Puppet

After donating the bulk of his creations to a museum, elderly puppet master Silvester uses scraps from his remaining inventory to construct one last figure to resemble a small child, which he calls Puppet. To Silvester’s amazement, Puppet comes to life and learns to walk on its own and even speak with a limited vocabulary. Over several days, Silvester takes Puppet out in public, claiming that Puppet is his grandson, Kenneth. At the park, they make friends, including young Fleur and her mother, who was a fan of Silvester’s puppet show in her youth. As they spend more time together, Fleur learns how to make her own puppets, rekindling Silvester’s own enthusiasm, while Puppet experiences more of the world. 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 (Brand New Boy) spins a gently introspective story that eschews overt conflict to meditate on the joys of creativity, artistry, and puppetry. Quirky, stylized illustrations by Stewart (Walking Distance) add a balanced blend of whimsy and realism. Human characters cue as white. Ages 8–12. Agent: Catherine Clarke, Felicity Bryan Assoc. (Sept.)