Fan Mail from Leo Kerner Elementary - Emmanvero - 11-17-08

Friends:

I received a HUGE package of fan mail from Leo Kerner Elementary School, a school I visited in October. I performed my show, “Scared Silly.” The letters were so adorable. I had to share some of them with you. The above is from Emmanvero. Here is what the letter says (I took the liberty of making grammar and spelling corrections):

“Dear Ms. Dianne de Las Casas, I like the stories. I like the skeleton dance. I like when my friend Dalton did the magic trick. You are the best storyteller. I like you. I like when you told the Viper story. Your friend, Emmanvero”

Fan Mail from Leo Kerner Elementary - Ariel - 11-17-08

The above letter is from Ariel. She says:

“Dear Ms. Dianne de Las Casas, I like your show. I was fun when you and Dalton went to do a magic trick. I like your stories. It was funny. I like when you sing a song. It was fun. I like the story with that pumpkin story. Your friend, Ariel”

Fan Mail from Leo Kerner Elementary - Noah - 11-17-08

The above letter was from Noah. He says:

“Dear Dianne de Las Casas, I like your stories. I like the Viper story. I like the Witchy Built (The House That Witchy Built) story. I like that witch noise a lot. I like that story about Mable Gable. I like the scary stories. It was fun. Your friend, Noah”

Emmanvero, Ariel, Noah and the rest of Ms. Drachenberg’s class, I loved your letters! I loved all the beautiful pictures you drew for me too. Your letters made me smile all day. Thank you very much! I hope I am able to return to your school. I had so much fun with you. Keep reading and keep writing! You’re doing such a great job. Look for a letter in the mail from me soon!

Happy Tales to You! Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Plastic Spoon Puppets - 11-16-08

Spoon Puppets
Spoons make great puppets, both plastic picnic spoons and wooden cooking spoons. The spoon’s round end makes a perfect face while the spoon’s stem makes a great handle with which to maneuver the puppet. Children can draw the faces on or affix facial features with glue.

Eliana with Turkey wooden spoon puppet - 11-12-08

Small plastic spoon puppets are perfect with shoebox puppet theaters while the larger wooden spoons work well with door frame puppet curtains.

Shoebox Puppet Theater - 11-16-08

Happy Tales to you! Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Presentation Board Puppet Theater - 11-16-08

Presentation Board Puppet Theater
Presentation boards can be found at any super center or office supply store. Find one in your favorite color. The science board can be decorated in any fashion you wish. Just set it up on the floor and you (or your children) can puppeteer from behind the board.

Happy Tales to You! Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Shoebox Puppet Theater - 11-15-08

Shoebox Puppet Theater
Sit the shoebox on its side and cut off the top. Decorate the front with a scene. Use small plastic spoon puppets or finger puppets. Another way to create a shoebox puppet theater is by creating a “diorama,” decorating the inside of the shoebox. The hand will be visible as the puppets are maneuvered but children don’t mind. They love creating the scene inside the shoebox.

Happy Tales to you! Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Dianne de Las Casas with a lap top box puppet theater - 11-16-08

Lap Top Box Puppet Theater
I learned this method from a school librarian in Houston when I lived there after Katrina. Take a box large enough to sit comfortably on your lap. Cut off the top and the back of the box leaving only the bottom, two sides, and the front. Decorate the front of the box to create any scene you wish. I created a meadow with grass and flowers. The puppets, props, and even a script can sit inside the box until you are ready to use them. It’s simple and ingenious.

Check out “behind the scenes” in this lap top box puppet theater.

Lap Top Box Puppet Theater Backside - 11-16-08

Happy Tales to You! Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Doorway Twin Sheet & Shower Rod Puppet Theater - 11-16-08

Doorway Puppet Theater
Using a tension rod or shower curtain rod across a doorway and a curtain or bed sheet, you can create an instant and inexpensive puppet theater. Kids love being behind the curtain. I used this method to entertain my youngest daughter and her cousins. I found a twin sheet that looked like a night sky. I cut slits on each side of the largest seam and threaded a shower curtain rod through the pocket. The extra length at the bottom is folded and brought back over the top of the rod to create a valance. It makes a perfect puppet theater.

Happy Tales to You! Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Lucky the Puppy Stuffed Animal Puppet - 11-16-08

Stuffed Animal Puppets
Old or thrift store stuffed animals can easily be turned into puppets. Make a small slit in the back of the animal, pull out some of the stuffing, and sew a sock into the inside of the animal to slip your hand inside. Instant puppet!

Above, you see Lucky the Puppy. He was a free stuffed animal caught at a St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New Orleans. I removed some of his stuffing, inserted a green children’s sock inside him (all the way up to his mouth) and then sewed the sock to the stuffed animal to close the hole. Here is his underside.

Lucky the Puppy Stuffed Animal Puppet Underside - 11-16-08

Happy Tales to You! Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Butterfly Finger Puppet - 11-16-08

Finger Puppets
Cut the fingers off an old or inexpensive glove and create a finger puppet. Finger puppets are fun for young children who may not have the hand-eye coordination to manipulate a larger puppet. Finger puppets work well with shoebox puppet theaters.

The above finger puppet was made from the index finger cut from a knit glove. Hot glue was applied around the bottom of the finger to prevent fraying. The butterfly is simply made with Foamies foam, a chenille stick, and a craft popsicle stick.

Butterfly Finger Puppet underside - 11-16-08

Happy Tales to You! Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Dianne de Las Casas with Green Sock Puppet Snake - 11-16-08

Sock Puppets
Puppets made out of socks are classic. Nowadays, socks are so colorful that you can be truly imaginative with your sock puppets. Hot glue some yarn hair and googly eyes, and you have an instant friend. I developed a sock puppet skit for a summer reading program one year. The stars of the show were Pinky (the girl) and Stinky (the boy). Pinky and Stinky were a huge hit, giving out tons of hugs and kisses to little boys and girls.

Happy Tales to You! Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

The Three Litle Pigs Glove Puppet - 11-16-08

Glove Puppets I love making a series of puppets out of a glove. Glove puppets work well with the telling of a classic tale such as “The Three Little Pigs.” Each of the fingers becomes a character - the mama pig, the three little pigs, and of course, the big bad wolf. In the glove puppet above, made with a stretchy men’s work glove, the pinky finger features the Mama Pig with an apron, the ring finger features the first pig with his straw, the middle finger is the second pig with his sticks, the index finger is the third pig with his bricks, and the thumb becomes the Big Bad Wolf complete with a dinner napkin, fork and knife.

“Cinderella” can also be depicted with a glove puppet - the evil stepmother, the two stepsisters, Cinderella, and the handsome prince. Glove puppets work well with younger children. You can even have the children get “hands-on” and create glove puppets of their own. Have a ton of fun!

Happy Tales to You! Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne