David Almond is a name familiar to many. Best known perhaps for his classic book Skellig, which both of my children read at high school, I have to confess that despite knowing his reputation as an incredible storyteller, this is the first title of his that I have read. A beautiful and charming read, Puppet tells the story of master puppeteer Silvester, who towards the end of his life creates one final puppet and by doing so not only gives his own life meaning but passes the baton on to a new generation of puppeteers to continue his craft and the joy that it brings to others. It has been many years since Silvester shared his art with appreciative audiences and as he climbs the stairs to the attic where his workshop is housed, he reflects on his life and how different it was when he was younger. Settling himself at his workbench, he casts his eyes over the bits and pieces of unfinished puppets before collecting together an assortment of mismatched body parts and crafting a new character from them. Once finished, Silvester welcomes Puppet into the world and is astonished when he says hello in return. Teaching Puppet first to stand and then to walk, Silvester takes him out to the park where they meet Fleur and her mother. Telling Silvester that her mum remembers his wonderful shows, Fleur asks if Silvester will teach her how to make puppets too. As the old man and the little girl get to know one another, their friendship blooms and life for both of them will never be the same again. At first glance, this appears to be a magical story about the growing friendship between Silvester and Fleur and to a certain extent it is, but there is so much more to it than that. Like so many individuals of his age, Silvester has found himself alone after the death of his beloved wife and slowly but surely his life has lost much of its meaning. When he creates Puppet, he suddenly has a reason to go to the park and when he meets Fleur and her mother, the human contact that he now has enriches his life immeasurably. For Fleur, Silvester provides a new focus – someone with whom she enjoys spending time and who shares his gift for puppetry with her but allows her to find her own way in creating both the puppets and the stories that they tell, rather than imposing his way of doing things on her. Their relationship is an absolute joy to watch and for young readers who are lucky enough to have regular, positive, contact with grandparents or other members of the older generation the mutual benefits are clear. Throughout the book, the story is accompanied by the beautiful artwork of Lizzy Stewart – sometimes as a standalone picture and sometimes as a short cartoon strip which mirrors perfectly what is written and adds hugely to the reader’s pleasure. I really enjoyed looking at the illustrations and together with her gorgeous cover, am sure that they will be responsible for many children picking this up to read. While the story is perfect for lower KS2, I would suggest that it might be better shared with an adult at that age, simply because the small font size used may prove challenging to readers growing in confidence. Those in Years 5 and 6 who are more independent readers will adore this too and at around 240 pages, will welcome the chance to read something a little shorter than many titles aimed at them.

David Almond is wonderful author who can capture the magic and wonder within his stories while exploring deeper emotions within characters but in a gentle and subtle way. Puppet could be seen as a retelling of Pinocchio but it doesn't necessarily feel that way. Silvester is a puppet maker and widowed- he has a reputation with his wife for creating some of the most beautiful puppets and shows in the area so much so the local museum want to exhibit his creations. One final time at making a puppet he finds he has created a life like character who he simply calls Puppet. But Puppet is no ordinary creation; he begins to walk and make some attempts at communicating. Silvester's affection for Puppet grows and he takes him out into the local community- Puppet becomes known as Kenneth. Puppet's naivety places him in danger and little incidents arise. Whilst walking, Silvester and Kenneth meet Fleur and her mum Antonia- a friendship forms and soon Fleur becomes an "apprentice" of Silvester learning how. to create puppets and finally leading up to a public performance- all the time Silvester getting more and more tired. This is a tale about love- for one another; love -for the pleasure doing something you enjoy; love - for sharing enthusiasm and knowledge. This is a perfect longer read for 7-10 year olds - a gentle plot with depth. A wonderful year 3/4 class read where the listeners still have that magic inside to believe but where larger themes of life and aging can be discussed. Highly recommended also as a beautiful bedtime read. A charming winner