Puppets

Puppets

Introduction For centuries, puppet making was the work of woodcarvers. Puppets like Pinocchio were made of pieces of wood attached at the joints. Modern puppet makers have a choice of many more materials. They can use plastic, wood, animal skin, metal, fiberglass, and other materials. Each has its own special qualities.

Puppets have been around for thousandsof years. They have been popularall over the world. In each place, people have created and enjoyed puppets in ways that reflect the region's culture. The people who make puppets come to life are called puppeteers. It takes a lot of training to be a good puppeteer.

Like other art, puppets are the result of someone's imagination. Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets, first got the idea for Kermit the Frog from a Ping-Pong ball and his mother's green felt coat. With a little imagination, just about anything can be turned into a puppet. Let's look at the four different kinds of puppets.

hand puppets Hand puppets use the movement of your hand to give " life" to the puppet. They are usually soft-bodied puppets. Sometimes they have heads made of papier-máché or Styrofoam. Finger puppets and glove puppets are types of hand puppets.