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

Friends:

I arrived in East Brunswick, New Jersey on Thursday, November 13, 2008 at the Hilton Hotel for the New Jersey Association of School Librarians Conference. After signing books at the Libraries Unlimited booth, I went to dinner with Debby Laboon (Libraries Unlimited’s Authors Respresentative) and Anne Scharff (Greenwood Press’ Sales Representative). We met Judy Freeman and her sweet husband, Izzy, at a restaurant in New Brunswick called Soho. Dinner was delicious. After returning to hotel, I went to my room, Skyped with my family and then crashed.

The morning of November 14, I attended a session by Wayne Free, who works with the Louisiana Association of Educators. The room was small and the crowd was spilling into the hallway. Wayne spoke about how librarians could incorporate using media (the Internet, etc.) into their library lesson plans.

Wayne Free 11-14-08

After Wayne’s session, I attended Judy Freeman’s session on picture book “Winners.” It was a fabulous session and her room was full. Judy is so animated and energetic, a great storyteller, singer, and entertainer. The books she showcases are definitely winning reads. This is Judy reading Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel.

Judy Freeman 11-14-08

I had to leave Judy’s workshop a tad early because I had to set up for my workshop. I presented “Handmade Tales.” Here are the attendees creating “Joseph Had An Overcoat” cut -and-tell story.

NJASL Workshop Participants creating "Joseph Had an Overcoat Cut and Tell" - 11-14-08

We were having so much fun in the workshop. They really enjoyed “Bandana Man,” an adaptation of “The Gingerbread Man” done with a bandana.

NJASL Workshop Participants with "Bandana Man" - 11-14-08

Look at this cutie! He was the old woman in “Bandana Man.”

The Old Woman in "Bandana Man" - 11-14-08

I received rave reviews on my workshop from the workshop participants. It was so much fun. Afterward, I went to the Libraries Unlimited booth to sign books. Then it was time for dinner. I went to dinner with Debby Laboon, Judy Freeman, and Susan Fichtelberg (another LU author). We ate at a swanky diner that had the best food and we had the best time.

Susan Fichtelberg, Debby Laboon, Dianne de Las Casas & Judy Freeman - 11-14-08

The next day, Saturday, November 15, 2008, I ate a quick buffet breakfast at the hotel’s cafe and then headed to the ballroom to set up my second “Handmade Tales” workshop. Another author was presenting and went over time, giving me less than 10 minutes to set up. I was frantic!

Nevertheless, I had a room full of enthusiastic librarians, who enjoyed the workshop as much as the previous group. Here is a workshop participant’s rendition of an original draw-and-tell story, “The Emperor’s Dragon.”

Draw-and-tell Story "The Emperor's Dragon" - 11-15-08

Here is a table of librarians who are all “Reading Stars!” The star is made with a single sheet of paper, five folds and one snip of the scissors. The librarian on the right is author Susan Fichtelberg.

The Magic Star - 11-14-08

My final story was “The Stubborn Turnip,” a string story adaptation of the Russian tale “The Enormous Turnip.” Below, workshop participants celebrate their successful attempt to make the string bowl in the story.

"The Stubborn Turnip" String Bowl - 11-14-08

Both of my workshops were full of lively librarians who appreciate the hands-on activities of the workshop. I had a great time presenting at the New Jersey Association of School Librarians state conference. The 2009 Conference Chair attended my first workshop and asked me to return next year. Now that gives me warm fuzzies all over! My Handmade Tales book sold out even before my first presentation began - wow!

Thank you so much to the conference chair, Pam Cheskey, the conference staff (especially Aliah), and all the lovely librarians who chose to attend my session when there were other wonderful sessions ongoing simultaneously. Thank you to all the librarians who helped me set up and pack up, especially Karen and Wendy. I just love librarians! They are always willing to lend a hand.

A special thank you to Debby Laboon (I just luv u!) and Anne Scharff (my bud), who are both wonderful women. I so appreciate what you do for my books!

Happy Tales to You! Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne