Bear Town Guide to Puppet Building Resources
One of the most common questions aspiring puppet builders ask is how to get started in puppet building, specifically how to build moving mouth foam puppets. Although some schools and puppet builders do offer classes and workshops in puppet construction, most puppet builders are largely self-taught through a combination of trial-and-error, books and mentoring from other puppet builders.
Thanks to the Internet there is lots of puppet building information and resources readily available. This is a compiled list of some of the best books, patterns, kits and web sites available to help you get started on your own puppet building projects.
Recommended Reading
These are some of very helpful puppet building books that have been very useful during the development of Bear Town. Not all are specifically about foam puppet construction, but each of them has lots of valuable information that can be used to design and build puppets. While some of these books may be available at your local library or bookstore, most are fairly specialized and usually have to be bought online. You can purchase most of these by clicking the image of each book:
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The Complete Book of Puppetry
By George Latshaw
One of the better comprehensive books on puppetry ever written, this is full of lots of practical information about designing, building and performing a many different types of puppets. It was originally printed in 1974 and although it's become slightly dated it's still an excellent resource. Rating:  |
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Figure Making Can Be Fun?!?!
By Michael Brose
Probably the best Vent figure building book ever written and easily the most detailed, this book explains in great detail the most popular methods for constructing Ventriloquist dummies. Lots of great information that can be applied to all types of puppet building. The section on mechanics is especially helpful if you want to add moving/blinking eyes or other types of effects to your puppets.
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The Foam Book
By Drew Allison & Donald Devet
Pretty much the beginner's bible for soft-foam puppet construction. Although I don't personally use many of the book's exact techniques myself, it's must-have if you're just starting out and want to learn easy ways to make foam puppets. Rating: |
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The Muppets Make Puppets
By Cheryl Henson & The Muppet Workshop
Also not really about foam puppets per se, but a great kid's book and kit full of ideas for building puppets from everyday objects. After being out of print for a several years this seems to be widely available again. Rating: |
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Puppet Mania!
By John Kennedy
Although this doesn't have much specific foam puppet construction information, it more than makes up for it with amazing, original ideas for puppet craft projects. One of the best puppet building books ever written. Highly recommended.
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Puppet Planet 
By John Kennedy
A follow-up to John's popular Puppet Mania! book, Puppet Planet will get you building fantastic looking puppets in no time. It's filled with lots of great puppet building ideas using a variety of techniques including how to pattern and sculpt foam puppets.
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Drawing on the Funny Side of the Brain
By Christopher Hart
Sometimes aspiring puppet builders are frustrated because it's difficult for them to translate the ideas in their head on to paper when they're trying to design a puppet. I had the same problem for many years. While I still don't consider myself a very good artist, any improvement I've made is largely thanks to this book, which heavily influenced the look of many of the characters in Bear Town. Rating: |
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Understanding Comics
By Scott McCloud
A comic book that's actually dissection of and intellectual discussion about the medium of comics itself, this has almost nothing to do with puppetry, but Scott's theories on abstraction and the cartoon-as-icon help to explain the popularity of the "Muppet style" in our culture and changed the way I think about puppet construction and design in general. A fascinating read for all artists and designers. Rating: |
Puppet building books are rated 1-5 out of 5
Forward to more great puppet building resources 
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