Use this tutorial from the “Now I Can Sew” book to create a zoo of cute animal finger puppets, with a monkey, lion and elephant, for endless hours of fun! These zoo animal finger puppets are adorable, and are something that can be played with over and over after you finish crafting.
Finger puppets are such a great way for kids to explore the world of storytelling and creativity! My daughter, who’s currently exploring a safari animal theme at school, absolutely adores these tiny felt characters.
It’s amazing to watch her little fingers bring a lion, elephant, or giraffe to life, each one sparking a new adventure. These puppets are more than just cute playthings; they’re wonderful tools for boosting literacy. As kids make up stories and dialogues for their finger puppets, they’re expanding their vocabulary and honing their narrative skills without even realizing it.
Plus, the process of crafting them from felt, with a bit of sewing, is such a joyful, hands-on activity that adds a personal touch to their imaginative play. It’s pure magic to see how much fun they can have, all while learning and growing!
These zoo puppets would make a lovely handmade gift for any child, if you put together the whole set and wrap them up nicely.
Supplies for your Zoo Animal Finger Puppets
You will need:
For one finger puppet
- 1 x 6-strand embroidery floss skein, to match body felt colour
- Embroidery needle
- Needle threader
- 1 x 10in (25cm) square of tracing paper
- Pencil
- Black permanent marker
- Paper-cutting scissors
- Small, sharp scissors
- 4 x quilters clips (or clothes pegs)
- Craft or fabric glue
Felt for the monkey
- 1 x 8in (20cm) square of mid-brown felt
- 1 x 2in (5cm) square of cream felt
- 1 x 2in (5cm) square of white felt
Felt for the lion
- 1 x 8in (20cm) square of yellow felt
- 1 x 8in (20cm) square of orange felt
- 1 x 2in (5cm) square of white felt
Felt for the elephant
- 1 x 8in (20cm) square of grey felt
- 1 x 2in (5cm) square of white felt
Instructions to make Zoo Animal Finger Puppets
For the monkey:
How to Make Zoo Animal Finger Puppets Step by Step
Follow the step by step instructions below for how to make your own zoo animal finger puppets
Zoo Animal Finger Puppet Craft
Make your own fun zoo animal finger puppets with this step by step tutorial
Materials
- felt in different colors
- glue
- thread
Tools
- scissors
- needle
Instructions
- Photocopy or trace and then cut out the monkey templates, using the technique shown on page 32. Mark and cut out the felt pieces using sharp scissors. From the brown felt, you will need one monkey back, one monkey front, one monkey head and one monkey tail. From the cream felt, cut out one monkey face and, from the white felt, two eyes.
- Glue the white eye pieces onto the cream-coloured face piece and leave to dry. When the glue has dried, draw ovals with the permanent marker onto the bottom of each white eye for the pupils. Draw two dots for the nose and a curved line for the mouth.
- Glue the face onto the brown head piece. Allow to dry completely.
- Lay the monkey back (the piece with ears) down on a table and lay the monkey front on top, ensuring the edges line up. Place the monkey head on top and clip all the pieces together, so the felt will not move.
- Cut a piece of embroidery floss about 24in (60cm) long and separate two strands from the length (see page 20). Thread up a needle using a needle threader to help (see page 21), and tie a knot in the end of the thread (see page 22). Starting from the bottom, sew using a running stitch (see page 34). Keep the stitches as small as you can and about 1/8in (3mm) in from the edge.
- Sew all the way around the monkey and down to the bottom edge. Leave this edge open for your finger.
- Knot off the thread, then cut the thread off close to the knot (see page 23).
- Lay the monkey down with the back facing up. Glue the very end of the tail to the middle of the monkey’s back, at the very bottom and with the curl of the tail facing up.
- Turn the monkey over and glue the curl of the tail to the middle of the monkey. Allow the glue to dry completely. To make the other animal finger puppets, use the templates on pages 122–3.
Notes
Tip
Use the puppet photos to see what the other animals’ faces look like. The elephant’s tusks are glued to the back of the face piece in Step 3.
Related: How to Make Penguin Finger Puppets
If your kids enjoy zoo animals, why not try these zoo preschool math worksheets too, or try telling some funny zoo jokes while you play.
Reprinted with permission from GMC Publications, Now I Can Sew © 2016 by Sian Hamilton, RRP £12.99. Available from all good bookshops and www.thegmcgroup.com.
More Zoo Animal Crafts
Here are some more fun projects that will bring your favorite animals to life. From lions to camels, there’s something here for every little animal lover.
- Handprint Lion Craft for Kids
- Easy and Cute Cardboard Tube Tiger Craft for Kids
- Adorable Sloth Craft With Free Printable Template
- Easy Clothes Pin Camel Craft with Printable Template
More Puppets to Make with Kids
Finger puppets are a fantastic way to encourage imaginative play and storytelling. Our easy-to-follow tutorials will guide you through making adorable felt puppets that kids will love. For even more puppet-making ideas, check out these below
- Nurse Paper Bag Puppet with Printable Template
- Yoda Puppet Star Wars Craft with Free Printable Template
- Three Little Pigs: Shadow Puppetry with Printables
- Pop Up Puppets Spring Craft
We hope you enjoy these zoo animal finger puppet tutorials as much as we did. If you do, please share this post with other parents and teachers who might find it helpful. Let’s spread the joy of crafting and storytelling together!
These look so cute, a great half term activity