We are continuing the octopus theme with a list of books that we thought would be interesting and fun to pair with an octopus puppet.  We even have a free pattern to make a simple octopus felt hand puppet!

In a previous octopus blog article we listed a few links to craft projects featuring octopuses that we found around the web.  We also had a free download of a octopus paper bag puppet pattern.

WHY USE A PUPPET WHILE READING?

When I was a volunteer reader for a local preschool I noticed that kids became more engaged during reading when any type of puppet is used to help bring a book alive.

• Kids love puppets.
• Puppets boost creativity and stimulate kids’ imaginations.
• Sometimes kids feel more comfortable reading to a puppet rather than to an adult.
• A puppet can be used as an impartial character allowing kids to express their true emotions.
• A puppet made from our patterns is perfect for story time because it is soft and pliable.  It can be stuffed into a small place ready to pop out to engage the kids.  And it is easy to wash!

Books Featuring Octopuses

For the 3 year olds and younger, Oscar the Octopus is a fun yet informative book.  In addition to teaching the months of the year, author and illustrator Matthew Van Fleet includes other interesting creatures found in the ocean living with octopuses.  The pages have lift a flaps along with textures that kids (and adults) will love to touch.

 

My Octopus Arms written and illustrated by Keith Baker is for ages 4-8 years.  With colorful and cute illustrations and rhyming text, the octopus and his crab sidekick explore all the things that arms can do.  Best of all, arms can hug to make someone else feel better.

 The Octopus Escapes isn’t that all far fetched.   Octopuses are very intelligent and master escape artists.  This story written by Maile Meloy and illustrated by Felicita Sala is about an octopus who is captured by a diver and taken to live in an aquarium.  Even though he is fed regularly and given toys to play with, he misses the freedom of his ocean home.  One night he makes his escape to return home.  Even though it is a story book, the telling of his escape is pretty close to actual escapes made by octopuses from aquariums.  For ages 3-7.  It is a fun, informative read and I loved the illustrations.

The book Octopuses by Melissa Gish includes beautiful photography along with useful and unusual facts.  She also includes a Polynesian folk tale about a god who was an octopus.  Researchers have learned that octopuses are actually very intelligent.  She has stories from aquariums who have documented octopuses escaping from their latched tanks.  

I also enjoyed immensely Octopuses! Strange and Wonderful written by Laurence Pringle and illustrated by Meryl Henderson.  It is geared for older children but could be paraphrased for the younger set while they look at the pictures.  At first I was disappointed that the illustrations weren’t color photographs but the illustrations actually gave greater detail than any photographs ever could.   I really had fun trying to find the cleverly disguised octopuses hidden in an ocean floor scene.

Free Download of an Octopus Felt Hand Puppet Pattern

Don’t have the time to sew a puppet?  Need a puppet fast?  We have a free download for an octopus hand puppet pattern using felt squares available from craft stores.  The puppet can be made without sewing – all you need is a hot glue gun.

Need a puppet with a moving mouth and make expressions?  We’ve got the pattern!

Need a puppet that can talk and make facial expressions?  You can sew one with our Octopus Puppet Sewing Pattern.  The pattern is available as a digital download so you can start sewing immediately. We recommend using fleece and felt fabrics because they are inexpensive, readily available from craft stores, washable and easy to sew.  Customers tell us how easy our step by step patterns (with lots of pictures) are to follow especially after watching the video tutorials.  In fact you can watch our free video tutorial on how to sew the octopus puppet right now!  

What our customers are saying: 

“Very detailed step-by-step instructions with color photos. Can’t wait to get all the supplies and make this puppet.”

“The puppets turn out really well and are a joy to use!”