Puppets & Puppetry Books

Sock and Glove: Creating Charming Softy Friends from Cast-Off Socks and Gloves

Miyako Kanamori

Amazon Price: $9.90 List Price: $12.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: HP Trade Amazon Marketplace: 56 new & used starting at $6.90

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Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Stuffed Animals

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 29 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

very easy, very cute 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Martha Stewart featured this book on her show a month or so ago (summer 2008) and she and some celebrity made a dog and a bunny. They're funky little animals and look very easy to make. For how-to purposes, you probably don't need the book, just the idea...but the book is good inspiration and the thinking and planning is done for you. The book is fun to look at and would make a good kid's book too. I'm thinking an argyle sock would make a great sweater for one of these little stuffed friends to wear!

Editorial Review:

Easy to make...easy to love!

Sock and Glove presents thirteen delightful softy projects that are quick to make-and certain to amuse and delight. Full of individuality and mischief, these stuffed creations are all pieced together from ordinary socks, gloves, and mittens. Step-by-step illustrations and instructions make it easy to craft and dress a whole menagerie, including monkeys, elephants, piglets, bunnies, and even an insouciant fish.

Endearing to adults and children alike, these whimsical creatures make perfect gifts and inspiring companions.

Puppet Planet: The Most Amazing Puppet-Making Book in the Universe

John Kennedy

Amazon Price: $11.55 List Price: $16.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: North Light Books Amazon Marketplace: 15 new & used starting at $3.25

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Let the Puppet making begin! 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

John Kennedy has really out done himsef with this book. There is an overwhelming wealth of ideas and techniques included. Not to mention step-by-step detailed instructions and colorful photos to walk you through it. This book would be great for a budding puppeteer, teacher,or anyone interested in arts and crafts. Of all the puppet books I have viewed, this one would be in my top 5 to recommend.

Editorial Review:

From the author of the immensely popular Puppet Mania comes a new book with even more innovative projects and puppeteering secrets. John Kennedy’s Puppet Planet:

-Shares twelve new puppet projects, each using a variety of techniques, many of which have never been presented in a book before

-Features "action panels" so readers can see how each puppet comes to life

-Includes staging ideas to play up each project’s uniqueness

-Builds on the author’s experience working for the Jim Henson Company and as a professional puppeteer

With this fun book, readers will find everything they need to become rulers of their own puppet planets.

Designing the Doll: From Concept to Construction

Susanna Oroyan

Amazon Price: $18.45 List Price: $27.95 Usually ships in 10 to 14 days By: C&T Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 21 new & used starting at $12.90

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

ANOTHER BIBLE 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

LIKE ANATOMY OF THE DOLL THIS BOOK OF SUSANNA'S IS ALSO A MUST
HAVE.I AM NOW ADDICTED.

So much more than craft by numbers 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Too often craft/art books are whatever the subject is by-the-numbers. Do this, do that, voila you have a finished project just like mine. This is so much more and exactly what it should be. Layers of information. Beautiful examples. A book that inspires you to choose your own path. This is the best type of creativity inspiring book. I purchased this along with "500 Handmade Dolls" (which shares many of the same artists work) and have found hours of enjoyment. Very well done book.

Editorial Review:

An in-depth guide to doll making from concept to "imaginative engineering," this book is for every collector and artist. A gallery of all of the important "art" doll makers today-a record for collectors and inspiration for doll artists. A wide variety of construction methods, the techniques for getting proportions correct, and ideas on how to develop ideas and then construct advanced art figures or dolls are covered. 250 color photos plus over 200 drawings. 160 pages.

Crazy Shortcut Quilts

Marguerita McManus, Sarah Raffuse

Amazon Price: $15.63 List Price: $22.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Krause Publications Amazon Marketplace: 38 new & used starting at $9.99

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Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Textile Arts

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

So inspiring it's crazy!!! 5 out of 5 stars.
10 of 10 people found this review helpful.

