Puppet Magic

For librarians new to puppetry, or those who are more experienced, Lowe, a former librarian who taught at Louisiana Tech U., and Matthew (U. of Houston-Clear Lake) describe the basics of using puppets to engage young children in story hours, book talks, and school visits. They focus on one-person shows that are simple and effective, and outline the different kinds of puppets, use and care, purchasing and making them, and stories and books to use. Complete scripts and instructions are provided, which are based on nursery rhymes, fables, folktales, and picture books, and include suggested audience and age level, length, characters and props, story annotations, variations, and photographs. Adapting other stories, as well as tips on rehearsal and voice projection, is discussed. A list of puppet resources and accessories is appended, as are many patterns. Annotation 穢2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)