Although today's children can enjoy professional puppetry on television,
there is nothing like experiencing a live performance. Live
presentations, most of which are amateur productions, delight children
now just as they have done in years past. This book will be a resource
for schools, libraries, and other community groups that present puppet
shows. The 31 plays are for children, pre-school through the primary
grades. Some celebrate seasons and holidays, and others are appropriate
for any time of year. Several of the shows invite young viewers to
participate, and a final section is "just for libraries," dealing with
topics that concern children--applying for a library card, borrowing and
taking care of books, joining a summer reading club, and visiting the
library, both as individuals and with a school class. Each play is
accompanied by production notes, so beginners will know exactly how to
go about putting on a show. In addition to information about staging the
plays, there are suggestions about planning programs, manipulating
puppets, pre-taping, and using music to enhance the production. Simple
patterns for making both hand and mouth action puppets are also
included.