A Review of Folkmanis Puppets

Folkmanis Puppets (www.folkmanis.com) may be the best hand puppets made today. They are amazingly realistic, and very well made. Stuffed animals are always popular with children, and the Folkmanis line of puppets is very popular with kids. It is amazing how a puppet with a moveable mouth can attract the attention of young children and hold them for long periods of time.

Folkmanis has perfected the art of animal puppets. It is amazing how many different puppets they have developed, most of which have been great hits with children and parents alike. You can find just about any kind of animal you want in the Folkmanis line. They have everything from alligators to woodpeckers. The realism of many of these puppets is simply amazing. Each one has intricate detail, with anatomical accuracy. Animals such as the bears, deer, moose, and rabbits are so realistic that they are sold nationwide in zoos as a memento of the visit! Even Cabela's sells some of these puppets in their children's toys area because of their realistic appearance.

Folkmanis also makes smaller finger puppets. These smaller puppets are very cute, and are loved by children. Small children, especially, are drawn to the smaller puppets which look like miniatures of their larger counterparts. Of course, they do not have moveable mouths, like the full size puppets, but they are also much less expensive than the larger puppets.

Folkmanis puppets have become popular in classroom settings. Many libraries have begun to purchase these puppets to use in "story time." This is particularly effective when using puppets that are suited to a specific story. One of the newest additions to the Folkmanis line are the "Brer Friend" puppets, designed from the Uncle Remis books. They now have Brer Bear, Brer Fox, and Brer Rabbit. Each of these character puppets comes in full costume, and appears to have stepped right out of the books!

Museums have also begun to use these puppets in some of their displays designed for younger children. They can be set up to demonstrate natural environments, but can also be "interactive," as the children can enter the displays and play with the different animals.

Folkmanis puppets have also been used very effectively with special education students. Whether it be autistic students, or students diagnosed with ADD, Folkmanis puppets have been employed with great success. This is not surprising, considering how attractive the puppets are. They catch the eye, and once they are touched, they are hooked. The puppets are so soft and inviting that they will surely hold the attention of even the most easily distracted students.

These puppets are also being used in many churches. There are many biblical stories that have animals as important characters. These puppets are very effective in telling these stories and illustrating them. Imagine how effective it is to tell the story of Baalam with a donkey puppet to help tell the story!

Folkmanis puppets are so popular that when a puppet is "retired," it instantly becomes a collector's item. Often, retired puppets end up selling for large amounts of money on auction sites such as E-bay. There are several puppets retired every year, and several new puppets introduced. New puppets are also hot items.

Folkmanis puppets are a great stuffed animal that kids will absolutely love. They may seem to be expensive, but they are high quality puppets that are not going to come apart. You can be sure that your children will get years of play out of these puppets.

You can purchase Folkmanis Puppets at Skylar's Toys (www.skylarstoys.com).