We've ranked the best puppetry books using expert recommendations, sales data, and millions of reader ratings. At Shortform, we know books. Our book guides are the best in the world. Learn why.
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Where the Wild Things Are
Maurice Sendak
5.0
Max, a wild and naughty boy, is sent to bed without his supper by his exhausted mother. In his room, he imagines sailing far away to a land of Wild Things. Instead of eating him, the Wild Things make Max their king.
During a trip to a public library in Washington’s Anacostia neighborhood in 2015, Obama shared some of his childhood favorites with a group of young students. He also read (and acted out) Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak to kids at the White House in 2014. [source]
Today is World Book Day, a wonderful opportunity to address this #ChallengeRichard sent in by Mike Gonzalez of New Jersey: Make a list of your top 65 books to read in a lifetime. [source]
In this photo, Jimmy Fallon and I enjoy slurping Eggs of Newt together for Season-5 of “The Martha Stewart Show." I am dressed as "Queen of the Wild Things" inspired by the beloved Maurice Sendak children's book, "Where the Wild Things Are." https://t.co/1ZBqXEW7dC [source]
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Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass
Lewis Carroll
4.9
In 1862 Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, a shy Oxford mathematician with a stammer, created a story about a little girl tumbling down a rabbit hole. Thus began the immortal adventures of Alice, perhaps the most popular heroine in English literature.
Countless scholars have tried to define the charm of the Alice books--with those wonderfully eccentric characters the Queen of Hearts, Tweedledum, and Tweedledee, the Cheshire Cat, Mock Turtle, the Mad Hatter et al.--by proclaiming that they really comprise a satire on language, a political allegory, a parody of Victorian children's literature, even a reflection of contemporary ecclesiastical history.
Perhaps, as Dodgson might have said, Alice is no more than a dream, a fairy tale about the trials and tribulations of growing up--or down, or all turned round--as seen through the expert eyes of a child.
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Recommended by Eric Weinstein, Jean Webb, Larry Doyle, and 1 others.
Eric Weinstein recommended this book on Twitter. [source]
Jean Webb
An imaginative, clever and fun fantasy story that satirises nineteenth century England at the same time as celebrating academic thinking. [source]
Larry Doyle
You’d have to be a zombie to miss the humour in it – it’s hilarious. Although the book is ancient, the humour feels modern [source]
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Jim Henson: The Biography
Brian Jay Jones
4.8
For the first time ever-a comprehensive biography of one of the twentieth-century's most innovative creative artists: the incomparable, irreplaceable Jim Henson.
He was a gentle dreamer whose genial bearded visage was recognized around the world, but most people got to know him only through the iconic characters born of his fertile imagination: Kermit the Frog, Bert and Ernie, Miss Piggy, Big Bird. The Muppets made Jim Henson a household name, but they were only part of his remarkable story.
This extraordinary biography--written with the generous cooperation of the Henson family--covers the full arc of Henson's all-too-brief life: from his childhood in Leland, Mississippi, through the years of burgeoning fame in Washington D.C., New York, and London, to the decade of international celebrity that preceded his untimely death at age fifty-three. Drawing on hundreds of hours of new interviews with Jim Henson's family, friends, and closest collaborators, as well as unprecedented access to private family and company archives--including never-before-seen interviews, business documents, and Henson's private letters--Brian Jay Jones explores the creation of the Muppets, Henson's contributions to Sesame Street and Saturday Night Live, and his nearly ten year campaign to bring The Muppet Show to television. Jones provides the imaginative context for Henson's non-Muppet projects, including the richly imagined worlds of The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth-as well as fascinating misfires like Henson's dream of opening an inflatable psychedelic nightclub or of staging an elaborate, all-puppet Broadway show.
An uncommonly intimate portrait, Jim Henson captures all the facets of this American original: the master craftsman who revolutionized the presentation of puppets on television, the savvy businessman whose deal making prowess won him a reputation as "the new Walt Disney," and the creative team leader whose collaborative ethos earned him the undying loyalty of everyone who worked for him. Here also is insight into Henson's intensely private personal life: his Christian Science upbringing; his love of fast cars, high-stakes gambling, and expensive art; and his weakness for women. Though an optimist by nature, Henson was haunted by the notion that he would not have time to do all the things he wanted to do in life-a fear that his heartbreaking final hours would prove all too well-founded.
An up-close look at the charmed life of a legend, Jim Henson gives the full measure to a man whose joyful genius transcended age, language, geography, and culture-and continues to beguile audiences worldwide.
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Jim Henson: The Works: The Art, the Magic, the Imagination
Christopher Finch
4.7
The ultimate gift for Muppet lovers everywhere, this extraordinary tribute celebrates 40 years of Henson's creative genius--from his best-known inventions to his lesser known but equally fascinating notions for everything from designs for futuristic nightclubs and homes to experimental films. 500 color illus.
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The Complete Book of Puppetry
George Latshaw
4.6
In this informative volume, a master puppeteer shares his expertise in the variety of behind-the-scenes skills involved in bringing puppets to life. Drawing on years of experience, George Latshaw conducts readers through every stage of the puppeteer's art, from simple, preparatory hand exercises to advice on performing before an audience. Following a brief retrospective of the fascinating ancient art of puppetry, Latshaw offers clear, abundantly illustrated suggestions for preparing for a performance, explains how to construct several types of puppets, and presents a series of exercises that promote the development of distinctive voices for characters and the translation of human body language into puppet movement. Readers will also find a wealth of expert advice on designing stages and puppet environments, writing and adapting plays, and directing productions. A chapter on performance-related tips features helpful hints on scheduling, setting up, handling hecklers, and making an exit that's both efficient and graceful. A splendid addition to any puppeteer or puppet-lover's library, this profusely illustrated guide will also serve as an effective reference book in schools, libraries, and civic organizations involved in theatrical productions.
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Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade
Melissa Sweet
4.6
Everyone’s a New Yorker on Thanksgiving Day, when young and old rise early to see what giant new balloons will fill the skies for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Who first invented these "upside-down puppets"? Meet Tony Sarg, puppeteer extraordinaire! In brilliant collage illustrations, Caldecott Honor artist Melissa Sweet tells the story of the puppeteer Tony Sarg, capturing his genius, his dedication, his zest for play, and his long-lasting gift to America—the inspired helium balloons that would become the trademark of Macy’s Parade. Winner of the 2012 Robert F. Sibert Medal and the NCTE Orbis Pictus Award.
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Recommended by Bethany S. Mandel.
Bethany S. Mandel
With thanksgiving coming up, we’ve been reading this great book nonstop. First heard about it from Read Aloud Revival (if you have kids look her up ASAP) https://t.co/6GJ9e2U4SX [source]
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Dressing the Naked Hand: The World's Greatest Guide to Making, Staging, and Performing with Puppets
Amy White, Mark H Pulham, et al.
4.5
Do you love puppets? Have you ever wanted to try your hand at not only creating but performing? This groundbreaking puppetry how-to book teaches the basics of puppet construction from stuffets, to hand and advanced puppets. Learn how to not only make stages, but the art of puppet performance.
Unleash your inner creative genius, whether it’s by giving voice to your simple upcycled stuffet, bringing your fresh-minted foam creations to life, or even if it’s letting an alter ego out in your newly-embodied personalized hand puppet. Learning the art of puppet construction and manipulation, from master puppeteers, has never been easier or more fun.
Every effort has been made to use readily available supplies.
This book is the guide for all those who want to not only start at the beginning but go beyond the basics, exploring the world of puppet making and venturing forth into the art of puppeteering.
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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Ventriloquism
Taylor Mason
4.5
The art of "bellyspeaking" isn't for dummies.
The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Ventriloquism teaches everyone to speak from their bellies, create and substitute sounds, use all the registers of their voice, and create diversions to attract the listener's ear - whether they invest in a fancy puppet or create their own figure out of a sweat sock.
