your head. Cover the brim with fabric. Attach a larger circle of fabric over the opening, leaving plenty of extra fabric so the top can puff up. Add ribbon or trim if you wish—and, of course, finish it with a BIG feather sticking proudly out of the side! It doesn’t need to be perfect—it just needs to be dramatic! Then it's time to Enter the Kingdom of Salsoria.
Enter the Kingdom of Salsoria
Have the children gather just outside the reading area with their magic wands. The Royal Herald unrolls the scroll and reads the Royal Proclamation of Salsoria. Then, one at a time, welcome each child into the kingdom: “Hear ye! Hear ye! The Kingdom of Salsoria welcomes a very special guest! What magical gift do you bring to our kingdom? ” Children who wish to answer can name the special gift they chose for their wand. Children who would rather not speak can simply raise their wand as the Herald welcomes them. Once every guest has entered Salsoria, announce: “By royal proclamation, all our guests have arrived. Let the celebration begin! ” Then everyone settles into the reading area and the story begins.
While You Read
Keep the story moving and let the children enjoy the adventure. Pause only at a few natural moments to wonder together, make predictions, or notice something important. The goal is for the children to feel as though they are experiencing the story—not stopping to answer questions about it.
Watch for the Gifts
As each fairy gives the princess a special gift, encourage the children to listen carefully. What gift did the fairy choose? What might that gift look like in everyday life? There is no need to discuss every gift as it appears—simply help the children notice that the fairies are giving the princess qualities she can carry with her throughout her life. After the story, the children will have a chance to think about these gifts again—and add some very special ones to the Royal Scroll of Gifts.
After the Story
The story may be over, but the adventure isn't! Take a few minutes to help children think about what they learned, how the story made them feel, and what they can do with what they discovered.
🧠 Head — What Did We Discover?
- What special gifts did the fairies give the princess?
- Why do you think the fairies chose those gifts?
- Which gifts can we actually see in the way someone acts?
- What did you discover about what makes someone truly special?
❤️ Heart — What Did We Feel?
- How do you think the princess felt when she learned about all the gifts she had been given?
- Which gift would you most like to give to someone else? Why?
- How does it feel when someone notices something special about you?
- Can someone have wonderful qualities that we don't notice right away?
🙌 Hands — What Can We Do?
- How can we use kindness to make someone else's day better?
- What is one special gift or quality you can share with others?
- How can we help someone else recognize a wonderful quality in themselves?
- What can we do this week to make our classroom, home, or community a little more like the best parts of Salsoria?
📜 The Royal Scroll of Gifts — See the Magic in Others
The Royal Scroll has one more job! After the story, unroll the extra bulletin-board paper beneath the Royal Proclamation. Invite the children to think about the special gifts and qualities they notice in one another—kindness, courage, creativity, helpfulness, patience, humor, friendship, or something uniquely their own. Add each child's name to the scroll along with at least one special gift others see in them. Make sure every child is included. When the scroll is complete, hang it where everyone can see it as a reminder that you don't need a fairy or a magic wand to have wonderful gifts—you just need someone to take the time to notice them.
🌮 Design a Taco Fit for Salsoria
In Salsoria, no two perfect tacos have to be alike! Give each child a blank taco and let them create a taco worthy of a royal feast. They can add traditional taco fillings—or invent completely ridiculous ones. Strawberries? Macaroni and cheese? Pickles? Marshmallows? Princess-approved hot peppers? Anything goes! When everyone is finished, invite the children to name their tacos and tell the group what is inside.
🌮 Open the Salsoria Taco Café!
Turn your dramatic-play area into the Tacos Happily Ever After Café—Salsoria's favorite place for a royal feast! Add play food, paper plates, aprons, notepads, pretend money, and other materials you already have. Children can take turns being chefs, servers, and customers as they create meals, take orders, and serve up a royal feast. Choose one of the two menu options below—the simple picture menu for younger children or the create-your-own menu for children ready for more writing and number play. Then open the café and let their imaginations take over!
🏰 Build It Strong — The Salsoria Castle Challenge
Every great castle starts with a strong foundation! Give children blocks, cups, cardboard tubes, boxes, or other building materials and challenge them to build a castle as tall as they can. Before they begin building upward, encourage them to think about what needs to happen at the bottom. What kind of base will keep their castle standing? Let them build, test, tumble, and try again. If the castle falls, that's part of the challenge! Ask, “What could you change about your foundation to make your castle stronger?” Then let them rebuild and see what happens.
The strongest things we build begin with a strong foundation.
🎒 Take the Magic Home
The magic of Salsoria doesn't have to stay in the classroom! Send home A Little Salsoria Magic, a simple family activity that invites children to notice the wonderful gifts and qualities in the people around them. Families can use it anytime—or make it a special Taco Tuesday dinner conversation! No tacos required—.but they certainly make it more fun.
Print the Family Note