Reviews (12)

Seems to be a good jumping off point
I'm a professional costumer and prop maker who is interested in learning how to make puppets (one more good thing on my resume), and one of my puppeteer friends suggested this book.
It's a good book.
I like to use this book as a quick reference guide alongside the 3-peice-head and Nip&Tuck videos...as I find actually seeing these ideas implemented on video is a much more rewarding experience. That being said, it's great to have the book handy when you're working on your own creation and need some quick info. However, this book is great on its own and is filled with a lot of great ideas and information (including where to find materials, as well as a glossary of terms).
The Foam Book: Bravo!
Wow...this book makes it easy to understand the process of creating a puppet, without steifling creativity by giving patterns. Their "nip and tuck" method includes ad libbing during the process of designing. Tips are included as to where to obtain materials (including where you might find them for free or at a substantial discount). The puppets pictured in black and white in the book are incredible (think a la muppets) and provide strong inspiration for ideas. The narrative of the book is light and funny, much in the spirit of the world of puppetry.
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Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts & Hobbies / Puppets & Puppetry    3. Foam    4. Puppets    5. Puppets and puppet plays   

Reviews (6)

Entertaining, informative and beautiful
This book is a wonder. How the author could bring together sthe quantity of scholarly information and beautiful photographs under one cover is beyond thinking.
Welcome but with some reservations
This is not a history book told in a chronological order.It is a survey with a point of view that jumbles puppeteers and their puppets into themes.It is extremely well researched, but because of the many, many listings of puppeteers and the odd juxtapositions of their work, it might be hard for a reader to get a sense of which puppeteers were actually more influencial and successful than others.Some very famous people are not mentioned at all, and some, frankly contemporary, mediocre puppeteers are given great mention.Also, the field of children's theatre which is quite important and which many puppeteers take very seriously, is given short shrift.

A Great Gift for Lovers of Beautiful Books
"Puppetry is one of the most beautiful books in print, filled with vivid color photgraphs on heavy glossy paper that bring to life hundreds of puppets of all types. Blumenthal is a terrifically witty writer and provides volumes of information that is clearly written and very well organized. While this book is a good addition to one's coffee table, it is also good food for the mind. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. Performing Arts    3. Performing Arts/Dance    4. Puppet theater    5. Puppetry And Marionettes    6. Puppets & Puppetry    7. Theater - History & Criticism    8. World - General    9. World History    10. Performing Arts / Puppets & Puppetry   

Reviews (5)

great book for children
the book is not for professional puppet makers.
greatideas
lots of different puppet ideas.They are not too difficult, great to make with kids.

Arts And Crafts Time!
Although well put together, this book is very much on an elementary school level. It would be great for teachers but not if you are interested in designing, making, and performing professional level puppets. Cute little book, but NOT 'The World's Most Incredible Puppet Making Book Ever'. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    2. Children: Grades 3-4    3. Crafts & Hobbies - General    4. Crafts for Children    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Puppet making    7. Puppets & Puppetry    8. Puppets and puppet plays    9. Handicrafts    10. Puppetry, miniature & toy theatre   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (2)

Good reference on the subject
Very interesting book on creating and using marionettes.It touches on making a variety of different types, including making 4-legged animal marionettes, and using an assortment of materials.Well worth having on hand.

Gorgeous state-of-the-artbook
This is a gorgeously printed state-of-the-art book on marionette making.I have so many books from the past on this, but it is so delightful to see something current, and this is it.This is bound to become a collectible book.Be sure and get this one before it is out of print - I doubt many were made. Great stuff on trick marionettes, as well. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Hobbies/Crafts    4. Puppets & Puppetry    5. Crafts & Hobbies / Puppets & Puppetry    6. Handicrafts    7. MARIONETTES    8. Other manufacturing technologies    9. PUPPET MAKING    10. Puppetry, miniature & toy theatre   

Reviews (2)

Buy used, not new!
First I'll state that as a shop manual the information contained within this book is great and indispenable.The author cleary describes the processes and tools needed to build stop motion armatures.What is disappointing is the quality of the book itself. I have a few books for which I have paid fifty dollars for (The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation, Ray Harryhausen: An Animated Life, Industrial Light and Magic: The Art of Special Effects) and I have never had buyers remorse.The same cannot be said here. The cover belies the interior quality. This book is approximately one quarter inch thick with poor quality paper stock which I can only describe as better than a childs coloring book. All of the photographs are black and white.Many are extremely grainy with contrast that is too high and resolution so poor that it is hard to see what is being described accurately (See figures 2-10, 3-4, 3-5, 3-10, 4-9, 4-10, 4-13 as examples).Not what I expected at this price point.The same information also applies to Stop-Motion Puppet Sculpting.I strongly suggest you either buy used or take what I have written into consideration before purchasing new. (Should be three stars not two)