?Includes tips for making, manipulating, and talking with their dummy and for it - both at the same time
?Advice for getting an act together and taking it on the road - getting gigs, getting paid, and how to improve performances
?How to write dialogue and jokes and rehearsal techniques
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Making Puppets Come Alive: How to Learn and Teach Hand Puppetry
Larry Engler and Carol Fijan
4.5
Unlike other performing arts, puppetry is perhaps the only art form in which directing, acting, writing, designing, sculpture, and choreography are combined. In effect, the performer is creating an artistic entertainment that will appeal to audiences of all ages — in homes, in theaters, and in classrooms. This lucid, easy-to-follow book was specifically conceived to teach beginners how to bring a hand puppet to life and how, with practice, to develop the skills needed to mount an amateur puppet show — complete with staging, costumes, and special effects. Award-winning puppeteers Larry Engler and Carol Fijan provide ingenious finger, wrist, and arm exercises that are crucial for creating a full working range of puppet motions and emotions. They also cover the elements of good puppet theatrical technique: speech, voice use, and synchronization; stage deportment and interactions; improvisation, dramatic conflict, role characterization, and more. Every detail is clearly explained and beautifully illustrated with photographs, specific chapters being devoted to the use of props, puppet voices and movements, the construction of simple stages and lighting effects, and much more. A splendid addition to the literature on this subject, Making Puppets Come Alive is "the best book on hand puppetry we've seen." — The Whole Kids Catalog.
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Jim Henson's Imagination Illustrated
Karen Falk, Lisa Henson, and Ron Howard
4.4
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The Ultimate Sock Puppet Book: Clever Tips, Tricks, and Techniques for Creating Imaginative Sock Puppets
Tiger Kandel and Heather Schloss
4.4
Everyone has a sock or two without a mate, lost to the abyss of the dryer, but what to do with this lonely laundry left-over? Worry not! The Ultimate Sock Puppet Book will help you craft whimsical, quirky creatures that you can create with just some inexpensive materials and your imagination. Moving from the simple to the extraordinary, authors Tiger Kandel and Heather Schloss will take readers on a journey through the incredible world of sock puppets. With trademark techniques, easy-to-follow instructions, illustrations, stencils, and photographs your misfit socks will transform into characters that are full of life and personality.
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Foam Patterning and Construction Techniques: Turning 2D Designs Into 3D Shapes
Mary McClung
4.4
Foam Patterning and Construction Techniques: Turning 2D Designs into 3D Shapes explains how to create your theatrical prop, puppet, or costume design using the unique and tricky medium of foam. Step-by-step instructions, photographs, and explanations illustrate how to translate your design from paper to reality by creating custom "skin" patterns, followed by creation of a foam mockup. The book details how to bring your project to life with varied finishing techniques, including using fur and fabric coverings and dying and painting foam. Numerous supplies, tools, and safety procedures and protocols are also covered.
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Making and Manipulating Marionettes
David Currell
4.4
Making and Manipulating Marionettes is a superb guide to a craft and performance art that has fascinated audiences for over 2,000 years. Handsomely illustrated throughout, it presents precise instructions for the making of marionettes, both for plays and for acts in the variety tradition. All aspects of marionette design, construction, and control are covered, and there are rare insights into specialized designs and stringing techniques. Contents include an introduction to the marionette tradition and the principles and practicalities of marionette design; advice on materials and methods for carving, modeling, and casting puppet parts; detailed explanations for marionette control, stringing, and manipulation; step-by-step instructions for the construction and jointing of human and animal marionettes; and professional secrets for achieving a wide range of special effects.
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14
Strings, Hands, Shadows: A Modern Puppet History
John Bell
4.4
The artistry of puppetry includes aspects of the visual arts, theatre, music, and dance. Puppets can be traced as far back as ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, and are found today in cultures worldwide, across the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia. This work shows how puppets have been used to relay myths, poke fun at political figures, comment on cultural events of the period, express moral stories, and entertain adults and children alike. It gives a historical overview and looks at the wide variety of this traditional art form. From European and Asian puppets in modern and ancient times to the Puppet Modernism movements, this work explores the important innovators and innovations of puppetry. Brief biographies of key figures such as Tony Sarg (credited with creating the first over-life-size puppets used for parades), Paul McPharlin (creator of Punch's Circus), and Jim Henson (world-reknowned creator of many puppets, including the Muppets) help describe the evolution of puppetry.
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Puppet Planet: The Most Amazing Puppet-Making Book in the Universe
John Kennedy
4.4
There's a whole new world of puppets out there!
In Puppet Planet, John Kennedy offers you the insight, tips and trade secrets that only a professional puppeteer can. Learn how to make 12 brand new puppets, then learn how to perform with them! Discover professional staging techniques, as well as ways to make the puppets come alive for your audience.
Look inside to:
Create the muscle laden, but amazingly soft, Stuffed Strongman Craft the delightfully sweet Pillow Buddy Build Professor Foaman, the smartest puppet on Puppet Planet Make the Shoe Box Monster, a fellow with a surprise hidden inside Plus so much more! With variations for every puppet, tips, new techniques, complete material lists and easy to use patterns, you'll be ready to perform in no time! Peer behind the curtain with Puppet Planet and discover a world waiting to delight, amaze and thrill.
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Amazing Grace
Mary Hoffman, Caroline Binch
4.4
Grace loves stories, whether they're from books, movies, or the kind her grandmother tells. When her school decides to perform Peter Pan, Grace longs to play the lead, but her classmates point out that Peter was a boy. Besides, he wasn't black.
With the support of her family, Grace learns that she can be anything she wants to be, and the results are amazing!
Remarkable watercolor illustrations give full expression to Grace's high-flying imagination.
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The Puppet Masters
Robert A. Heinlein
4.4
First came the news that a flying saucer had landed in Iowa. Then came the announcement that the whole thing was a hoax. End of story. Case closed.
Except that two agents of the most secret intelligence agency in the U.S. government were on the scene and disappeared without reporting back. Then four more follow up agents also disappeared. So the head of the agency and his two top agents went in and managed to get out with their discovery: an invasion is underway by slug-like aliens who can touch a human and completely control his or her mind. What the humans know, they know. What the slugs want, no matter what, the human will do. And most of Iowa is already under their control.
Sam Cavanaugh was one of the agents who discovered the truth. Unfortunately, that was just before he was taken over by one of the aliens and began working for the invaders, with no will of his own. And he has just learned that a high official in the Treasury Department is now under control of the aliens. Since the Treasury Department includes the Secret Service, which safeguards the President of the United States, control of the entire nation is near at hand.
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Blinded By His Puppetry Skills
Dan Steadman
4.4
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The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Illustrated): The 1900 Classic Edition with Original Illustrations
L. Frank Baum
4.4
Experience L. Frank Baum's timeless masterpiece as generations first discovered it—complete, unabridged, and brought to life with W.W. Denslow's original artwork that defined Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and the magical land of Oz.Inside This Edition160+ Original Denslow Illustrations, Carefully Restored – Every iconic image from the 1900 first edition, meticulously enhanced for crisp, clear reproduction on every page. Compare using Look Inside—you'll see the difference.Complete & Unabridged 1900 Text – Every word as L. Frank Baum originally wrote itReader-Friendly Layout – Clear typography perfect for young readers, family read-alouds, and collectorsComprehension Quiz at the End – Fun questions at the end to spark discussion and test knowledge of Dorothy's journeyAbout the BookWhen a tornado sweeps Dorothy and her dog Toto from Kansas to the magical land of Oz, they embark on an unforgettable journey down the Yellow Brick Road to find the Wizard who can send them home. Along the way, they meet the Scarecrow seeking a brain, the Tin Woodman longing for a heart, and the Cowardly Lion searching for courage—forming friendships that will help them face the Wicked Witch of the West and discover that everything they sought was within them all along.A treasured edition for families building their classic literature collection, fans discovering the story behind Wicked, and anyone wanting to experience America's greatest fairy tale as it was meant to be read.
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The Dark Crystal: The Ultimate Visual History
Caseen Gaines
4.4
Dark Crystal: The Ultimate Visual History is the definitive collection of rare artwork, interviews, and on-set photos from the beloved Jim Henson fantasy classic.
A true masterpiece brought to life by the ingenious puppetry and peerless storytelling of Jim Henson, Dark Crystal is revered by an entire generation of fans. For the first time, this deluxe and highly comprehensive book tells the complete story of this deeply personal Henson project, highlighting the unique creative journey and groundbreaking techniques that brought the film to the screen. Drawing from unseen archive interviews with Jim Henson and new interviews with the film’s behind-the-scenes creative team, Dark Crystal: The Ultimate Visual History leaves no stone unturned in chronicling the entire production, from the initial concept based on themes close to Henson’s heart to the ingenious conceptual design, puppet construction, and logistics of the shoot itself. The book also delves into the wider world of Dark Crystal, exploring the creation of comics, novels, and other official projects inspired by the film.
