Children’s book author Lynn Plourde will read her “Moose, Of Course!” as part of the March 13 performances.

GARDINER – Lynn Plourde, a popular and award-winning Maine author of children’s books, will join the Open Book Players in two performances of her stories at Johnson Hall, 280 Water St.

Plourde will act with the cast of Open Book as well as give a solo performance of one of her stories, “Moose, Of Course!” The shows are at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, March 13. The snow date will be March 20.

Open Book Players, Maine’s only performing readers’ theater group and the resident company of Johnson Hall, uses a technique combining storytelling, oral interpretation and conventional theater. The magic of words and the best of acting methods are emphasized. Lynn Plourde’s stories are wonderfully adapted to this technique.

She has 11 published books, including “Pigs in the Mud in the Middle of the Rud” illustrated by Caldecott-medalist John Schoenherr and selected as a School Library Journal 1997 Best Book and “Wild Child” illustrated by Greg Couch and a 1999 Lupine Honor Book.

Another of her books, “Snow Day,” illustrated by Hideko Takahashi, was awarded the Los Angeles Times’ Best Book of the Year. Her most recent publication, “The First Feud: Between the Mountain and the Sea,” an original Maine fable illustrated by Jim Sollers, will also be included in the program.

Along with Plourde, the cast of “The Magic of Books” will include 25 area performers ranging in age from 7 to over 70. For more information, people can visit www.openbookplayers.org. Johnson Hall’s Web site is www.johnsonhall.org.

All tickets are $7. Proceeds will benefit Johnson Hall Performing Arts Center. Reservations are recommended. Copies of Lynn Plourde’s books will be available for sale before and after each performance, and the author will be available for book signing.

For more information and to make reservations, people can call Johnson Hall at 582-7144.