Puppeteer’s Magic Engages Young Readers

March 21, 2016

GW_Puppeteer_BRF_5 — Kevin Kammeraad said he starts with an idea, writes it down, thinks about it and sees where it goes

The author of “The Tomato Collection” and several other children’s books recently gave West Godwin Elementary students a few tips in writing, with help from his puppet friends, for March is Reading Month.

Kevin Kammeraad and his puppet, Jacob, share writing tips

With puppets Jacob and Ollie Winston, Kevin Kammeraad sang songs, challenging students to make their own rhymes and poems. He shared with them how he makes his puppets from recycled items, like socks, tin buckets, plastic glasses, butter dishes and stocking caps.

“As a writer, you choose the interesting words to create the pictures in the mind of the reader,” he said.

All students received a copy of his book, “Can You Think It? Can You Dream It?” courtesy of the West Godwin Parent Teacher Organization.

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Kevin Kammeraad

Second-grader Sparkle Murray, and her classmates react to the performanc

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Erin Albanese

Erin Albanese is managing editor and reporter, covering Kentwood, Lowell and Wyoming. She was one of the original SNN staff writers, helping launch the site in 2013, and enjoys fulfilling the mission of sharing the stories of public education. She has worked as a journalist in the Grand Rapids area since 2000. A graduate of Central Michigan University, she has written for The Grand Rapids Press, Advance Newspapers, On-the-Town Magazine and Group Tour Media. Read Erin's full bio