Puppetry in Theatre and Arts Education by Johanna Smith

Covering the essentials of puppetry with activities suitable for adults and children of any age, Smith's guide is easy to follow, thought provoking and a handy reference book for anyone with a professional or personal interest in puppetry.

The chapters follow a logical order, making it possible to base a series of workshops or classes on them. She begins with basic considerations such as incorporating breathing into your puppet's movement and then progresses on to voice work and finally script writing, evolving from improvised scenes. There is a focus on collaboration and a healthy approach to appraisal: I particularly like the ‘what if’ approach she advocates for critical discussions.

The simple illustrations and detailed instructions make you feel able to take the reins (or the strings) and Smith makes a great case for the benefits of puppetry within the educational system. Whether it's your first exploration of puppetry or you've lost count of the number of workshops you've delivered on your puppet-clad fingers, it would no doubt be a useful tool to have in your arsenal.

This book is not a guide on how to create elaborate and aesthetically impressive puppets, although there is some advice on how to go about this – it is a guide to create a puppet from the resources you have and question whether you have created a puppet at all. The theoretical discussion running through is one of the most fascinating aspects of the book, in fact.

The overall premise is: puppetry can be used as a means of developing complex skills and communicating complex theories and stories, be they scientific, historical or fictional. Smith recommends unleashing your inner puppeteer and that cast of inner voices from stage and screen. She confesses to having the full cast of Sponge Bob Square Pants in her repertoire. The book certainly answered all my questions, except perhaps: would it be possible to incorporate my Lili Savage impression into a lesson plan? Whatever the verdict – with Smith's fun, informative and holistic outlook, you'll never draw a blankety blank.