This deluxe coffee-table book contains an in-depth look at the day-to-day production of the film and showcases a huge range of incredible visuals, including candid set photography, previously unseen concept art, storyboards, production notes, and more. The book also features a plethora of amazing removable items, such as script pages, notes and sketches from Henson, and other unique treasures. Definitive, enthralling, and revelatory, Dark Crystal: The Ultimate Visual History is the last word on an enduring modern classic and the book that fans of the film have been waiting for.
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21
Julie Taymor, Playing With Fire: Theater Opera Film
Eileen Blumenthal, Julie Taymor
4.3
One of the most imaginative and provocative directors and designers working today, Taymor draws on elements from the West, Indonesia, Japan, traditional theater, Asian dance-drama, puppetry, masked dance, contemporary cinema, and other performing arts to bring her extraordinary theatrical hybrids to life. Tracing her extensive career, this volume includes 195 illustrations, 110 in color, as well as Taymor's personal production notes.
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Puppetry: How To Do It
Mervyn Millar
4.3
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The Care & Keeping of You: The Body Book for Girls (American Girl Library)
Valorie Schaefer, Norm Bendell
4.3
This "head-to-toe" guide answers all your questions, from hair care to healthy eating, bad breath to bras, periods to pimples, and everything in between. With tips, how-to's, letters from girls, and facts from the experts, here's straightforward advice you can really use.
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Dracula: A Toy Theatre
Edward Gorey
4.3
Bram Stoker's 1897 novel took place in the wild Carpathian Mountains, London and rural England, and various places in between. But the Dracula for which Edward Gorey created the set designs reproduced in miniature here--a version that ran to nearly a thousand Broadway performances--compresses the action to one locale: the sanatorium of Dr. Seward, near the town of Purley, somewhere in the English countryside. Based on Edward Gorey's set and costume designs for his award-winning Broadway production of Dracula, these die-cut, scored, and perforated foldups and foldouts include: 3 pop-up 16 x 12 inch stage sets; cast of 8 (15 figures in all); stage furniture; and a 4-page booklet with exceptionally simple assembly instructions, a synopsis of Gorey's Broadway adaptation of Dracula, and notes on Edward Gorey (1925-2000) and his many magical creations. Cigar-box style packaging, approximately 8 1/2 X 12 1/2 X 1 inches
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Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street
Michael Davis
4.3
The story of one of the most important and beloved shows on television-how it got started, nearly failed, and was saved by Elmo.
When the first episode aired on November 10, 1969, Sesame Street revolutionized the way education was presented to children on television. It has since become the longest-running children's show in history, and today reaches 8 million preschoolers on 350 PBS stations and airs in 120 countries.
Street Gang is the compelling and often comical story of the creation and history of this media masterpiece and pop culture landmark, told with the cooperation of one of the show's cofounders, Joan Ganz Cooney. Sesame Street was born as the result of a discussion at a dinner party at Cooney's home about the poor quality of children's programming and hit the air as a big bang of creative fusion from Jim Henson and company, quickly rocketing to success.
Street Gang traces the evolution of the show from its inspiration in the civil rights movement through its many ups and downs-from Nixon's trying to cut off its funding to the rise of Elmo-via the remarkable personalities who have contributed to it. Davis reveals how Sesame Street has taught millions of children not only their letters and numbers, but also cooperation and fair play, tolerance and self-respect, conflict resolution, and the importance of listening. This is the unforgettable story of five decades of social and cultural change and the miraculous creative efforts, passion, and commitment of the writers, producers, directors, animators, and puppeteers who created one of the most influential programs in the history of television.
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Shadow Puppets Shadow Play
David Currell
4.3
Illustrating the work of some of the finest shadow players in the world, this book explains with clarity and precision the art of shadow puppetry, an art form increasingly used by professional companies and educational institutions. Traditional shadow play techniques are covered, together with modern methods and recent explorations, puppet design, lighting and staging, and even techniques for creating translucent figures.
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Sesame Street: A Celebration of 40 Years of Life on the Street
Louise A. Gikow
4.3
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The Muppets Magnet Set: Welcome Everybody! (RP Minis)
Nick Perilli
4.3
Put on your very own show and hang out with Kermit the Frog and the rest of The Muppets with this collectible character magnet set. Unique Magnet Set: 25 full-color magnets of The Muppets including Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, and more, as well as a two-sided illustrated backdrop to build your own scenes. Illustrated Mini Book: Includes a full-color 32-page miniature book of Muppet profiles and character art. The Perfect Gift for Muppet Fans: Anyone who loves the Muppets will enjoy creating their own scenes with this magnet set on any magnetic surface. Officially Licensed: An authentic The Muppets product.
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La Marionnette, laboratoire du théâtre
BEAUCHAMP HELENE
4.3
À la fin du XIXe siècle, dans toute l’Europe, les avant-gardes théâtrales font de la marionnette — jusqu’alors ancrée dans des traditions en déclin — un véritable modèle esthétique, qui persiste jusqu’à la fin des années trente. Ainsi, le sujet de ce livre n’est pas « le théâtre de marionnettes », défini par une série de pratiques qui volent alors en éclats, mais « la marionnette au théâtre » : comment et pourquoi cet objet théâtral entre-t-il dans le champ du « grand » théâtre, c’est-à-dire de la scène d’acteurs, et qu’y change-t-il ? Que devient la marionnette dans cette rencontre ? Ce « modèle marionnettique », profondément critique et expérimental, devient alors un laboratoire qui explore tous les champs de l’art du théâtre : théorie, dramaturgie, mise en scène. Cet ouvrage associe ces trois dimensions et analyse, dans trois pays où les conditions de la vie théâtrale sont assez différentes (la Belgique, l’Espagne et la France), à la fois des textes théoriques (manifestes, articles de presse), des réalisations scéniques et des textes dramatiques, en accordant une attention particulière au dernier aspect. De très nombreux textes dramatiques dits « pour marionnettes » ou inspirés par son esthétique y sont convoqués et soumis à une analyse dramaturgique approfondie qui explore la variété des possibilités dramatiques offertes par la marionnette au théâtre. On voit alors comment l’énergie polémique du modèle marionnettique explore, souvent avant l’heure, des territoires fondamentaux de la scène moderne : méta-théâtralité, parodie, distanciation, fusion des arts, mais aussi recherche d’un théâtre métaphysique, populaire et politique
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40 Portraits 2003-2008
Gisèle Vienne
4.3
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The World of The Dark Crystal
Brian Froud
4.3
Now 20 years old, Jim Henson's classic fantasy film The Dark Crystal--featuring the breathtaking concept design of renowned fantasy artist Brian Froud--is a soaring work of the imagination. This mystical adventure has such a huge cult following that when the film was recently re-released on video and DVD, it quickly sold a million copies. Just as remarkable is the cult status of The World of The Dark Crystal, Froud's book on the film. Originally published in 1982 and long out of print, this definitive volume--packed with brilliant artwork--has been in such demand that used copies can sell for well over $400.
Abrams is now proudly reissuing this sought-after book in a brand new collector's edition. This beautifully printed reproduction of the original volume contains all of its stunning art and text--plus a new essay by Froud, illustrated with never-before-published paintings, drawings, and sculptures from the film's archives. And this new edition features a facsimile of a 20-page booklet Froud and Henson created to present the film to backers--a gorgeous overview of the story so rare only a few copies are known to exist. This collector's edition of The World of The Dark Crystal, like the re-released film, will truly be a must-have for Henson and Froud fans.
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Welcome to the Neighborwood
Shawn Sheehy
4.3
In this stunning pop-up book, meet seven animal builders and see how their unique skills help them survive—and to live together in harmony in theneighborwood.
At the edge of the forest a spider spins her web, while nearby, a hummingbird uses strands of spider silk to build her nest. These are just two of the many animals who live side by side, sharing the resources they need to construct homes, traps, or places to store food. From award-winning artist Shawn Sheehy comes an up-close look at the architectural masterpieces of the animal world, featuring an array of beautiful, lifelike pop-ups originally crafted with handmade paper. The earthy exploration culminates in a breathtaking final spread showing all the neighborwood creatures together.
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Puppets, Masks, and Performing Objects
John Bell
4.3
This volume, which originally appeared as a special issue of TDR/The Drama Review, looks at puppets, masks, and other performing objects from a broad range of perspectives.
Puppets and masks are central to some of the oldest worldwide forms of art making and performance, as well as some of the newest. In the twentieth century, French symbolists, Russian futurists and constructivists, Prague School semioticians, and avant-garde artists around the world have all explored the experimental, social, and political value of performing objects. In recent years, puppets, masks, and objects have been the focus of Broadway musicals, postmodernist theory, political spectacle, performance art, and new academic programs, for example, at the California Institute of the Arts.This volume, which originally appeared as a special issue of TDR/The Drama Review, looks at puppets, masks, and other performing objects from a broad range of perspectives. The topics include Stephen Kaplin's new theory of puppet theater based on distance and ratio, a historical overview of mechanical and electrical performing objects, a Yiddish puppet theater of the 1920s and 1930s, an account of the Bread and Puppet Theater's Domestic Resurrection Circus and a manifesto by its founder, Peter Schumann, and interviews with director Julie Taymor and Peruvian mask-maker Gustavo Boada. The book also includes the first English translation of Pyotr Bogatyrev's influential 1923 essay on Czech and Russian puppet and folk theaters.
Contributors John Bell, Pyotr Bogatyrev, Stephen Kaplin, Edward Portnoy, Richard Schechner, Peter Schumann, Salil Singh, Theodora Skipitares, Mark Sussman, Steve Tilllis
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Jim Henson's Designs and Doodles: A Muppet Sketchbook
Alison Inches
4.3
Bert and Ernie were once just scribbles in a notebook, and the original Oscar the Grouch was purple, not green. Before there were Muppets, there were Jim Henson's designs and doodles. This collection of Henson's early drawings forms a trail back to his roots as a graphic artist.
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How To Make Your Sock Talk:: A Beginner's Guide To Ventriloquism
Jimmy Vee
4.3
Grab a sock and let's make it talk. Ventriloquists and their puppet partners have won the world's largest talent shows, headlined in Vegas, and performed for sold out stadiums. Now you can learn the secret to this unique and magical art and all you need to start is a simple sock. In these pages, you'll discover how to create a sock puppet partner of your very own and make it talk without moving your lips in just ten simple steps. Ventriloquism is a fun way to build self-esteem, bolster confidence and help kids express themselves in ways they never could before.This engaging picture book, illustrated by former Disney animator Peter Raymundo, brings a fresh approach to teaching the art of ventriloquism and puppetry.Learning an art ventriloquism enhances concentration, improves communication skills, boosts creativity, increases confidence, develops discipline plus It's a great ice breaker.Making a sock puppet and learning ventriloquism is a fun family activity and also makes a great gift. Targeted for children ages 6-14 (and even adults), kids are sure to have a blast and feel empowered as they learn this new and valuable skill.Kids ages: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15
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LAIKA: The Magic Behind a Stop-Motion Dream Factory: Two Decades of Groundbreaking Animation from Coraline to Wildwood
Puppets have existed in one form or another in nearly every culture throughout human history. From the intriguing shadow puppets of Java to the romantically challenged Miss Piggy, from African carved-wood actors with outsize genitalia to merry maniac Mr. Punch, puppets are incredibly diverse, reflecting the varied cultures, environments, and personalities of their creators. In this lavishly illustrated volume, Eileen Blumenthal provides a comprehensive overview of the history and techniques of puppetry, examining the unique nature and abilities of puppets and illustrating the countless roles they (and their creators) have played in societies across the globe for thousands of years. She draws on examples from an astonishing array of puppeteers, performances, and historical artifacts, providing readers with an in-depth view of this intricate world of constructed actors and the eclectic, and often eccentric, artists who create them. With a lively and accessible text and a wealth of illustrations, this one-of-a kind volume will be treasured by lovers of both visual and theater arts.
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38
The Art of the Puppet
Bil Baird
4.3
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39
The Lion King: Pride Rock On Broadway
Julie Taymor
4.3
The stage adaptation of The Lion King is being hailed around the world as a once-in-a-lifetime event. This book features a developmental history of the production through beautiful artwork, photos, and behind-the-scenes details of the challenges the director and actors faced and the making of the elaborate sets, costumes, and masks.
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40
Sesame Street Unpaved: Scripts, Stories, Secrets and Songs
David Borgenicht
4.2
The show that has taught over 70 million of us to count is turning 30! To help celebrate this milestone, Hyperion presents the ultimate insider's tribute to "Sesame Street"--a one-of-a-kind volume that lets readers relive all the classic memories, games shows, animation, and parodies through actual scripts, rare photos, celebrity flashbacks, and hilarious anecdotes. 400 color photos. NPR sponsorship.
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41
The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag (Flavia de Luce, #2)
Alan Bradley
4.2
Flavia de Luce, a dangerously smart eleven-year-old with a passion for chemistry and a genius for solving murders, thinks that her days of crime-solving in the bucolic English hamlet of Bishop’s Lacey are over—until beloved puppeteer Rupert Porson has his own strings sizzled in an unfortunate rendezvous with electricity. But who’d do such a thing, and why? Does the madwoman who lives in Gibbet Wood know more than she’s letting on? What about Porson’s charming but erratic assistant? All clues point toward a suspicious death years earlier and a case the local constables can’t solve—without Flavia’s help. But in getting so close to who’s secretly pulling the strings of this dance of death, has our precocious heroine finally gotten in way over her head?
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42
Thunderbirds: The Vault
Marcus Hearn
4.2
On 30th September 1965, International Rescue successfully completed their first assignment, and the Tracy brothers imprinted themselves on a generation of captivated children. Thirty-two episodes, many repeats, sixty territories, two feature films, three albums, numerous comics, books, toys, videos and DVDs and five decades later, Thunderbirds are still saving the world from the brink of peril.
Thunderbirds: The Vault will be the first ever lavishly illustrated, definitive, beautifully packaged, presentation hardback telling the story of this enduring cult phenomenon. Packed with previously unpublished material, including prop photos, design sketches, production memos and other collectible memorabilia, plus specially commissioned photography of original 60s merchandise, and new interviews with cast and crew, it’s going to be a collectors’ dream and a fantastic piece of British TV history.
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43
TIME The Muppets
The Editors of TIME
4.2
Kermit the Frog’s words of wisdom, like “It’s not easy being green,” have echoed from TV sets across America since 1974. Viewers fell in love with Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, and the whole medley of Muppets who continue to touch our lives. This special edition from TIME explores how Jim Henson founded the Henson Company and created a beloved variety TV show, including insights from puppet experts who were with him from the start, such as Dave Goelz and Bonnie Erickson. The issue also explores the myriad of new Muppets programs since Disney’s acquisition, and the Muppets themselves weigh in on filming the holiday classic The Muppet Christmas Carol. Please note that this product is an authorized edition published by the Dotdash Meredith Corporation and sold by Amazon. This edition is printed using a high quality matte interior paper and printed on demand for immediate fulfillment.
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44
Imagination Illustrated: The Jim Henson Journal
Karen Falk
4.2
Jim Henson's iconic puppet characters, fantastic worlds, and warm humor have delighted millions of people of all ages. His incredibly diverse body of work, from the Muppets to the world of The Dark Crystal, reveals his charm and genius to fans old and new. Compiled directly from The Jim Henson Company archives, Imagination Illustrated adapts the diary that Jim faithfully kept throughout his career, supplementing it with a trove of little-seen visual material, including rare sketches, personal and production photographs, storyboards, doodles, and much more. Throughout, archivist Karen Falk delves into the behind-the-scenes details of Henson's life and artistic process. Sure to delight anyone who has enjoyed Henson's creations—seeing early drawings of Kermit and Rowlf is like smiling over childhood photos of dear friends—this lovely book celebrates Jim's life and his magic.
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45
The Art of Hand Shadows
Albert Almoznino
4.2
Making hand shadows on the wall is an age-old pastime that has provided countless hours of entertainment for children and adults alike. In this entertaining how-to book, a master of the art goes far beyond the basics to reveal his secrets for creating realistic, lifelike hand shadows. With practice and patience, you too can soon learn how to arrange your hands and fingers to form shadow images of a lumbering dinosaur, a pair of playful monkeys, an eagle slowly taking flight, a cat scratching itself, a howling wolf, and a neighing horse. You'll also discover how to create profiles of Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Fidel Castro, and other notables; and how to make recognizable silhouettes of churches, a pagoda, the Eiffel Tower, and more. Clear explanations and over 70 illustrations show precisely how to hold your hands in order to make the shadows seem lifelike. You'll also find expert advice on finger exercises to make it easier to produce hand shadows, and even how to organize a performance of your own shadow art. Ideal for children, this book will also appeal to adults, especially to magicians and other stage performers.
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46
Animal Heads: Trophy Heads to Crochet
Vanessa Mooncie
4.2
This amazing collection of trophy animal heads to crochet will be a stunning addition to any home. Inside this colorful book there are 10 fabulous trophy animals to choose from. Simply place above the fireplace for a great conversation piece or on a child's bedroom wall for a playful decoration. The projects vary in level of complexity and there is a comprehensive techniques section to help you learn all the necessary skills. Each project includes beautifully drawn crochet charts and detailed instructions.
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47
Designing the Doll: From Concept to Construction
Susanna Oroyan
4.2
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48
50 Hand Puppet Techniques: Hidden Secrets and Tricks Revealed
Chad Williams
4.2
A Master Class in PuppetryTeachers, parents, actors and students can now learn 50 professional puppetry techniques from a hand puppet master. Learn ancient puppet secrets and skills while playing and having fun!Your puppet will breathe, think, walk, emote and much more after reading this fun and easy to understand manual on hand puppet technique.Puppeteer Chad Williams has performed thousands of hand puppet shows and studied under some of the most prestigious names in American puppetry. Combining techniques from European, Chinese and Modern hand puppet styles, he developed his own system and has taught it to actors, puppeteers, teachers, parents and others at universities and international festivals.
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49
Hello My Name is Amineko: The Story of a Crafty Crochet Cat
Nekoyama
4.2
Hello My Name is Amineko follows the journey of Amineko the Crochet Cat and his crocheted friends as they eat, sleep, and have lots of fun and adventures. The book comes with complete step-by-step photography and instructions for creating an Amineko of your very own and personalizing this cute cat with different facial expressions, clothing, and even bedding. Hundreds of color photographs tell the adorable tales, and mischief, that Amineko and his friends find themselves in, with complete instructions for knitting adventures of your own.
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50
Worlds of Shadow: Teaching with Shadow Puppetry: Shadow Puppetry in the Classroom
David Wisniewski
4.2
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51
10-Minute Puppets
Noel MacNeal
4.2
It’s the Swiss Army knife of activity books: how to make puppets anywhere, in ten minutes or less, using everyday materials. And who better to create it than Noel MacNeal, a longtime puppeteer who learned his art from Jim Henson and Frank Oz. MacNeal shows parents and kids how to make 30 puppets using socks, paper bags, napkins, and the most important tools of all—your two hands.
10-Minute Puppetsis filled with imaginative ideas, energy, and the pure, childlike pleasure of turning objects into characters. There are finger puppets: Wigglin’ Worm in an Apple, Teeny Ballerina, Little Pachyderm Sock and glove puppets: Crabby Crab and Herb the Plant Cutouts, shadow puppets, and puppets perfect for the spur-of-the moment, like Envelope Bird—make it using a deposit envelope while waiting in line at the bank. With full-color illustrations throughout, the book has step-by-step instructions for each puppet; pages of puppet parts and bodies to cut out and use; how to create simple puppet theaters; plus, a final chapter with ideas for putting on a show, drawing on nursery rhymes, fairy tales, family stories, and more.
So the food is late and your six-year-old is about to lose it. You know what to do: Using a marker and your napkin, make the fashionable Lady Finger and start entertaining. Better yet, pass the marker to your child to create Handford, and the two of you can put on an impromptu dinner show.
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52
No Strings Attached: The Inside Story of Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Matt Bacon
4.2
This book takes readers on a close-up tour of Jim Henson's creature workshop to find out how some of today's most memorable movie characters, including Babe the sheep-corralling pig and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, are brought to life. 300+ color photos & illustrations.
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53
Fly Guy and the Alienzz (Fly Guy #18)
Tedd Arnold
4.2
Buzz is making a movie about aliens from outer space. When the action begins, superheroes Fly Guy and Buzz Boy are protecting a secret fort in the sky when an alien ship captures them! The duo must outsmart the aliens and the space pirates with the help of Dragon Dude and Fly Girl. The fun-zee is never-ending in this early chapter book.
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54
All By My Selves: Walter, Peanut, Achmed, and Me
Jeff Dunham
4.2
His YouTube videos have been viewed more than 400 million times by fans all over the world. He has played to sold-out venues across North America, Europe, South Africa and Australia. He has sold more than six million DVDs, Forbes has ranked him in their Celebrity 100 list of most powerful entertainers for two years running, and he has been the top touring comedian in the United States for the last two years. Whether he's breathing life into an old curmudgeon, an over- caffeinated purple maniac, or a screaming, skeletal, dead terrorist, Jeff Dunham is the straight man to some of the funniest partners in show business.
All by My Selves is the story of one pretty ordinary guy, one interesting hobby, one very understanding set of parents, and a long and winding rode to becoming America's favorite comedian. With wit, honesty, and lots of great show business detail, Jeff shares all the major moments in his journey. From the toy dummy he spotted at a toy store when he was 8 years old to playing to arenas filled with screaming fans, Jeff takes readers behind the curtain to explain how he turned an old fashioned art form into something truly modern and hip. Best of all, Jeff's story is accompanied by asides and interruptions from his characters-who share all the hilarious details Jeff himself is too embarrassed to include.
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55
There's a Rooster in My Bathroom!: A Quest for Meaning in the Bathroom, the Boardroom and Beyond
Trish Ostroski
4.2
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56
Cut out paper dolls: Fashion paper dolls for daughter or granddaughter
Lucky Designs Company Inc.
4.2
This wonderful book features two beautiful paper dolls and 76 full color stylish outfits, including: dresses, skirts, tops, leggings, jackets, shoes, sweaters, shorts and more. Cut them out and start playing!💖 All the clothes are appropriate for young kids.💖 Paper dolls are made using standard human body proportions.💖 All the illustrations were created by a professional designer.💖 Makes a perfect gift for girls ages 7-12.💖 Book dimensions: 8.5” x 11”, full color, paperback, high quality print.This book is one of 24 books in the Fashion Paper Dolls series. You can buy a few and save money on shipping, or pick the one you like best.Tags: Fashion Paper Dolls, Birthday Gifts for girls, Christmas Gifts, Fashion styles, Fashion clothes, Fashion Sketchbook, Figure Templates For Kids, Fashion design for kids, Fashion Activity Book For Kids Aged 7-12, gift for kids who love fashion, Fashion activity book, Fashion activities for kids, gift for girls age 8, gift for girls age 9, gift for girls age 10, gift for girls age 11, gift for girls age 12
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57
The Muppets Make Puppets
Muppet Workshop and Cheryl Henson
4.2
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58
The Puppet and the Modern
Marie Jirásková
4.2
Czechoslovakia's unique culture of puppet theater reached a glorious apex between about 1900 and 1950, and its visual style was integral to the development of modernist and contemporary theater and animation. The Puppet and the Modern looks at this incredibly fertile phase in puppetry in Bohemia and Moravia and traces the development of stage design and stage technologies, also focusing on the connection of artists from disciplines and styles--designers, carvers, painters and scenographers--to the development of avant-garde and modernist currents in twentieth-century art. Narrated with text by scholars Marie Jiraskova and Pavel Jirasek, this richly illustrated, epic (456-page) volume begins in the Art Nouveau and Symbolist eras, tracing the development of Czech puppetry through its Expressionist incarnations and on to its radical reconception and renaissance as an art during the Cubist and Art Deco epochs. A truly revelatory publication, The Puppet and the Modern includes gorgeous color photographs of individual puppets drawn from public and private Czech puppet collections and supplements them with archival images of performances, sets, sketches, posters, programs, periodicals, illustrations and caricatures.
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59
Pirates of the Caribbean: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies
Jason Surrell
4.2
A behind-the-scenes look at the forty-year history of the popular Disney theme park ride and film adaptation, Pirates of the Caribbean, includes illustrations and photographs, recollections of cast and crew, and early story concepts.
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60
Muppets in Moscow
Natasha Rogoff
4.2
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61
Puppets and Puppet Theatre
David Currell
4.2
Puppets and Puppet Theatre contains everything one needs to know to progress from a beginner's level to a high standard of artistry. Puppeteer David Currell concentrates on designing, making, and performing with the main types of puppets, offering detailed information on the nature and heritage of puppet theater; the anatomy of a puppet and its design and structure; materials and methods for sculpting, modeling, and casting puppet parts; step-by-step instructions for constructing marionettes as well as glove, hand, rod, and shadow puppets; and the control and manipulation of all these types of puppets. The author then covers staging principles and construction methods; principles of lighting and sound; and the basics of producing a show. Lavishly illustrated and filled with expert tips and insights, this is a must-have book for anyone drawn to the magical world of puppets and puppet theater.