Essential book for any stopmo animator or enthusiast!
This one-of-a-kind text is a wonderful primer on machining your own armatures.It clearly details the various joints and explains their construction.I highly recommend this book for all stop-motion animators, even if you don't plan on building armatures yourself. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animation (Cinematography)    2. Engineering - Mechanical    3. General    4. Metal-cutting    5. Puppet films    6. Puppets & Puppetry    7. Reference    8. Science/Mathematics    9. Technology    10. Puppetry, miniature & toy theatre   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (3)

The Best Book on Puppetry Ever!!!!!!!! from a 15 year old
This book tells you everything you need to know about how to do a puppet show. If you are interested in puppetry, even just a little bit, get this book right away. Hint: if you want to use latex to make a hand puppet, sculpt the head with a open mouth.

Exceptional puppet making book
This book is good for beginner puppeteers as well as for professional puppet makers. It is full of photographs and ideas, from puppet construction to theater and performance. Is one of those rare books that contains a great amount of useful information.

A high quality book
This is a book for professional and seriuous amateurs who want to improve their technical skills about puppet design, stages, and perfomances. Sharing the experience of excelent puppetters, with excelent photos and diagrams. Also is a very well design book, hardcover and sharp quality book. We strongly recommend it, it is one of the most complete and easy to read book we had seen. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. General    3. Hobbies/Crafts    4. Performing Arts    5. Puppet theater    6. Puppetry And Marionettes    7. Puppets    8. Puppets & Puppetry    9. History / India    10. PUNJAB (INDIA)    11. Puppetry, miniature & toy theatre   

Reviews (4)

Fun Book For Owners
SOCK MONKEY DREAMS: Daily Life at the Red Heel Monkey Shelter by Whitney Shroyer and Letitia Walker with Photography by Michael Traister is a beautifully illustrated treasurery of imagination and fun. Within its pages you'll learn from Newsmonkey Benny Hathaway and socktographer Link Ray the daily lives and antics of the beloved red heeled friends so many of us have loved for several generations.Have you ever wondered what your sock monkey does while you're asleep? Did you guess he has a life of his own with other sock monkeys and that when they are outgrown, shabby, or cast away, these monkeys gather at the Red Heel Shelter to console each other and tell tales and news of the other sock monkeys out there!You'll learn about weddings, history, lore, quirks, foibles, and tales of the religion, education, entertainment, commerce of the sockciety, which reflect those antics and everday happenings of their owners.The authors live with 150 sock monkeys in Asheville, NC.A delightful book for sock monkey owners

Get One For Everyone On Your Xmas List
I had no interest in the monkey business of sock toys but upon seeing this eye-popping publication (the photos really sock it to ya) I went totally bananas for it. More fun than a barrel of other books. Not only colorful and artistically presented, but a fun, whimsical, and historically important slice of awesome American creative culture.
More Fun Than a Barrel of Monkeys
It's a weird and beautiful book. I've shared it with my 30-something friends, and my 6-something nephew, and they all found it fun. And it is fun--well-written, beautifully photographed FUN. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arts And Crafts    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. General    4. Hobbies/Crafts    5. Humor    6. Needlework - General    7. Popular Culture - General    8. Puppetry And Marionettes    9. Puppets & Puppetry    10. Stuffed Animals    11. Crafts & Hobbies / Puppets & Puppetry   

Reviews (12)

Prompt Service
I ordered a Muppet book from them that was quite cheap.It was in great condition and very low-priced.I received it promptly and was very pleased with the service.

fabulous ideas
This book has so many great ideas using many easy to find objects. It even includes a little packet with 2 pairs of eyes, some faux fur, a few feathers and other sundries. The day this book arrived, my daughter and I made 3 puppets. In the next several days we made many more out of socks, oven mitts and other things that were just laying around the house. If you hate to throw things away, you'll love this. After reading the book, you'll start looking at your trash with new eyes. Old paper towel rolls, band-aid tins, fabric scraps, plastic spoons, small plastic bottles you might throw out, sponges, pot scrubbers, erasers--all these things can be transformed into puppets. beautiful book, whimsical puppets....
but children will not be able to reproduce the puppets pictured.Maybe that is the point, that you can make puppets out of anything.So the book is good for inspiration.But don't expect to be able to make the puppets quite like they do! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. General    4. Hobbies/Crafts    5. Juvenile literature    6. Puppet making    7. Puppets    8. Puppets & Puppetry    9. Puppets and puppet plays    10. Children's stationery & miscellaneous items    11. Juvenile Fiction / General    12. Puppetry, miniature & toy theatre    13. Ages 3-6   

Reviews (2)

Making Puppets Come Alive
A very comprehensive explanation of one of the best (if not the best) hand puppet manipulation systems in puppet theatre. Plenty of photos to guide and clear text.

