Poppy's Puppet

by Patricia Lee Gauch, David Christiana (Illustrator)

Poppy creates magical puppets whose personalities are determined by what Poppy 'hears' in the wood before he carves it. When he takes his puppets on the road, their show becomes famous throughout the land.

But one day Poppy impatiently shapes a ballerina puppet, Clarinda, from a piece of wood without listening carefully to the wood's message. Clarinda will not perform--and almost ruins the show--until Poppy discovers her secret wish.

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 15, 1999

About the author

Patricia Lee Gauch is an author who has written over 30 works of children's literature. In 1993, Gauch was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. She has been a resident of the Basking Ridge section of Bernards Township, New Jersey.

Reviews

[Randie D. Camp, M.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poppy was first a toymaker but with his amazing ability to hear wood speak, he becomes a puppeteer. Poppy made, Toby the dancing dog, Missus Tiggle Wiggle the marionette who loves to collect handkerchiefs, Tim the shoemaker, Sinbad the Rabbit and many others. Poppy and his puppets become a traveling show performing for children and adults in the cities. One day, Poppy finds a rare piece of wood but he it is getting late so instead of listening to the wood he carves it into a beautiful ballerina named Clarinda. But Clarinda doesn't dance. Will Poppy be able to help Clarinda?

Beautifully written story and elegant illustrations to match.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book I found while shelving, I picked up this one based on the design of the title on the front of the book. Poppy is a toy and marionette maker, who listens to the wood to decide what his creations will become. That is, until he creates Clarinda and makes her a ballerina. But she will not dance for him, until she spies a clothesline and becomes the high point of his puppet shows. Lovely imaginative book with whimsical illustrations, this book would be great for an older child storytime.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very unique! It is a story about a puppet maker. He finds wood and creates what he feels the wood needs to be. One day he finds a piece of wood that he has a hard deciding what it should be. Hard to explain. A deeper meaning is there. The pictures are very abstract. I like looking at them.

[Jeannette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poppy's Puppet is a delightful story about a toy maker/puppeteer and the little dancer he carves. A story about learning to listen and about finding one's own dream.

Exquisite watercolors! David Christiana is one of my favorite illustrators, and this is a perfect example of why he is.