Five puppets are hanging in a shop window when an old half-blind, and all the way sad, sea captain lays eyes on them. The puppets are an owl, a wolf, a king, a girl and a boy. It is the girl puppet in particular that catches the old man’s eye.

Life had been quiet and lonely for this old seafarer for some time. The chance glance into the shop window stirred something long gone in him. He enters the shop declaring he must have the girl puppet. But the shopkeeper tells him…

“You cannot buy just one… They belong together… for they are in a story.”

 

And here is where these five puppet’s adventures begin.

Soon they are travelling far from the shop and are admired by all who see them. Each puppet hopes to fulfill a personal longing deep inside them.

The owl wants to fly.

The wolf wants to bite!

The girl wants to be part of a story, and the boy wants to discover his true destiny.

The king wants to be listened to, but also wants to listen to songs surrounding him.

Little do they know what wonders await them when a man takes them to his beloved nieces and a woman with dreams of her own.

What a treasure! I can imagine this story read just before bedtime over a period of nights. If you or your listeners love to share different voices for each character, this will enhance this read aloud even more. Each puppet character is simple with their own hopes and wishes for themselves. They cannot move but can hear others and talk among themselves. They can also see and feel the world around them, and their joy at something simple like the sight of the moon, is gorgeous.

This is a timeless tale with its own simple layers to unravel and an unexpected and satisfying ending for all. It has a fairytale feel to it, and will entertain children all over the world. Illustrations are many, adding even more to the puppet’s tale.

Kate DiCamillo stories are always something special and The Puppets of Spelhorst is too. This is the first in a trilogy of fairytales from this author-illustrator team, set in the fantasy world of Norendy.

Author – Kate DiCamillo

Illustrator – Julie Morstad

Age – 7+

(2023, Walker Books, Puppets, Friendship, Kindness, Story, Fairytale, Wolf, King, Girl, Boy, Owl, Wise, Destiny, Place in the world, Play, Theatre, Family, Sisters, Siblings, Song, Wonder)