Puppets are actors!
This is a great book for people who want to teach classes on how to work with hand puppets or want to improve their own puppetry skills.The focus is on hands-on manipulation of the puppets.(I am going to use it as thebasis of a workshop with a theatrical group.)Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. General    4. Hand puppets    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Puppet making    7. Puppet theater    8. Puppets & Puppetry    9. Performing Arts / General    10. Puppetry, miniature & toy theatre   

Reviews (2)

out dated and fairly inacurate
Ultimately, this book is not bad, per se, but there are many flaws. First, a fair amount of the information is rather out-dated. Due to developments and changes to the art of puppetry, epsecially in the past 10-20 years, many of the "norms" of puppet theatre that Latshaw describes are no longer true, or at least not the norms. Additionally, many of the comparisons or refernces to live actor theatre are generic and in some cases, mis-informed. Though there is a great deal of information, most of it tends to be basic and not particularly useful. If you are looking for your first book on puppetry, with no previous experience or knowledge in the art, and don't want to spend much money, this could be a decent book for you, though I would recomend one of Currell's (Puppets and Puppet Theatre, Introduction to Puppets and Puppet Making).

From hand exercises for strength to constructing puppets
In Complete Book Of Puppetry, master puppeteer George Latshaw shares his insights on how to make and use puppets in a guide which follows all aspects of puppetry, from hand exercises for strength to constructing several types of puppets. The illustrations in black and white provide fine detail. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts / Hobbies    2. Performing Arts/Dance    3. Puppet theater    4. Puppets    5. Puppets & Puppetry    6. Crafts & Hobbies / General    7. Handicrafts   

Reviews (3)

Nice book but a little dated...
I wanted to make a marionette of my own so I ordered up this book. Like the reviewers before me stated it's a good book for the money but it has 30 year old information. Many of the materials used in this book are really dated!Like using leather and shellac!I would have enjoyed it much more if the book was revised to include all the great new materials available today!

Helen Fling's Marionettes - Most Information for Least Money
This is a Dover reprint which consolidates in one book four previously published mini-volumes on aspects of puppetry (primarily marionettes though some hand puppet specifics are given and there is overlap between the two),including 1) making puppet heads; 2) making and assembling puppet bodies(human form), including hands and feet; 3) making one- and two- handedcontrol sticks and stringing plus costuming, manipulation basics, props,storage, and limited discussion of animal puppet construction; and 4) stagedesign and construction, stagecraft, backdrop designs, productionsuggestions, and a sample script. Helen Fling's Marionettes - Most Information for Least Money
This is a Dover reprint which consolidates in one book four previously published mini-volumes on aspects of puppetry (primarily marionettes though some hand puppet specifics are given and there is overlap between the two),including 1) making puppet heads; 2) making and assembling puppet bodies(human form), including hands and feet; 3) making one- and two- handedcontrol sticks and stringing plus costuming, manipulation basics, props,storage, and limited discussion of animal puppet construction; and 4) stagedesign and construction, stagecraft, backdrop designs, productionsuggestions, and a sample script.Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts / Hobbies    2. Hobbies/Crafts    3. Puppet theater    4. Puppets    5. Puppets & Puppetry    6. Puppets and puppet plays    7. Crafts & Hobbies / General    8. Decorative arts & crafts    9. Hobbies, Quizzes & Games   

Subjects:  1. Arts And Crafts    2. Crafts & Hobbies    3. Crafts / Hobbies    4. Hobbies/Crafts    5. Puppet making    6. Puppetry And Marionettes    7. Puppets & Puppetry    8. Practical interests & handicrafts    9. Puppetry, miniature & toy theatre    10. Toys, teddy bears & dolls   

Reviews (4)

Very Useful to the Bear Crafter
I gave up on the price of this book coming down and made the plunge and purchased a copy.As a bear desingner and crafter for over twenty five years I can say for sure that this book has priceless ideas and creative bear projects for anyone who would like to create with a pattern or to use a pattern as a jumping off point for your own creativity.I can recommend this book without hesitation and will use it from time to time for inspiration or for a pattern from the experts.

An excellent book
I have to disagree with the previous reviewer, and ask whether or not that reviewer actually tried making the pattern.I have made three of these splendid bears, and they came out beautifully.This is a wonderful selection of different, appealing bear styles, you are sure to find many that you love and wish to make.The instructions are easy to follow.The ideas you get from this book will serve as a springboard to designing your own if you wish.An excellent book for anyone interested in making miniature bears!!

Don't bother
The patterns included with this book are completely useless. They look as though they were drawn by hand with no regard as to whether the pieces would actually fit together. Making a bear with these pattern pieces would be impossible. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts & Hobbies / Miniatures    3. Crafts & Hobbies / Sewing    4. Crafts & Hobbies / Stuffed Animals    5. Crafts & Hobbies / Toymaking    6. Crafts / Hobbies    7. Hobbies/Crafts    8. Miniatures    9. Puppets & Puppetry    10. Stuffed Animals    11. Sewing    12. Soft toys    13. Teddy Bears    14. Toymaking   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (6)

Hysterically funny
This book is just the thing to bring a little genital excitement into your dull, drab, wretched life. It proves beyond a shadow of a foreskin that it is a phallacy that the penis can't be funny. The authors' hilarious exhibit of penis performance art is guaranteed to drive all your inadequacies away. My favorite is the puppet with the pop-up feature. This is one of the funniest and most entertaining books I've ever seen. I'd love to see the show if it ever comes around to my obscure and vanishing corner of America's sexual landscape.

Challenging
While detailed and imaginative, "Puppetry of the Penis: The Ancient Australian Art of Genital Origami", is only the tip of Simon Morley and David Friend's fascinating show of penis-art.This book explores the many different shapes and positions the penis can be temporarily molded into.And thank you Morley and Friend, for rising to the occasion, and putting your penis-art in a book, for the world to see. Oh my goodness I'll never leave the house again
Well what can I say about this fabulous book. Before I read this book my life was dull, imcomplete but through this book I discovered that my penis was not an inanimate peice of flesh just hanging there in between my legs but a instument of pleaseure that I can share with many people through the magic of puppetry! It is no longer the dull slip of skin that was but an all singing ,all dancing Marionette of mirth!Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Humor    3. Origami    4. Performing Arts/Dance    5. Puppets & Puppetry    6. Crafts & Hobbies / Origami    7. English    8. Humor / General    9. Humour    10. PUPPET MAKING    11. Performing Arts    12. Entertainment    13. Puppets   

Reviews (1)

A great book - read this!
I highly recommend this book to anyone who has the slightest interest in multiple personality disorder, art therapy, puppetry, psychiatry, object relations theory, story telling or mental illness in general.ThroughJenny's story Gerity simultaneously gives a fascinating accurate account ofpatient care in a mental health facility while also educating the readerabout the various psychological theories that staff utilize for treatment. This book was a pleasure to read and would be enjoyable for everyone but Ithink it should be mandatory reading for anyone who works with the mentallyill population. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Children Of Dysfunctional Families    2. Dissociative disorders    3. Play Therapy    4. Psychology    5. Psychopathology - Compulsive Behavior    6. Psychotherapy - General    7. Puppets    8. Puppets & Puppetry    9. Therapeutic use    10. Treatment    11. Creative therapy (eg art, music, drama)    12. Neurology & clinical neurophysiology   

Reviews (4)

EXCELLENT, OUTSTANDING, HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
Excellent teaching, photography, examples!! Oustanding Book On Cloth Doll Making-A Must Have!!
This is an excellent book for those who would like to learn more about the craft. Ms. Gorley is an excellent writer, teacher and the diretions/drawings are super helpful even for the novice. Uncomplicated Rag Doll Making & Sophisticated Classics
This exciting book shows uncomplicated rag dolls a child can make and sophisticated dolls that will challenge experienced dollmakers -- and everything in between. Complete doll patterns including clothing. Tips, embellishments and secrets are shared by well-known dollmakers. Beautiful color photographs as well as clear drawings/black & white sketches. Among the 10 patterns given are Dirk,a flag-bearing American Revolutionary boy doll, the Princess Bride and Anne of Green Gables. If you're going to buy just one book on doll-making, this is the one to purchase. Great comprehensive book! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Doll clothes    4. Dollmaking    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Puppets & Puppetry    7. Soft toy making    8. Toy Arts And Crafts    9. Toymaking - Dollhouses    10. Toymaking - General    11. Soft toys   

Subjects:  1. Children: Grades 2-3    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Handicraft    4. Juvenile literature    5. Puppet making    6. Puppets    7. Puppets & Puppetry    8. Crafts & Hobbies / General    9. Handicrafts   

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Hobbies/Crafts    4. Origami    5. Paper dolls    6. Paper work    7. Puppets & Puppetry    8. Toymaking - General    9. Hobbies, Quizzes & Games    10. Paper crafts    11. Puppetry, miniature & toy theatre   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    2. Children: Grades 3-4    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Crafts & Hobbies - General    5. Juvenile Arts And Crafts    6. Juvenile Nonfiction    7. Juvenile literature    8. Puppet making    9. Puppets & Puppetry    10. Shadow puppets    11. Juvenile Nonfiction / Crafts & Hobbies   

Subjects:  1. Finger play    2. Games    3. Games / Gamebooks / Crosswords    4. Games/Puzzles    5. General    6. Puppets & Puppetry    7. Puzzles    8. Shadow-pictures    9. Games / Puzzles    10. Indoor games