Children learn good library etiquette at puppet programs

Kayla McCain, 5, of Jackson liked the Saturday morning puppet program at the Cape Girardeau Public Library so much that she came back for the afternoon program after lunch. The programs, including a hands-on puppet-making workshop, encouraged children to read, learn and use library etiquette.

"It's a great program," said Kayla's grandmother, Cathy Evans of Jackson.

Rosalie Perry has manipulated marionettes and puppets for a quarter of a century because she likes doing it. She makes all her own puppets for shows designed around an educational theme at Jubilee Theater in Marshfield, Mo., home of the RLP Puppet Co. The shows include a variety of acts using large marionettes and hand puppets performing short choreographed numbers.

The library's morning show theme, "Circus Time," was followed by paper-bag puppet-making. Youth services director Sharon Anderson hoped the the puppets would inspire children to retell stories, an important learning tool. The afternoon show, "Puppet Bugs at the Library" reinforced the Summer Reading Club theme, "Catch the Reading Bug!"

Anderson told Perry, "You've inspired us to do more with puppets. In July there will be a puppet drop-in program and our new library will have a puppet stage."

Drop-in programs don't require registration.

Eighty-eight preschoolers attended the morning performance, and 54 children attended the afternoon program. The 80 felt puppets Anderson sewed for the afternoon workshop will also be used when they do outreach programs with the Family Resource Center, Cottonwood Treatment Center and the Salvation Army.

Gems, beads, straws, pipe cleaners, movable eyes, lace and sequins were some of the items children collected to glue to neutral shades of felt for their own hand puppet creations. Kayla, who usually picks out her own matched outfits daily, had a plan for her pink "girl" puppet. Her grandmother held the glittery, sparkly netting for the puppet's skirt, while Kayla snipped off what she needed from the remnant. A purple scrap for a tie belt completed the garment before Kayla chose a table to sit at and add features to her creation.

It was the first time Kayla had seen marionettes, and she decided she did not have a preference. "I like all puppets," she said.

Acts with silly lyrics, including a caterpillar-like creature promoted quiet voices and best behavior at the library. A kangaroo marionette and her joey informed youngsters that in Australia, "G'day" is what's said in a typical greeting. And a bear on a unicycle received a "wow" from the audiences as he twirled around and shook his pompoms.

The audience was encouraged by an Elvis-like monkey marionette with a guitar to "try, try, try" to find a book about their favorite animal, while oversized hands above the stage cued the audience to clap along.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133

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