Hippopotamus Felt Finger Puppet

Hippo, hippo, hooray!  Don't forget to add a tail to this guy!  A short little swishy one!

If you need a story to go along with these cuties, you MUST try Chubbo's Pool, by Betsy Lewin (yes! the famous illustrator of Click Clack Moo!).   This is a delightful tale of overcoming selfishness in a beautifully wild African setting. "GET OUT OF MY POOL," roars hippo, as he chases all the other animals out of his pool.  After all his water is gone he realizes he is lonely. He finds the other animals in a different pool, but knows he has been mean to them and so doesn't ask to join in.  Surprise!  The other animals come to join him anyway, bring water by the trunkful to fill up his old pool. Beautiful illustrations, beautiful message. I love the picture of him in the water where all you can see is his little ears/eyes poking out... The one thing I change when reading this is the name... I change Chubbo to hippo, because I'm more comfortable with that.

Owen and Mzee, The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship, by Isabella Hatkoff, Craig Hatkoff, Paula Kahumbu, and Peter Greste,  chronicles the story of a baby hippo stranded by the Dec. 2004 tsunami and his "adoption" by a real tortoise friend who happens to be 130 years old. This heart warming tale of friendship where you least expect it, and when you need it most, is most certainly a family bookshelf treasure.

Hippo goes Bananas, by Marjorie Dennis Murray, is a telephone game story with lively illustrations by Kevin O'Malley.  Hippo has a tooth ache!  As the story spreads through all the Serengeti animals, it grows and grows.  A fun read!

Hot Hippo, by Mwenye Hadithi and Adrienne Kennaway is a delightful selection from the African Animal Tales series.  How can a hippo find relief from the heat?  He seeks Ngai, who offers him cool rivers and streams as long as he promises never to eat a fish.

Ah, Sandra Boynton.  I've loved her art since I was a girl.  Just try not to smile as you read through this happy hippo counting book with your preschooler. Her illustrations are simply (pun intended) amazing!

Hippo Felt Finger Puppet Pattern

Monkey Felt Finger Puppets

Monkey Business!

Monkey Felt Finger Puppet Pattern

Lion Felt Finger Puppets

 Happy Valentine's Day, Wild Thing!

(don't forget to add the tail on back!)

(the pattern gives a circle tummy as well as the heart shown here)

Lion Felt Finger Puppets

For a beautifully (award winning!) illustrated, wordless version of a classic tale perfect with these puppets, try The Lion and the Mouse, by Jerry Pinkney.

Penguin Chick Felt Finger Puppet Pattern

First grade had Penguin Day recently, so we had to bring some penguins to help celebrate!  We brought penguin valentines last year and Christmas penguins in the past, so we needed a slightly different idea.  Ta d! The baby penguins are here!  The best part is that this is a relatively easy pattern, just four pieces per puppet! Don't forget the silver sharpie if you are trying these for the first time... works magically on the dark colored felts. 

There are so many great stories out there... I've already mentioned our favorite, Penguin Pete, but if you are new to this subject, you just can't miss Tacky the Penguin, by Helen Lester. It's a perfect book to bring out when your child is feeling outcast, a little too different from other kids, or perhaps that they aren't measuring up to what they are "supposed" to be doing.  Tacky doesn't have all the same skills and personality traits of his friends, but his very own way of doing things rescues them all in the end... Perfect for the family bookshelf!  Tacky helps youngsters tackle perfectionism!

Penguin Chick Felt Finger Puppet Pattern

Raccoon Felt Finger Puppets-- Bandits!

Great to go along with the story The Kissing Hand, by Audrey Penn...  Just add a red felt or fabric paint heart to the raccoon's paw!
 
How-to's:  Cut out two body pieces from the template below, cutting just a circle (no fingers) for hands, and glue arms together.  When dry, sew body together. Trim as needed and then cut fingers into hands.  For whiskers, knot a few short lengths of thread and glue onto raccoon’s nose.  Then add fabric paint on top for nose and again for eyes.

Raccoon Finger Puppet Pattern

For a story to go along with these guys, try Niccolini's Song, by Chick  Wilcoxen. This is a one-of-a-kind heartwarming tale about human kindness, set in the scene of a train yard (including a few intrusive raccoons!).  A nightwatchmen takes care of trains and his neighbors.  The words are almost poetic in places, as gentle as Niccolini himself. The first time I read it, tears came to my eyes as I remembered my own sleepless nights, pacing my colicky baby to sleep. My son who adores trains loves the illustrations and understands that trains can talk, if you listen. A great way to teach little ones about the gifts we each possess, and how that can fit into the world in surprising ways. Be true to yourself! Be a good listener!! How endearing is this story? I bought it when my son was three. He's 9 now. And it still brings a special feeling of peace and love to us when we read it together.