This book is the bomb!!! Yes, Sarah Raffuse and Marguerita McManus have finally put to pen to paper, needles to fabric and created a wonderful guide to helping all of us discover the wonderful shortcut technique of quilting-as-you-go with an equally wonderful method for modern-day crazy quilting, utilizing the 21st century technology of our precision sewing & embroidery machines. They have given us the perfect book to learn how to do it ourselves by breaking down the steps of all the processes and given us beautiful examples to jump-start our own creativity; with the added bonus solution of what to do with all of those fat quarters you have been collecting! I highly recommend this book for every quilter of every skill level. I can't wait for the sequel!!!

Editorial Review:

Crossover appeal - infuses quilting techniques and projects with home décor influence.

Broad appeal - captures the attention of skilled quilters with an unique timesaving techniques, and delivers a great teaching tool for quilt shop owners.

The quilt-as-you-go technique in Crazy Short-Cut Quilts eliminates intimidating quilting steps, and empowers sewers with the ability to create full quilts, in no time, that accent any existing decor. The book provides sewers with time estimates for each step of a crazy quilt pattern; demonstrates how to break projects down into manageable pieces and suggests alternate uses for leftover fabrics; teaches sewers how to make savvy fabric selections to coordinate with existing room or to add new flair.

Fun with Hand Shadows (Dover Game and Puzzle Activity Books)

Frank Jacobs, Henry Bursill

Amazon Price: $1.50 List Price: $1.50 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Dover Publications Amazon Marketplace: 55 new & used starting at $0.01

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Editorial Review:

Clear visual instructions for creating 28 delightful images from a popular 19th-century picture book: goose, deer (with antlers), birds, bunny, dog, elephant, tortoise, and other engaging creatures, along with often hilarious snippets of verse by zany 20th century humorist. Engaging book recalls a pastime that has delighted children and adults for generations.

The Foam Book : An Easy Guide to Building Polyfoam Puppets

Donald Devet, Drew Allison

Amazon Price: $25.00 List Price: $25.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Grey Seal Puppets, Inc. Amazon Marketplace: 1 new & used starting at $22.50

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 21 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Pretty good, not great. 3 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I bought the foam book at an early stage in my puppet making, I'd made two puppets by that point and thought I'd learn a lot from this book.

In particular I'd hoped for a lot of info on creating foam patterns for head shapes. This area in the book is really not very good. It only briefly touches on the three piece head patterns and the examples they give don't even work in practice without some serious adjustment. Though if you're at a very early stage you find some info useful.

The rest of the book has a lot of interesting ideas that could work well in practice. The authors are not the best designers so none of the puppets featured in the book are particularly pretty to look at. But the techniques could easily be applied to a better puppet design.

I'd say that a lot of people will be a bit past this book to be honest. There are better tutorials on the internet for free. But there are some things to be learned from this book.

Editorial Review:

Whether you're a beginner to the world of puppet making or an experienced professional puppeteer, The Foam Book was written with you in mind. This easy guide to designing and building your own polyfoam puppets will take you step-by-step through the creative process.

Along the way you'll pick up tips and tricks to make the puppet building experience as carefree as possible.

The Foam Book is not just a guide to puppet construction but a useful resource of suppliers of hard to find puppet-making materials.

Inside you'll find:
* Two sure-fire methods for making a puppet head.
* A grocery list of features to consider for your character.
* Detailed descriptions for making any body parts imaginable.
* Special sections on creating animals and fantastic creatures.
* Suggestions for materials and coverings.
* Over 100 photos and drawings.

Puppet Mania!

John Kennedy

Amazon Price: $10.19 List Price: $14.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: North Light Books Amazon Marketplace: 54 new & used starting at $2.00

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

A nice starter for children. 2 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I was alittle disappointed when I receieved this book. God knows the title is a bit of an exageration. If you're buying for a child who needs craft projects for a rainy day then this is the book for you.
As an adult with a career in puppet building I found it a waste of money. Unless you're making a show that revolves around paper plate puppets.

Editorial Review:

In Puppet Mania!, a master of the art brings kids thirteen original projects they can make on their own, primarily using everyday household materials. Many of the projects the author includes here are for puppets he himself designed and created as a kid. There's Sock Puppy, Banana Buddy, Running Rabbit and a gaggle of other endearing creatures. Aside from explicit directions, Kennedy provides construction tips and troubleshooting advice.

