Puppet
Writing in the tradition of Pinocchio, Hans Christian Anderson Award winner David Almond brings his ineffable touch to a warm and wistful story that shows anything is possible with imagination and trust.
“You’re a mystery, aren’t you, Puppet? But isn’t everything a mystery? Not just you, but every single thing that exists.”
What should a puppet master do when he’s old and alone and all his puppets are gone? Silvester decides to make one last puppet. But this one is different. When the old man speaks to him, Puppet speaks back. And then he starts to walk . . . While Silvester shows Puppet the town, the playground, and other wonders the world holds, Puppet in turn helps Silvester to make a new friend and share his puppet-making skills with the next generation. With themes of compassion and creativity, threaded with David Almond’s inimitable humor, this wonder-filled story of creation and the circle of life, illustrated with wordless black-and-white spreads by award-winning artist Lizzy Stewart, is destined to become a modern-day classic.
“You’re a mystery, aren’t you, Puppet? But isn’t everything a mystery? Not just you, but every single thing that exists.”
What should a puppet master do when he’s old and alone and all his puppets are gone? Silvester decides to make one last puppet. But this one is different. When the old man speaks to him, Puppet speaks back. And then he starts to walk . . . While Silvester shows Puppet the town, the playground, and other wonders the world holds, Puppet in turn helps Silvester to make a new friend and share his puppet-making skills with the next generation. With themes of compassion and creativity, threaded with David Almond’s inimitable humor, this wonder-filled story of creation and the circle of life, illustrated with wordless black-and-white spreads by award-winning artist Lizzy Stewart, is destined to become a modern-day classic.
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Community Reviews
I LOVE David Almond! Such an enchanting author!
This delightful story of a puppet and puppeteer is an absolute joy - reminiscent of fairytales and fables. This story is unusual and beautifully innocent with stunning pictures that capture the tenderness of the story perfectly. It is easy to completely fall in love with the characters.
Puppet master Silvester’s glory days seem to be behind him. He ventures up into his attic for the first time in years - he decides to make one more puppet from the bits of wood and old puppets he finds there. Silvester talks to his new creation and what happens next is a total surprise - Puppet comes to life! After a few adventures of their own, Silvester and Puppet meet Fleur: a girl who develops an enthusiasm for puppet-making and persuades Silvester to put on one final show…
Even though there is sadness lurking at the edges of this story – Fleur’s loss of her father, Silvester’s loss of Belinda; it is full of wonder and wisdom about creation, love and living with imperfection.
This will be a wonderful story to read to KS2 classes - an innocent, charming story about the irresistible pull of creativity and imagination.
My favourite quote:
- The puppet show is ‘Shambolic and beautiful, and tentative and brave. This is how everything begins and how everything began.’
- ‘The children have done what children do in tales such as this. They face the darkness, and they triumph and survive.’
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