Puppet - by David Almond (Hardcover)

About the Book

"What should a puppet master do when he's old and alone and all his puppets are gone? Silvester decides to make one last puppet--but this one is different. When the old man speaks to him, Puppet speaks back. And then he starts to walk. While Silvester shows Puppet the town, the playground, and other wonders the world holds, Puppet in turn helps Silvester to make a new friend and share his puppet-making skills with the next generation"--

Book Synopsis

Writing in the tradition of Pinocchio, Hans Christian Anderson Award winner David Almond brings his ineffable touch to a warm and wistful story that shows anything is possible with imagination and trust.

"You're a mystery, aren't you, Puppet? But isn't everything a mystery? Not just you, but every single thing that exists."

What should a puppet master do when he's old and alone and all his puppets are gone? Silvester decides to make one last puppet. But this one is different. When the old man speaks to him, Puppet speaks back. And then he starts to walk . . . While Silvester shows Puppet the town, the playground, and other wonders the world holds, Puppet in turn helps Silvester to make a new friend and share his puppet-making skills with the next generation. With themes of compassion and creativity, threaded with David Almond's inimitable humor, this wonder-filled story of creation and the circle of life, illustrated with wordless black-and-white spreads by award-winning artist Lizzy Stewart, is destined to become a modern-day classic.

Review Quotes

In a sweet, tender exchange, an aging English puppeteer passes his vision on to a young kindred soul. . . . In keeping with the narrative's measured lightness, Stewart's fluid brush and line work lends warm informality. . . . A meditation on art and family, rich in language and feeling.
--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

The uncommonly kind story conjures a world teeming with magic and stories, and big subjects, including aging and death, are treated with deep respect and remarkable lightness. Wonderful wordless black-and-white illustrations occasionally take over narrative duties, and the overall effect is as cozy as a warm cup of tea. A gentle gem of a book that encourages readers to delight in their lives and the world around them.
--Booklist (starred review)

Dreamlike and thoughtful, this contemporary take on Pinocchio teems with a genuine sense of wonder. Utilizing a subtle, ambiguous magic to explain Puppet's animation, Almond spins a gently introspective story that eschews overt conflict to meditate on the joys of creativity, artistry, and puppetry. Quirky, stylized illustrations by Stewart add a balanced blend of whimsy and realism.
--Publishers Weekly

The quiet celebration of life in all forms. . . is inspiring and makes the inevitably melancholy conclusion all that more meaningful. Stewart's expressive black and white art adds significant emotion to the work, with some wordless sequential paneling progressing the story and a number of impactful full-page illustrations inviting readers to linger over the details.
--The Bulletin

About the Author

David Almond is the highly acclaimed author of many award-winning novels for children, such as The Boy Who Swam with Piranhas, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers; The Tale of Angelino Brown, illustrated by Alex R. Smith; Skellig; Clay; Kit's Wilderness; War Is Over, illustrated by David Litchfield; The Color of the Sun; and Brand New Boy, illustrated by Marta Altés. His numerous awards include the Carnegie Medal and the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the highest international prize for children's authors. David Almond lives in England.

Lizzy Stewart has written and illustrated picture books for children, including There's a Tiger in the Garden, which won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize and World Illustration Award. She has also written and illustrated books for adults, including the graphic novel Alison. Lizzy Stewart lives and works in London.