Pros: Cute appearance, Easy for four and five year olds to handle
Cons: Head doesn't turn (triangulate), talons are soft felt-like fabric
The Bottom Line: The only thing more fun than watching a five-year olds with this puppet is watching a classroom of pre-school teachers pretending to be their students while holding the mini-finger puppets.
pestyside's Full Review: New Folkmanis Mini Barn Owl Finger Puppet
The Folkmanis Mini Barn Owl Finger Puppet delights the five year old who can't manipulate the wings and turn the head of the much larger snowy puppet owl. They are fascinated by the Folkmanis Snowy Owl Puppet but, while impressive to watch it's too much for small fingers to hold. Not so the Folkmanis Mini Barn Owl Finger Puppet, or any of the other Mini Finger Puppets (including skunk, squirrel, rabbit, fox, and more). You read and simultaneously let the four or five year old anticipate the story interpreting the events through drama. It's so much fun watching this unfold.
I say this because of some recent events that return me to the learning environment of young children. This has included re-visiting some favorite owl books and stories, but also some favorite rhymes, songs and finger plays. The owl puppets have come out of storage and the favorite, by far, for young children to manipulate (and cuddle) has been the six-inch mini-finger puppet that perches on their fingers.
The adorable black eyes are surrounded by big white saucers that create the typical heart-shaped face--an identifying characteristic. This owl's chest is mostly white (on the puppet and real owl). Your five-year old probably won't care about these features but they will appreciate the soft, plush feeling and the cute face. Parents or teachers will welcome how this encourages imaginative play. I like how it builds vocabulary and fosters imagination through dramatization.
These small finger puppets can actually be submerged in lukewarm soapy water (mild or gentle detergent), rinsed and squeezed and then line dried - if necessary. I prefer damp washing the surface only and letting it dry.
The six-inch puppet is fairly inanimate. The head doesn't turn, the wings don't flap and it doesn't hoot. The talons are soft felt and the round face is tufted ear free (as it should be). The finger reaches up inside and the child brings it "to life" with a variety of movements and their own vocalizations. It can perch on a "forearm" branch or sit on an index finger twig. When tied into a book or finger play new vocabulary can build.
Get your fingers ready, stretch, wiggle, and prepare to have fun with this finger play:
There's a wide-eyed owl (thumbs and forefingers around eyes) With a pointed nose (forefingers make a V at the nose) Two tufted ears (forefingers extended from top of head) And talons for toes (spread out fingers) When he sits high in the tree (point up) And he looks at you (point to children) He flaps his wings, you'll see (fold arms and flap) And says "Woo, woo!" (--Source unknown)
I can recommend the following books for use with the Barn Owl Puppet: Baby Owl's Rescue, Owl Babies, or Owl Moon. I'm sure there are more, but these will provide a lot of "woo wooing" in the house or classroom once these books and this puppet are combined for story time. The only thing more fun than watching four or five year old with this puppet is watching a classroom of pre-school teachers pretending to be their students while holding the mini-finger puppets.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 6.00 Type of Toy: Puppet
Age Range of Child: 3 to 5 Years
This miniaturized Barn Owl finger puppet seeks a perch atop your finger Pretty heart-shaped face and big black eyes Finger Puppet 6" Long, Recommended...More at Amazon Marketplace
With her pretty heart-shaped face and big black eyes, this miniaturized Barn Owl finger puppet seeks a perch atop your finger. Whooo could be cuter? ...More at theBIGzoo
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