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62
In My Tree
Sara Gillingham, Lorena Siminovich
4.2
Turn the colorful die-cut pages of this irresistible board book to discover just what makes little owl's tree so cozy. Is it little owl's sturdy branch and snuggly roost? No, it's his loving family! Bright pictures, reassuring messages, unique layered pages and an adorable felt finger puppet attached to each book combine to create interactive reading and playtime fun!
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63
Ventriloquism Made Easy: How to Talk to Your Hand Without Looking Stupid!
Paul Stadelman
4.2
Learn how to throw your voice. Make your hand talk, your shoe sing, and your mother-in-law shut-up Everyone will be tongue-tied when you start talking to the lamp shade and it talks back Paul Stadelman, a professional ventriloquist who stared on his own TV show for many years, shares with you secrets that have made him a hilarious success. Ventriloquism, as taught in this book, is easy to learn if you follow a few simple rules. Anybody can do it And it's so fun that once you start, you'll be talking to yourself for hours. This book explains how to use standard puppets as well as novelty figures such as balloon animals and gym socks. Includes 22 complete comedy dialogs to get you stated. All outrageously funny.
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64
The Complete Book of Marionettes
Mabel and Les Beaton
4.2
"Highly recommended." — Library Journal Marionettes, those beguiling, animated little actors on strings, have endeared themselves to puppet show lovers for generations. Constructed to approximate most nearly the movement and appearance of humans and animals, the jointed figures appear today in a variety of places — in the theater, motion pictures, schools, and even as an advertising medium. This instructive and engaging guide, written by professionals with a passion for their art, provides everyone from beginners to veteran performers with all the information needed to create these beloved figures and the stages on which they perform. Enhanced with more than 200 sequenced photographs and diagrams, the comprehensive manual contains valuable advice for making heads, bodies, wigs, and puppet clothing and includes entire chapters on how to manipulate the puppet, set up and furnish a stage, light scenes, and even how to build miniature pieces of furniture. A production chapter tells how to incorporate music, put on sketches, parody celebrities, and arrange programs. There's even a complete script for Beauty and the Beast, as well as a section on the history of puppeteering.
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65
In My Nest
Sara Gillingham, Lorena Siminovich
4.1
Children are sure to love this delightful finger puppet book. Layered die-cut pages allow a peek at all the colorful things that make up each animal's home, and an adorable folk-art style finger puppet make this book that is filled with reading and playtime fun.
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66
My Life as a Furry Red Monster: What Being Elmo Has Taught Me about Life, Love and Laughing Out Loud
Kevin Clash, Gary Brozek
4.1
Meet Kevin Clash, the man behind the Muppet and the unassuming heart and soul of Elmo. At last, the puppeteer who has performed Elmo for nearly twenty years comes out from behind the stage to share his story. Weaving together his memories of growing up with the life lessons gained from his furry red alter ego, Kevin reveals himself to be as caring, and as eager to grow and learn and love, as the very special character he brings to life. You will discover how young Kevin honed his talent entertaining the kids in his mother's home day care with puppets he made from slippers and coat liners; how, as a struggling young artist, he realized his dream to meet and then work for his idol, Muppet creator Jim Henson; and how each and every day of performing Elmo reinforces for him what is most important in life. As Kevin has been inspired by Elmo, now we can all learn from his furry red ways. Kevin's (and Elmo's) thoughts on love, creativity, friendship, and optimism remind us of life's simple truths and ultimately encourage us all to be a little bit more like Elmo-to live with joy, to love more easily, and to laugh more often.
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67
Cloth Doll Workshop: From the Beginning and Beyond with Doll Masters elinor peace bailey, Patti Medaris Culea, and Barbara Willis
Elinor Peace Bailey
4.1
Patti Culea, elinor peace bailey, and Barbara Willis are three of the leading doll artists and teachers in the country. They are also friends. Each of these artists has her own distinct approach to the design and development of a cloth figure. In this book, each artist's process will come alive through their choice of fabrics, sketches, simple patterns, and skill-building variations. The book is oriented toward beginning doll makers, but offers unique variations and embellishments to please even more experienced doll designers. Two introductory chapters cover basic materials and techniques. Each artist's chapter includes step by step illustrations, instructions, and patterns to make a complete doll, plus variations that create completely new figures. Readers are treated to full color photography and a look inside of each artist's workspace. A gallery of additional creations by each artist, along with commentary on each work completes the collection. This is a must-have book for any aspiring or experienced doll making.
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68
Rehearsing with Gods: Photographs and Essays on the Bread & Puppet Theater
Ronald T. Simon, Marc Estrin, Grace Paley
4.1
Peter Schumann and his Bread & Puppet Theater are likely the most important, and surely the longest-lasting, contributors to modern American theater history. Since the early sixties Schumann and his puppeteers have been pouring out work after work on every scale: political works, mysterious works, grand works, modest works, works on the street and works in fields, works to be played in every size theater on four continents, books, prints, posters, and banners which live as show-and-tell in so many homes.
Now Ron Simon and Marc Estrin, a remarkable photographer, and a long-time puppeteer, who have each in his own way contributed to the shows, recorded events, and reflected on them. Out of their experiences they have created Rehearsing with Gods: Photographs and Essays on the Bread & Puppet Theater.
Far more than history or documentation, they identify eight archetypes engaged repeatedly by Peter Schumann and his crew. Their book consists of parallel meditations--the texts not commenting on the photos, the photos not illustrating the texts--unified and intertwined by the chapter themes of Death, Fiend, Beast, Human, World, Gift, Bread, and Hope.
Altogether, it's a collaboration that reflects their sixty-odd man-years of personal experience in, hidden narratives of, and speculative reflections on Peter Schumann's projects, ever-more relevant to our times. This is a book that will engage both fans and newcomers--an inside-view of Peter Schumann's political-artistic world.
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69
Oliver
Birgitta Sif
4.1
An imaginative child who doesn’t quite fit in finds a kindred spirit in this utterly charming picture book from a debut author-illustrator.
Oliver is different. He enjoys his solitude. He likes playing with his friends, who are puppets, stuffed animals, and other toys. With his rich imagination, Oliver’s day is never dull. There are bridges to cross, sharks to fight, and treasures to find! But maybe toys don’t always give a boy everything he needs. Maybe he needs another kind of companion. Will Oliver discover a way to be, well, different? When his tennis ball rolls across the lawn into the yard of the girl next door, he just might be surprised.
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70
The Wisdom of Big Bird (and the Dark Genius of Oscar the Grouch): Lessons from a Life in Feathers
Caroll Spinney, J Milligan
4.1
An inspiring message for all ages: Find your inner bird.
If you’re looking for wisdom and joy in your life, go straight to Sesame Street and heed the words of its most beloved and profound resident, Caroll Spinney, who has spent the past thirty-four years in a bird costume (and a trash can) as Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch.
Three decades inside a giant puppet have taught Spinney a valuable and surprising lesson:
Being a bird can make you a better person.
In The Wisdom of Big Bird, the living legend of Sesame Street describes how we can all find our inner bird (or grouch).
Each chapter illustrates a piece of useful wisdom Spinney has gleaned from a career in feathers. The lessons Big Bird teaches children every day on Sesame Street are the same ones that have brought Spinney success and satisfaction in his own life.
Warm, witty, and affirming, Caroll Spinney’s memoir proves that being a bird can make you a better and happier person.
“Every day on Sesame Street, we strive to give our innocent young audience the basis of a lifelong education. It is no accident that spending the past thirty-four years in the Bird suit teaching these lessons to others has taught me a few things, too.”—from The Wisdom of Big Bird (and the Dark Genius of Oscar the Grouch)
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71
Dummy Days: America's Favorite Ventriloquists from Radio and Early TV
Kelly Asbury
4.1
Examines the best of the Golden Age of ventriloquism, by profiling five performers who turned a vaudevillian gimmick into an American art form, including Edgar Bergen, Paul Winchell, Jimmy Nelson and Shari Lewis.
