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Camille, my son's 2nd-grade class had a student teacher who was also a puppeteer. The children had a ball and learned to make shadow puppets and put on fairy-tale adaptations with them. Everyone in the class had a voice during the shows, too. It was a wonderful experience.

One of the most beautiful theater pieces I ever saw was Ping Chong's adaptations of stories by Lafcadio Hearn. I was so skeptical going in, but came out of the show as a total puppetry convert. Exquisite art.

Houston Grand Opera did Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel with an amazing blend of puppetry and singers last December. We were wow-ed.

Puppetry in the classroom can do so much for accomplishing curriculum goals. People just have to start small and their ideas and skills will expand. I still consider myself a rank amateur but I love it.

Hi, Camille. Glad you found the Post story...it was very cool, and I hadn't seen it written up anywhere else.

One of the best presentations I ever saw at a writers conference was given by David Wisniewski, who wrote fabulous picture books like The Secret Life of Grownups and who started his career as a puppeteer. I believe he did mostly shadow and rod puppets. He recently passed away, but his bio is here: http://www.davidwisniewski.com/bio.html

I use puppets pretty often with my kiddos and they love it! It's so fun to see the way they react. Some are skeptical of how the puppet works 9talks, moves, etc.), others are very believing and want to talk to the puppet endlessly. I usually have a hard time putting the puppet away!

Thanks for posting this article! I used to bring out my Folkmanis monkey hand-puppet to be a friendly presence to children during library storytimes. Chester accepted hugs, handshakes or hand-waves, and the bravest people let him nibble their fingers. Chester did get huffy a few times when adults said, "Ohh, look at the toy!" He was a puppet, not a toy.:)

Ididn't know David Wisniewski died recently. It makes me sad. I'm still not used to the fact that Lloyd Alexander is dead.

As a former puppeteer, I totally agree -- puppets are such a powerful tool for storytelling as well as teaching. Speaking of artists no longer with us, I’m still not used to the fact that Jim Henson is gone, seventeen years later. The Muppets are still around, but it’s not quite the same.

My icons have long been Jim Henson and Shari Lewis. Their passing was a real blow. Even though he does not talk, I feel Dragon owes much of his attitude and cheek to Lambchop.

I remember discovering David Wisniewski's Secret Knowledge of Grown-ups just before he died in 2002. It was like loosing someone I knew would be a good friend (through their work) before I had a chance to get to know them.

Sara, you are so lucky to have seen him in person.

I just loved Jim Henson and Shari Lewis. Their passing was a real blow. Even though he does not talk, I feel Dragon owes much of his attitude and cheek to Lambchop.

I remember discovering David Wisniewski's Secret Knowledge of Grown-ups just before he died in 2002. It was like losing someone I knew would be a good friend (through their work) before I had a chance to get to know them.

Sara, you are so lucky to have seen him in person.