Mouse Finger Puppet with Tutorial

How do you teach your children to love reading?  By bringing a story to life!

What better way to bring a storybook to life than with finger puppets?

Following is a tutorial on a fun activity that engages both the mind and the body (for you and the kids!).

When it was my turn to be the secret reader for my son's kindergarten class, I selected the book A Visitor for Bear by Bonnie Becker.  This sweet story begins with a bear who doesn't like visitors.

As bear is trying to prepare his solitary breakfast for one, a mouse, "small and gray and bright-eyed" keeps popping up in unexpected places all over bear's home, intruding on his no visitors policy.  In the end, the determined mouse wins over the heart of his initially unwilling host, forging a new friendship based on the joy of shared experiences.

I knew that this story was just calling out for a little mouse of its own to make an appearance in the classroom.

My son's class of eager kindergartners enjoyed serving as my storytelling helpers by popping up each of their mice whenever the mouse in the story surprised bear.  As their fingers were engaged and at the ready, I could see on their faces that their minds and curiosity were awakened too!

You can make a mouse of your own or a "mischief of mice" if you're so inclined.  Yes, that's really the official name for a group of mice, a mischief.  Makes me wish I was a mouse sometimes!

Tutorial

Supplies

1. Yarn for mouse tail: I used Vanna's Choice Lion Brand Grey Marble

2. Coordinating thread (pink and grey)

3. Black embroidery floss (for whiskers and sewing on button eyes)

4. Sharp fabric scissors

5. Small black buttons

6. Embroidery needle

7. Felt: grey and pink

8. Template

9. Sewing machine and basic supplies

Step 1

Right click on template image below, print and cut out the template for the mouse's body and ears. Or you can make your own template if you want to adjust the size.

Step 2

Use the template to cut out the mouse's body and large outer ears from grey felt.  Cut the smaller inner ears from pink felt. 

Step 3

With the embroidery needle and black floss, sew on two black buttons for eyes and use a back stitch to create whiskers.

Step 4

Cut a length of yarn approximately 3-4 inches long for the tail.

Step 5

Position the smaller pink inner ears inside the larger grey outer ears and stitch in place.  I used a straight stitch for sake of time, but you could get creative with your stitches.  A blanket stitch would give the mouse a nice finished look.

One word of advice: if you are in fact making a mischief of mice (I made 13), I highly recommend chain piecing to save you time and trouble.  To chain piece, you continuously stitch your sections together without cutting the threads in between.  

My inspiration for this storytime and puppet didn't hit until the night before, so I was pressed for time.  The making of the merry mischief of mice went very quickly by collecting all the parts in a shoebox lid at the ready by my sewing machine.  I then chain pieced and did a quick one-woman assembly line of construction.

Step 6

Place one end of yarn piece centered at the bottom of the back piece of the mouse body.  Secure by sewing across the bottom of the mouse body not far from the base.  

Step 7

Finish mouse assembly.  Line up the ears at the top of the mouse body and pin in between the front of the body and the back of the body (with the side the yarn is sewn to facing "in" or toward the front of the mouse body).

Sew along all edges of mouse puppet except for bottom flat edge (where your finger goes).  This step is another great place to use chain piecing if you are creating multiple puppets.

You should have a mouse, ready for storytime and play!

Consider the possibilities...I think we're ready for a little play while singing "Three Blind Mice".  (Could be those button eyes are contributing to the problem, guys).

Thank you to Pam from Threading My Way for the inspiration she gave me with her robot finger puppets!

The sky is the limit with these finger puppets!  A little felt, needle and thread can take you a long way to livening up your next storytime.  Happy Creating! 

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Threading My Way 
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