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72
The Prop Builder's Molding & Casting Handbook
Thurston James
4.1
The Prop Builder's Molding & Casting Handbook
This is the first book to contain, in one comprehensive volume, every molding and casting procedure of use to the theater props builder (no matter what his or her level or proficiency). The author demonstrates the techniques involved in using more than thirty different materials ranging from papier-mache to breakaway glass.
While the use of some materials-plaster and polyester resins, for example-is covered to some extent in other publications, information on the selection and use of rubber materials (latex, neoprene, silicone, and the urethanes) and the procedure for making breakaway windows and bottles is available only in The Prop Builder's Molding & Casting Handbook.
Written in an easy, conversational style, the book will be useful to anyone involved with theater properties, puppetry, and costuming (as professionals or amateurs). It will also serve admirably the needs of students taking classes in those subjects.
Completing the book is a special section on designing and building a vacuum forming machine suitable for use in constructing theater props. More than 450 photographs illustrate the step-by-step procedures explained throughout the entire text.
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73
Splendors and Glooms
Laura Amy Schlitz
4.1
The master puppeteer, Gaspare Grisini, is so expert at manipulating his stringed puppets that they appear alive. Clara Wintermute, the only child of a wealthy doctor, is spellbound by Grisini’s act and invites him to entertain at her birthday party. Seeing his chance to make a fortune, Grisini accepts and makes a splendidly gaudy entrance with caravan, puppets, and his two orphaned assistants.
Lizzie Rose and Parsefall are dazzled by the Wintermute home. Clara seems to have everything they lack — adoring parents, warmth, and plenty to eat. In fact, Clara’s life is shadowed by grief, guilt, and secrets. When Clara vanishes that night, suspicion of kidnapping falls upon the puppeteer and, by association, Lizzie Rose and Parsefall.
As they seek to puzzle out Clara’s whereabouts, Lizzie and Parse uncover Grisini’s criminal past and wake up to his evil intentions. Fleeing London, they find themselves caught in a trap set by Grisini’s ancient rival, a witch with a deadly inheritance to shed before it’s too late.
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74
How to Build a Ventriloquist Dummy - A Step by Step Guide for the Home Carpenter
Anon.
4.1
Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.
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75
It's Not Easy Being Green: And Other Things to Consider
Jim Henson, The Muppets and Friends,
4.1
A collection of wise and witty quotes from and inspired by Jim Henson similar in format to The World According to Mister Rogers. "When I was young, it was my ambition to be one of the people who made a difference in this world. My hope is to leave the world a little better for my having been there. It's a wonderful life and I love it." Jim Henson "Yeah, well, I've got a dream too. But it's about singing and dancing and making people happy. That's the kind of dream that gets better the more people you share it with. And, well, I've found a whole bunch of friends who have the same dream. And, it kind of makes us like a family." Kermit the Frog, The Muppet Movie
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76
The Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy of Mr. Punch
Neil Gaiman, Dave McKean
4.1
A dark and frightening fully painted novella, MR. PUNCH tells the tale of a young boy's loss of innocence results from a horrific confrontation with his past. Spending a summer at his grandfather's seaside arcade, a troubled adolescent harmlessly becomes involved with a mysterious Punch and Judy Man and a mermaid-portraying woman. But when the violent puppet show triggers buried memories of the boy's family, the lives of all become feverishly intertwined. With disturbing mysteries and half-truths uncontrollably unraveling, the young boy is forced to deal with his family's dark secrets of violence, betrayal, and guilt.
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77
American Puppetry: Collections, History and Performance
Phyllis T. Dircks
4.1
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78
In My Forest
Sara Gillingham, Lorena Siminovich
4.1
Turn the colorful die-cut pages of this irresistible board book to discover just what makes little deer's forest so cozy. Is it the fluffy snow? No, it's their loving families! Bright pictures, sweet reassuring messages, unique layered pages, and an adorable finger puppet combine to create interactive reading and playtime fun!
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79
A Pair of Cockeyed Optimists: The Puppetry Career of Bob and Judy Brown
Judy Barry Brown, Bob Brown, Luman Coad
4.1
In five decades of full-time puppetry, the Bob Brown Marionettes have done it all and won the respect of their public and peers. These consummate artists have survived devastating setbacks and numerous disappointments yet find the funny side. This book, much of it in Judy's unique narrative, is a delight to read. Scattered throughout are kernels of hard-earned wisdom only seasoned performers can impart.
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80
George Flies South
Simon James
4.1
A little bird waiting in his nest for his mother to bring back food is blown into the sky, nest and all, by a great wind. Will he be able to fly?
Autumn is coming, and George sits in his little nest, not quite ready to learn to fly even though his mom says it is time to head south for the winter. But when a gust of wind swoops George and his nest out of the tree and onto the roof of a car, George is off whether he likes it or not! With his mom following along chirping encouragement, George must gain the confidence to fly before his nest blows away entirely. This charming picture book gently nudges little fledglings everywhere to try out their wings.
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81
Memoirs of a Muppets Writer: (You mean somebody actually writes that stuff?)
Mr. Joseph A. Bailey
4.1
In his 20 year affiliation with Jim Henson's Muppets Joseph A. Bailey was a staff writer on both Sesame Street and The Muppet Show. He also co-wrote the television specials Big Bird in China, Christmas Eve on Sesame Street and Rocky Mountain Holiday, starring John Denver and the Muppets on location in Aspen, Colorado. Additionally, Mr. Bailey wrote Sesame Street song lyrics, albums, five 90-minute Sesame Street Live! musicals, Muppet Business Meeting Films and special material for Big Bird's appearances in the White House and Carnegie Hall. The Muppet Show guest stars he wrote for include George Burns, Bob Hope, Steve Martin, Rudolf Nureyev, John Cleese, Milton Berle and Peter Sellers. For his writing, Mr. Bailey has garnered 5 Emmys, 3 Emmy nominations, a Writers Guild of America Award and a George Foster Peabody Award. Mr. Bailey lives in Manhattan with his wife, Gail. He indulges in occasional long-distance motorcycle trips and claims to speak French and play piano to the equal amusement of others.
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82
Teenage Ninja to Mutant Turtle: Becoming the Reel Raphael
Kenn Scott
4.1
Go Behind-The-Scenes on the Original TMNT Films! Learn all the insider secrets from Kenn Scott, who portrayed 'Raphael' in the original hit TMNT films of the 1990s. You'll discover never-heard-before, wild stories of what it took to bring the turtles to life on the silver screen (and no punches are pulled). You'll be amazed by:
The challenges of working in the "hot-as-hell" suits How the incredible stunts were done What is was like working with Shredder, Splinter, April O'Neal, & Vanilla Ice How cool Jim Henson was How one of the turtles survived a near-death experience ...and lots more! This is a MUST-READ for any Ninja Turtle fan! You won't want to put it down. The book is funny, insightful, and wildly entertaining.
PLUS - 10% of all proceeds benefits the Sea Turtle Conservancy! Cowabunga! Get it TODAY!
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83
Sex Games for Couples: The Essential Guide to Sex and Naughty Games, Role Playing and Toys; Spice Up your Love Making and Do not Become Slave of Routines (Sex Positions Book 4)
Nicole Bliss
4.0
Cover unavailable
84
JERK // À TRAVERS LEURS LARMES (1 CD)
Gisele Vienne
4.0
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85
Heroes Are My Weakness
Susan Elizabeth Phillip
4.0
The dead of winter.
An isolated island off the coast of Maine.
A man.
A woman.
A sinister house looming over the sea ...
He's a reclusive writer whose macabre imagination creates chilling horror novels. She's a down-on-her-luck actress reduced to staging kids' puppet shows. He knows a dozen ways to kill with his bare hands. She knows a dozen ways to kill with laughs.
But she's not laughing now. When she was a teenager, he terrified her. Now they're trapped together on a snowy island off the coast of Maine. Is he the villain she remembers or has he changed? Her head says no. Her heart says yes.
It's going to be a long, hot winter.
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86
In My Flower
Sara Gillingham, Lorena Siminovich
4.0
Turn the colorful die-cut pages of this irresistible board book to discover just what makes little butterfly's flower so cozy. Bright pictures, sweet reassuring messages, unique layered pages, and an adorable finger puppet combine to create interactive reading and playtime fun!
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87
The Prop Builder's Mask-Making Handbook
Thurston James
4.0
Since prehistoric times, man has used masks to express himself in ritual, drama, and religion. Many traditional dramatic works, especially those of Asia and Europe, rely heavily on masks to characterize and express the persona of the actor. There has been little published material available, however, to guide technicians assigned the task of creating the masks for theatrical production.
