Speaking Volumes

A recent post featuring the wonderful puppet gallery available for loan at our library service centers, got me thinking about puppet stories and films. First that comes to mind is

The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi, the ageless tale of Geppetto, a woodcarver who creates a wooden puppet that wishes he was a real boy. The original story is far darker than most of the variations we read as children. It has countless retellings and was adapted by Disney in a popular screen version.

And who could forget the crazy antics of Punch and Judy. One version of their story is told in                                                                         
Twice Told Tales by Christopher P. Reilly
from our catalog...The first retells the puppet show about Mr. Punch, who brandishes his stick at everyone, including his wife Judy and his own baby. Then, Mr. Punch sets out to get on Santa's Nice List, but if he fails, he'll ruin Christmas for the last two good children on Earth.

The Master Puppeteer by Katherine Patterson YA PATTERSON

Eighteenth century Osaka and the world of puppeteers come to life in this story about a 13 year old boy. Jiro, tutored by Kinshi, the puppet master's son, stumbles on a dangerous secret.

I Want to be a Puppeteer by Ivan Bulloch J 741.5 BULLOCH
Be a Puppeteer by Estelle Worrell J741.5 WORRELL
gives practical advice on how to create your puppet and therefrom your show

Of course, the children's collection has other stories featuring puppets. And the The Muppets and their creator, Jim Henson, are well represented. It's seems impossible though, to come up with any titles in adult fiction where puppet is not used as metaphor in a sinister plot where someone is manipulated like a puppet. I couldn't find even one. Horror stories about ventriloquist dummies but nothing fun or wholesome. Keeping this in mind my suggestion in the adult collection would be

Stories of the American Puppet DVD 791.53 STORIES
A favorite form of American entertainment, this documentary provides a chronological history of the art. Both the puppets and those who made them famous are highlighted in this film.

If you're looking for something to do close to home with or without the kids be certain to visit The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry  on the UCONN Storrs campus. The museum is free, donations accepted. The current exhibition is Puppets Through the Lens: Puppetry in Film, Television, and the Internet. Puppets from The Muppets, Jurassic Park and Caddy Shack, as well as Howdy Doody, and Lambchop are on view.