Using an inexpensive garden glove, colored felt and pom poms
you can create wonderful handpuppets that can make any storybook
come alive for children of all ages! First, Purchase a pair of
lightweight garden gloves and some fabric, craft glue ("Tacky"
glue works well). Medium sized gloves tend to work well for most
adult's hands but can still be enjoyed by children as well. Next
you will need to gather an assortment of pom-poms. Large Poms
for the heads of the characters and smaller poms to be used for
the puppets ears, noses, etc. You will also need assorted colors
of felt, even felt scraps are appropriate. when creatively making
the puppets clothes, don't forget to include hats where appropriate,
ties on the boys or bows in the little girls hair. Squiggly eyes can
give the puppets character or use small beads instead. This is a
wonderful craft for using little bits of leftover ribbon, buttons, lace,
beads and other supplies you may have stashed away in your
craft closet.

When your crafts are gathered start by choosing your favorite
storybook. Choose one that is well known and that includes several
animal or human characters. 5 story characters would be ideal
using one for each hand but don't rule out other books based only
on the amount of fingers you have to use on your glove.

For example, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves makes an
adorable puppet glove by overlapping several dwarves per finger.
Snow White however, will be used often in the story and should
have her own moveable finger in the glove. The center of the glove
could also be used for attaching a real oval or circle shaped mirror.
Perfect for the scene where the wicked step mother asks who is
the fairest one of all.

Other suggestions for story characters to reproduce as puppets
would include "The Little Red Hen", "Goldilocks and the Three Bears",
or the "Wizard of Oz". Think how cute it would be to paint glittery
yellow bricks winding a pathway up the wrist to the glove.

In thinking of creative ways to use the entire glove don't forget the
back of the hand. Perhaps you will want to keep the "good"
characters on the front of the glove and attach the "Bad" evil
characters to the back of the hand, hiding in the shadows ready
to surprise the children at the appropriate place in the story!

Author Rachel Webb designs Large 100% Magnetic
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