Thurston James, veteran Properties Master of the UCLA Theater Department, has written The Prop Builder's Mask-Making Handbook for prop builders, costume designers, and actors (professional and amateur) who intend to use a mask or masks to enhance a stage play or other presentation.
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88
Muppets from Space: The Movie Scrapbook
Ben Eastman
4.0
So here it is -- the real deal, the inside scoop, the story behind the making of Muppets From Space. This official movie scrapbook is packed with full-color, behind-the-scenes photos, exclusive interviews, and fascinating factoids on the Muppets and the film.
Get up close and personal with Gonzo, Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the rest of the Muppet cast
Meet the men and women behind the stars -- the puppeteers. They'll let you in on some top-secret tricks of the trade that you won't read anywhere else
Take a sneak peek inside the Muppet Workshop and discover what goes into the designing, building, and costuming of each Muppet character.
Go on location to see how key scenes in the movie were filmed.
Hear from the movie's human stars about what it was really like to work with their Muppet co-stars.
Dish the on-set dirt with a producer to find out which Muppet celebrity is the most demanding. ("Who, moi?")
It's all here -- everything you've ever wanted to know about the Muppets, plus a whole lot you didn't -- in The Making of Muppet Movie Magic.
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89
Japanese Hiragana: Essential writing practice workbook for beginner and student(Handwriting Workbook)
BrainSky Press
4.0
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90
Will & Whit
Laura Lee Gulledge
4.0
Wilhelmina “Will” Huckstep is a creative soul struggling to come to terms with a family tragedy. She crafts whimsical lamps, in part to deal with her fear of the dark. As she wraps up another summer in her mountain town, she longs for unplugged adventures with her fellow creative friends, Autumn, Noel, and Reese. Little does she know that she will get her wish in the form of an arts carnival and a blackout, courtesy of a hurricane named Whitney, which forces Will to face her fear of darkness.
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91
Inside Pee-wee's Playhouse: The Untold, Unauthorized, and Unpredictable Story of a Pop Phenomenon
Caseen Gaines
4.0
Between 1986 and 1991, nearly ten million people a week watched Peewee’s Playhouse, the critically acclaimed and widely successful children’s program broadcast on CBS. Now, on the 25th anniversary of the show, the complete behind-the-scenes story is being told for the first time by those who experienced it. Complete with an episode guide, biographical information about the cast and key members of the show’s creative team, never-before-told anecdotes, and previously unpublished photos, Inside Pee-wee’s Playhouse takes the first in-depth look behind the program TV Guide recently cited as one of the top ten cult classics of all time. Paul Reubens (as Pee-wee Herman) has been making a comeback since August 2010, appearing on Saturday Night Live, The View, The Jimmy Kimmel Show, Conan, and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He starred in a successful stage revival of his live show in January and February of 2010, and it hit Broadway later that year. It’s been turned into a special on HBO. His public Twitter and Facebook accounts boast over one million fans and followers. Inside Pee-wee’s Playhouse is the first comprehensive look at this amazingly successful (and still revered) children’s program. Pee-wee Herman fans have been energized recently by the character’s reemerging presence. From casual fans to devout followers, everyone will be interested in taking a look Inside Pee-wee’s Playhouse.
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92
Puppet: An Essay on Uncanny Life
Kenneth Gross
4.0
The puppet creates delight and fear. It may evoke the innocent play of childhood, or become a tool of ritual magic, able to negotiate with ghosts and gods. Puppets can be creepy things, secretive, inanimate while also full of spirit, alive with gesture and voice. In this eloquent book, Kenneth Gross contemplates the fascination of these unsettling objects—objects that are also actors and images of life.
The poetry of the puppet is central here, whether in its blunt grotesquery or symbolic simplicity, and always in its talent for metamorphosis. On a meditative journey to seek the idiosyncratic shapes of puppets on stage, Gross looks at the anarchic Punch and Judy show, the sacred shadow theater of Bali, and experimental theaters in Europe and the United States, where puppets enact everything from Baroque opera and Shakespearean tragedy to Beckettian farce. Throughout, he interweaves accounts of the myriad faces of the puppet in literature—Collodi’s cruel, wooden Pinocchio, puppetlike characters in Kafka and Dickens, Rilke’s puppet-angels, the dark puppeteering of Philip Roth’s Micky Sabbath—as well as in the work of artists Joseph Cornell and Paul Klee. The puppet emerges here as a hungry creature, seducer and destroyer, demon and clown. It is a test of our experience of things, of the human and inhuman. A book about reseeing what we know, or what we think we know, Puppet evokes the startling power of puppets as mirrors of the uncanny in life and art.
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93
Skits and Puppets
Boy Scouts of America
4.0
Skits and Puppets Contents:
SKITS: Icebreakers, Pantomimes, Charades
PUPPETS: paper bag puppets, talking puppets, box puppets, sock puppets, animal sock puppets, how to operate your puppet, hand-puppet theater, scenery, prop board, puppet playwriting, bib puppets, bib-puppet stages, finger puppets, shadow puppets, storytelling, creative dramatics, playmaking
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94
The Well-Dressed Puppet: A Guide to Creating Puppet Costumes
Cheralyn Lambeth
4.0
Costumes are an integral part of any performance, adding believability, conveying setting, or establishing the tone, a fact that is no less true when your performer is a puppet! The only book of its kind, The Well-Dressed Puppet will show you how to create costumes and accessories tailored specifically for your puppet that will enhance any performance. Gone are the days of ill-fitting store-bought clothing that restrict the movement and use of your puppet. Author Cheralyn Lambeth walks you through every step of the costume-making process with detailed lists of the necessary materials, equipment, and patterns required to create a costume from scratch. She also shares multiple tips and information on how to modify off-the-rack clothing to fit any puppet. Suitable for both beginners and more advanced costumers, The Well-Dressed Puppet demonstrates basic sewing and construction techniques while still providing advanced projects for customers who have already mastered those skills.
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95
Ventriloquism: Magic with Your Voice
George Schindler and Ed Tricomi
4.0
One of the world's most famous magicomedians and ventriloquists discusses every aspect of his art and reveals tricks of the trade. George Schindler, the Dean of the Society of American Magicians, has kept audiences spellbound for more than forty years. In this guide for beginners and experienced ventriloquists alike, he defines the art and offers practical advice as well as inspiration. Starting with basic "vent" techniques, Schindler discusses the cultivation of a variety of voices and explains how to make puppets appear lifelike. He also presents helpful suggestions for putting an act together, developing comedy material and scripts, and even handling bookings and publicity. Thirty-eight figures and photos illustrate basic and advanced techniques in addition to puppets and their movements.
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96
Sesame Street and the Reform of Children's Television
Robert W. Morrow
4.0
By the late 1960s more than a few critics of American culture groused about the condition of television programming and, in particular, the quality and content of television shows for children. In the eyes of the reform-minded, commercial television crassly exploited young viewers; its violence and tastelessness served no higher purpose than the bottom line.
The Children's Television Workshop (CTW)—and its fresh approach to writing and producing programs for kids—emerged from this growing concern. Sesame Street—CTW's flagship, hour-long show—aimed to demonstrate how television could help all preschoolers, including low-income urban children, prepare for first grade. In this engaging study Robert W. Morrow explores the origins and inner workings of CTW, how the workshop in New York scripted and designed Sesame Street, and how the show became both a model for network television as well as a thorn in its side.
Through extensive archival research and a systematic study of sample programs from Sesame Street's first ten seasons, Morrow tells the story of Sesame Street's creation; the ideas, techniques, organization, and funding behind it; its place in public discourse; and its ultimate and unfortunate failure as an agent of commercial television reform.
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97
Paper Puppet Palooza
Norma V. Toraya
4.0
Cover unavailable
98
W61XE - Tradition of Excellence Book 1 - Alto Saxophone
Bruce Pearson and Ryan Nowlin
4.0
Cover unavailable
99
In My Patch
Sara Gillingham, Lorena Siminovich
4.0
Turn the colorful die-cut pages of these irresistible board books to discover just what makes little mouse's pumpkin patch so cozy. Is it the curling pumpkin vines? No, it's their loving families! Bright pictures, sweet reassuring messages, unique layered pages, and an adorable finger puppet combine to create interactive reading and playtime fun!
Cover unavailable
100
The Foam Book: An Easy Guide To Building Polyfoam Puppets
1
