By Lauren Schiavone
Hometown Weekly Staff
Medfield Public Library welcomed kids and caregivers to the gazebo on Friday morning, October 7, for a special puppetry performance. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library, Through Me to You Puppetry performed a singalong storytime outside, thoroughly brightening the weeks of the children in attendance.
Kids, bundled in autumnal coats and hats, settled in and met their friends at the gazebo, then put their listening ears on for the show. The enriching performance encouraged participation from children and caregivers.
Leigh Baltzer, the face behind Through Me to You Puppetry, created original voices, mannerisms, and characters to match each puppet. Beginning with “Little Blue Truck,” a classic story, imaginative storytelling flourished with Ziegler the purple dragon. A singalong accompanied the story and children practiced onomatopoeia, mimicking sounds of farm animals.
Free-play let curious kids interact with puppets up close. Newton, a friendly monster puppet, was more than happy to high five little ones. “Sometimes kids start up a little shy,” puppeteer Baltzer observed. “They’re nervous to say hi to the puppet, but by the end of the show they’ve forgotten about their fears and self consciousness and come high five the puppet. It has a lot to do with self-empowerment and opportunities to find their own voice.”
Baltzer made plenty of puppets available to choose from during the free-play session, and also used it as an exercise in sharing — at which Medfield’s children excelled. The kids took turns swapping out tiny dragon finger puppets for bigger hand puppets. “The puppet free-play helps to encourage sharing and community,” Baltzer explained. “Some kids born through COVID have been home alone and secluded, so it’s wonderful to allow opportunities for everyone to be a part of a community and share,” The silly environment welcomed kids to explore the world around them, as well as their own imaginations.
Through Me to You puppetry will make another appearance on November 12 at the Medfield Public Library.
