Puppetry

Puppetry is a very old art that uses puppets to tell stories. Puppets can be small dolls or huge figures. They are moved by people called puppeteers. Puppet shows can be funny, scary, or magical.

Types of Puppets

Hand puppets fit over your hand like a glove. Marionettes hang from strings and move when the strings are pulled. Shadow puppets are flat and make shapes on a lighted screen. Finger puppets are tiny and fit on just one finger.

A tall, striped puppet booth where hand puppets put on a show.
A tall, striped puppet booth where hand puppets put on a show. (ALoan at English Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons)

Puppets Around the World

Different countries have their own puppet traditions. In Indonesia, shadow puppets called wayang tell old tales. In Italy, marionettes perform famous plays. Even some TV shows use puppets to teach kids.

Fun Facts

  • The Muppets are famous puppets created by Jim Henson.
  • Some puppets in parades are as tall as a house.
  • Ventriloquist dummies are puppets that look like they are talking.

Did You Know?

Puppetry is more than 3,000 years old and was used in ancient Egypt and Greece.