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

Splat the Cat Finger Puppets

Love, Splat, by Rob Scotton, is my very favoritest kid Valentine book!  A rain cloud forms over Splat's head when things don't go right with his Valentine's Day plans, but Kitten saves the day! She finds his discarded Valentine anyway, and puts an umbrella over Splat!  We like you, too, Kitten!

I made Splat puppets by folding over a 6" piece of fuzzy black faux fur trim.  The arms, legs, and tail are double thick (glued together) pieces of black felt.  I hand sewed the tail on after sewing the body, legs, and arms with the machine. Ears and face pieces are glued on, with fabric paint details. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

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.

Rudolph Christmas Party Favors

Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer finger puppets just in time for class gift giving. Slide one of these on a pencil or candy cane and spread joy!

How-To's:

Trace and cut out pieces  on brown, off-white, (tummy), sparkle red (nose), and dark brown (antlers) felt.  Lightly glue antlers to inside of back piece and glue together ears of front and back to hold for sewing.  Add tail, tummy, and nose after sewing.  3D fabric paint works great for eyes and mouth.  

Merry Christmas!

Reindeer Finger Puppet Pattern

I linked here:

Reindeer Cork Craft

Santa dear, never fear.  These clever deer will make you cheer!

Materials: straightish sticks for legs and neck, branched sticks for antlers (these are from huckleberries), 2 corks, tacky glue, paint, ribbon, paper ears and tail

Tips:  Use an awl or nail to poke holes in the body for the sticks (legs and neck), and shave a bit of cork off the head with a knife to give it a more head-like shape.  For the eyes, dot white paint on with a Q-tip (cotton swab).  For pupils and nose, use 3D fabric paint (shiny and sticks out a bit).

I linked here:

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.

Paddington Bear Felt Finger Puppet

Free Paddington Bear Puppet Pattern

Spy Party Moles -- Felt Finger Puppets

Mole:   A spy who operates from within an organization, especially a double agent operating against his or her own government from within its intelligence establishment

Mole Felt Finger Puppet Pattern

Beyond a spy party, if you haven't read Mole Music, by David McPhail, consider our highest recommendation...We can't get enough of this good-for-the-heart, sweetly illustrated book!  There are two stories in one... Mr. Mole, below ground, grows tired of watching television and orders himself a violin. It takes a long time to arrive, and an even longer time to learn how to play it right.  Eventually, he plays better than the musician that first inspired him on TV, only he doesn't know it.  On the top half of the page is what is going on in the above ground world.  A little oak tree almost dies when it first hears the mole's music, but eventually grows to a profoundly beautiful tree as mole's skills improve.  Mole wishes he could share his music with someone, then laughs at himself. His music though, reaches people above him. Streaming through the old tree, it is his music that stops a war between two peoples right in the moment of conflict.  His music brings peace to the world, without Mole even knowing it!  I LOVE this story for reminding my family of how our actions can have an impact on the world far beyond our own limited vision.  My kids love this story too, we've been re-reading it for 7 years! I should have gotten a hardcover version!

Cinco De Mayo Felt Burro/Donkey Finger Puppets

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Little finger puppet burros to get your fiesta going!  Ole!

Hide these cuties in a piñata or top silverware or pencils with them for holiday theme!  Place a small dot of glue on front and back to hold trim in place before sewing. Use fabric paint for facial features.  Fringe “fur” between ears for a touch of whimsy.

Donkey/Burro Finger Puppet Pattern

If you need some stories to go along with these cuties, be sure to check out these...

Sweet Sheep for Spring!

Bring recycled packing peanuts and a wine cork  BAAAA...CK to life in this fun and simple little sheep craft.  Perfect after a field trip to a farm or just for spring fun.  This fluffy flock can't help but spread cheer wherever they stand!


Materials
foam packing peanuts
black paper, scissors
wine cork, Swiss army knife or other sharp, pointed tool
popsicle stick
sticks
q-tip
black and white paint, paint brush
tacky glue
silver marker
sharpie

How To:

1)  Find sticks for legs.  Look for those knobby knees!
2)  Use an awl (Swiss army knife) or other sharp tool to make four little holes in the cork.  Put a little glue on the end of each stick and insert.  Use scissors to trim legs so body is balanced on all fours.
3)  After glue dries, paint legs and body black.  (I only painted the bottom of the cork black, but would paint the whole thing next time).

4) Spread a little glue on the cork and add packing peanuts until the cork is covered.  It may help to let a few dry before adding more.  I did mine on a sunny day with lots of interruptions so I could only get a few on at a time anyway!

5)  While the "fleece" is drying, cut the ends off of a popsicle stick, rounding them into ovals. Paint them black!  When dry, use a q-tip to add the white eye dots.  When that dries, use a sharpie to make pupils and a silver pen to add other features.

6)  Cut out some ovals from the black paper for ears and a tail.  Bend ears as you like to give them personality.  Glue ears to head.

7)  Glue head and tail onto sheep's body.  All done!

Hopping Easter Bunny Craft

Hop into Spring with some jumping bunnies!  I couldn't decide on a color, so hey, why not three? These joyful fellows will spread cheer whereever they "hang out."

Materials:

poster board or heavy cardstock (for base)
colored paper (for decoration)
embroidery floss (or string)
hole punch, scissors, glue (rubber cement & tacky glue)
brass brads
black pen for details
brown thread and needle (for whiskers)
white paint, sharpie, & q-tip (for eyes)


Directions:
Cut out the template, glue the colored paper on top of the poster board pieces, and punch holes where indicated. Assemble by pushing brads through lower holes on arms and legs.

With the bunny in arms/legs down position (standing), tie string/floss through top holes of appendages, connecting arms to arms and legs to legs (loose tie is ok). Use a longer piece of string/floss to tie arm string to leg string, and leave a length at bottom for pulling.  Add a loop to the top of the head for hanging.

 

To add whiskers, put two lengths of stiff thread (>4.5") through a large eyed needle.  Poke the needle through the back of the head and tie a knot. Cut the needle loose from the other side.  Add a drop of tacky glue to the knot on the back so the whiskers won't slide out.

If your bunny's legs/arms get stuck when pulling, try loosening the brads a bit.


Dot the end of a Q-tip in white paint then on bunny's head to make eyes.  After paint dries, use a Sharpie to make the pupil.  Finally, use a thin black pen to add details like mouth, claws, and eye lashes.


Have fun!


Hopping Easter Bunny Template

http://todayscreativeblog.net/get-your-craft-on-tuesday-22/get-your-craft-on-24-2/

Ground Hog Felt Finger Puppets

Will it be 6 more weeks of winter? Use this little guy as a shadow seeker!  Glue  knotted thread behind the nose for whiskers. Fabric paint works great for the eyes and nose.  Happy Ground Hog’s Day!

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For stories to go along with this puppet, see here.

Ground Hog Finger Puppet Pattern

Peek-a-Boo Felt Groundhog Puppets

Returning from 2011... action-packed peek-a-boo groundhog's day puppets!  I am making 50 of these for my son's classes this year.... Phew!

Make groundhog go back to sleep after seeing his shadow by pulling on the ribbon. Poke your finger in to make him peek from his grassy burrow one more time... did he really see his shadow?