The classic, sweet raccoon love story is The Kissing Hand, by Audrey Penn.  A mother eases her young one's worries about the first day of school by sending along love... a sweet kiss in the palm of her child's hand. Whenever he feels lonely at school, he can press his paw to his cheek to feel her love.

Summer Party Parrots

These guys are all set for Kindergarten Luau! I made the shoulder pattern extra wide so they could fold over before sewing to give the wings a more 3D look.

Free Parrot Felt Finger Puppet Pattern

A great story to go along with this puppet is Rosa's Parrot, by Jan Wahl and Kin Howard.  Wahl's magical and clever story of a human/bird friendship is illustrated with rich artwork. Pico the Parrot helps Rosa, who is hard of hearing, by repeating things for her. Being a parrot though, and possessing the ability of a great and LOUD mimic, he can't resist getting into a little trouble at the market. Rosa figures this out, of course, and is not happy with him. It is not long, however, before all is forgiven and the two are sharing hot chocolate together.  The universal theme of friendship in a setting of overcoming a human disability (hearing loss) make it a great and unique choice for anytime.

Valentine Penguin Felt Finger Puppets

Free Penguin Felt Finger Puppet Pattern

Goin' Bats! Felt Finger Puppets

Trace and cut out pieces below.  You will need two body pieces and two wing pieces for each puppet. Sparingly glue together to hold for sewing.  I added a piece of fringe under the eyes for eyelashes, and purple thread for whiskers (knot together a few lengths and glue under small felt triangle nose). Fabric paint works great for eyes and details!

I found this awesome purple and black flash felt in a multi-pack of felt one year... I'd love to make these again but get disappointed... can't find ANY flash felt anywhere. Grrrr.

 The classic Stellaluna, by Janelle Cannon, is surely a must-read bat story.I  love Brian Lies' Bats at the Beach, too, for a fun bat story that will have kids reminiscing about summer fun! 

Bat Finger Puppet Pattern

Cardinal Finger Puppets

Mother's Day Koala Felt Finger Puppets

Panda Felt Finger Puppets

Red Panda Felt Finger Puppets

I made these guys for a class field trip to the zoo.  They were a fun souvenir for everyone!

How-to Hint: Knot a few short lengths of thread and glue onto panda’s face.  Then add fabric paint on top for nose. Black fabric paint works great for the mouth and eyes, too.

Red Panda Finger Puppet Pattern

Liberty Eagles

Liberty Eagles

Perky Penguins 2009

Mother's Day Kangaroos: Mama & Me!

A classic Mother and child pair, this cutie Kangaroo set will win the heart of your little one!  The joey can move in and out of Mom's pouch (connected by a ribbon).

How-to's:  Cut out and sew together two body pieces and the pouch (template below).  I find it easier to wait on cutting fingers until the puppet is sewn, otherwise matching the fingers can be frustrating! Glue on the cheek piece and add facial features with fabric paint.  For joey, glue a small and narrow piece of ribbon between the two body pieces to secure it for sewing.  Cut a small hole behind pouch in Mother’s body. Insert joey’s ribbon and knot it around a small safety pin to keep it from pulling out easily.

A perfect story for this puppet has to be Sam McBratney's, I Love It When You Smile.  Mom's little one woke up grumpy but Mom is determined to find that smile in there somewhere. Sure enough, it comes out after Mom ends up in a mud puddle and gets everyone dirty!

Kangaroo Finger Puppet Pattern

Polar Padders

Peace Doves for remembering Martin Luther King, Jr.

To make the olive branch, you need about an inch of brown chenille stem.  Cut two leaves out of green felt in an elongated figure eight pattern.  Put a dab of glue on the end of the stem, then wrap and twist the leaves around the stem until you have the look you like.  Black fabric paint works great for simple eyes.
 
Free Dove Felt Finger Puppet Pattern

Perky Penguins

This frozen cutie will warm frozen hearts!  Pair it with the sweet story of Penguin Pete, by Marcus Pfister, for a perfect winter duo!  This book is an especially great choice when your little one had a rough day... the soft and sweet illustrations alone will bring smiles. The gentle message is to believe in yourself and keep trying... Pete really can swim! Kids will relate to the difficulties of growing up, even for a penguin! 

Free Penguin Felt Finger Puppet Pattern