Puppet Mania! is more than just a project book: It also gives kids the know-how they need to turn their creations into characters--lip synching, body movements, eye contact and movement, and, most important, imagination. To that end, Kennedy kick-starts readers' creativity with a character worksheet that has room to enter the character's name, favorite phrase, hobbies, and physical characteristics.

With directions for customizing their puppets and tips for maneuvering them believably, kids will want to get started in no time!

Knitted Finger Puppets: 34 Easy-to-Make Toys

Meg Leach

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Martingale & Co Inc Amazon Marketplace: 29 new & used starting at $10.45

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Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Crafts & Hobbies -> Knitting

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Hours of entertainment for my 4 year old! FABULOUS GIFT! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Recently, my husband went on a trip to Antarctica and he would tell our daughter about all the penguins he met on his trip. A friend gave us 4 penguin finger puppets that she made from the book. We've named these finger puppets and they each have their own personality. The puppets are just delightful and everyone loves to play with them (underline and bold everyone). They are easily packed in my handbag for my daughter. If you are looking for a unique gift, this book is it. We've had people who have never knit before creating these puppets (including me). What is best about the book is that it also shows you how to create your own. AMAZING.

Editorial Review:

These darling little fellows are destined to become cherished favorites. Each cute finger puppet is modeled on popular kids characters and everyday figures that are easy to make!

* Perfect for creating fun puppets for kids of all ages

* Includes instructions for three collections: Christmas at the North Pole, Under the Big Top, and the Enchanted Forest.

* All you need to create these adorable finger puppets is a basic knowledge of knitting

Cloth Doll Artistry: Design and Costuming Techniques for Flat and Fully Sculpted Figures

Barbara Willis

Amazon Price: $16.49 List Price: $24.99 Not yet published By: Quarry Books

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The Muppets Make Puppets

Cheryl Henson, Muppet Workshop

List Price: $16.95 By: Workman Publishing Company Amazon Marketplace: 15 new & used starting at $7.87

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 13 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

fabulous ideas 5 out of 5 stars.
15 of 16 people found this review helpful.

This book has so many great ideas using many easy to find objects. It even includes a little packet with 2 pairs of eyes, some faux fur, a few feathers and other sundries. The day this book arrived, my daughter and I made 3 puppets. In the next several days we made many more out of socks, oven mitts and other things that were just laying around the house. If you hate to throw things away, you'll love this. After reading the book, you'll start looking at your trash with new eyes. Old paper towel rolls, band-aid tins, fabric scraps, plastic spoons, small plastic bottles you might throw out, sponges, pot scrubbers, erasers--all these things can be transformed into puppets.

My only quibble is that the suggested reading level is ages 4-8. My nearly five-year-old can't do these projects alone, (I also use a hot glue gun, so it's too hot for her) so I've ended up letting her direct what goes where on the puppets. I think a six year-old working with less dangerous adhesives could do many of the projects himself, and I think kids even older than the age range would find the projects fun, especially if they have little siblings or an opportunity to teach younger kids. (Like helping out at Sunday school).

The book is full of projects that are easy to do right away, don't cost much money or require special trips to the craft store and let your child develop her imagination/creativity/emotional skills.

Editorial Review:

Cheryl Henson, daughter of Muppets founder Jim Henson, along with the Muppet' Workshop (and Kermit the Frog), shows kids how to make over 35 puppets using stuff from around the house-with a little help from the googly eyes, funny noses, feathers, and fuzzy fur included.There's Dixie Dragon (principle ingredient, a sock), Jughead (small plastic jar), Spidey Jones (old work glove), Metalmouth (bandage boxes), Princess Esterrilla (wooden spoon and chopsticks), and Pinky Roach (pink eraser). In addition, the authors show how to talk the puppet talk and walk the puppet walk, how to write a script and put on a show. It's a complete kit. Just add glue, and a little imagination.Selection of the Book-of-the-Month Club.152,000 copies in print.