Hand puppets are great toys for young children. The best hand puppets offer children unlimited fun, encourage interactive play, and stimulate children’s imagination. They are great props for storytelling and ensure your children stay actively engaged. Hand puppets also help you bond with your children. These puppets require no batteries and are soft and fluffy. They are usually made of materials that are soft and gentle on your baby’s skin and are available for all ages. If you’re looking for one for your children, here’s a list for you to choose from.
17 Best Hand Puppets
1. Best Touch-Friendly: Melissa & Doug Safari Buddies Hand Puppets
The perfect set of animals can make your home a safari to create many stories while building a bond between you and your child. This set includes parrot, zebra, elephant, monkey, giraffe, and tiger. They are made from a soft plush material that is touch-friendly and washable for easy care and maintenance. These hand puppets are glove-style puppets that can fit children and most adults. The cuddly hand puppets are recommended for children aged two and above. Check out this review for a detailed understanding about the product. Pros
Encourages interaction Develops confidence Helps practice vocabulary Promotes expression of emotions
Cons
Finger holes may be small for some Beaded eye may not withstand rough use
2. Best With Wide Opening: Liberty Imports Dinosaur Hand Puppets
Promote parent-child interaction with the Liberty Imports dinosaur hand puppet. Ferocious eyes and scary teeth make the puppet look frightening. It is soft and comes with flexible TPR rubber material. You can easily open and close the mouth of this dinosaur. This puppet supports washing, and hot water wash doesn’t fade the color of the dino. You can encourage your little one to tell stories and indulge in pretend play to enhance their imagination. Pros
Non-toxic Wide opening to fit easily Durable and long-lasting Free of lead, BPA, and phthalate
Cons
May be larger than expected Rubber may be a bit stiff for some
3. Best For Storytelling: Joyin Animal Friends Hand Puppets
If you are looking for a set of animal hand puppets with workable mouths, you may check this. It comprises six animals, including lion, giraffe, raccoon, bear, elephant, and monkey, perfect for storytelling, puppet show, or imaginative play. They are made of soft polyester material and are easy to handle. All the animals have movable mouths except the elephant and are recommended for ages three and above. Pros
Stimulates motor skills Boosts hand-eye coordination Promotes communication skills Meets USA toy quality standards
Cons
Seams of some toys may be weak May be a bit small
4. Best For Puppet Show: Gund Sesame Street Cookie Monster Hand Puppet
Gund cookie monster hand puppet is made of soft and huggable material suitable for imaginative play or a puppet show. This cookie monster puppet has a workable mouth that is fun to work with different expressions. It is a glove-style puppet that can easily fit the hands of kids and most adults. The surface of the puppet is machine washable. This toy is 11inches tall and is recommended for ages one and above. Pros
Ideal for storytelling Promotes confidence Enhances social speaking skills Polyester-filled
Cons
Mouth may be a bit firm May take time for children to use it with ease
5. Best Animal Style: Cate And Levi Hand Puppet
Cate and Levi hand puppet is made of reclaimed or reused wool processed for cleanliness. No two hand puppets will look the same and are available in different animal styles. The hand puppet is 12-inch-long which can fit children and adults. It has a workable mouth and is helpful for storytelling or puppet theaters. The hand puppet is hand washable and machine washable for easy maintenance. Pros
Improves hand-eye coordination ENhances motor skills Stimulates imaginative play Handcrafted puppet
Cons
Colors may be slightly different from images Material may be a bit thin
6. Best With Plush Material: Aurora World T Rex Dinosaur Hand Puppet
T Rex Dinosaur hand puppet from Aurora is made of soft, huggable plush material. The detailing can give your child the feel of playing a dinosaur character. Its movable mouth, sharp-looking teeth, and realistic eyes are a great addition to your kid’s puppet theater too. It is recommended for ages three and above. The toy is ideal for bonding and interacting with your children. Pros
Fun and interactive Filled with recycled plastic fiber Recyclable tags Improves hand-eye coordination
Cons
Eyes may be loosely snapped May not be as flexible
7. Best With Detailing: Silly Puppets Bobby Peach Boy Hand Puppet
Bobby Peach Boy hand puppet from Silly Puppets is made from soft material and has beautiful detailing. The puppet is 14-inch-high and is made to fit the hands of children above three years. You can reach the puppet’s mouth by putting your hand through the bottom. The mouth and the hands are movable to work different expressions. The clothes are removable for added fun. This toy can improve fine motor skills, storytelling, imagination, and more in your little one. Pros
Lightweight Boosts creativity Encourages interaction Made of polyester material
Cons
Hair may be fragile May be less suitable for large hands
8. Best For Three-Year-Olds: Northeast-Novelty Six Animal Hand Puppets
The set of assorted animal hand-puppets are perfect for jungle theme storytelling. These hand puppets are made of plush and velour material that is soft and touch-friendly. The hand puppets are made to fit a kid’s hands, and each animal has both arms and legs that are movable. These hand puppets are recommended for ages three and above. Pros
Soft texture Washable Enhances communication skills Encourages self-confidence
Cons
May not be suitable for adult hands Some puppets may have loose stitching
9. Best For Interactive Play: Haba Eat It Up Dragon Hand Puppet
Keep your little one engaged with this hand puppet by Haba. The dragon hand puppet from Haba is colorful, attractive, and features realistic details. It comes with a built-in belly bag that allows the dragon to eat up tiny objects and toys. This dragon puppet is perfect for any interactive play. You can roll the dragon’s eyes by placing a finger in each eye slot that helps create different expressions. Pros
Stimulates creativity Made of soft polyester material Improves hand-eye coordination Fits easily and is flexible to move Machine washable
Cons
Seams may not be well-sewn Eyes may be a bit flimsy
10. Best With Soft Material: Folkmanis Basset Hound Hand Puppet
Folkmanis basset hound hand puppet is made of soft, huggable material that allows you to hug and cuddle the dog. The puppet has a workable mouth and legs. It is a great puppet for storytelling, either playing at home, a stage show, or a puppet theater. Your little one can pretend to feed and care for this cute little dog. Pros
Ideal for role-play Cute and attractive Well-crafted Ideal for gifting
Cons
Eyes may be slightly smaller than expected Finger holes may be a bit small
11. Sweetgifts Tabby Cat Hand Puppet
If your child is a cat lover, this tabby cat hand puppet from Sweetgifts could be a perfect gift. This soft and snuggly glove-style hand puppet is easy to play for your little one. It fits both adult and kid’s hands and allows you to play together, create stories, and have fun. The puppet is made of plush material and is available in two colors. This also improves hand-eye coordination and creativity in your little one. Pros
Encourages imaginative play Improves communication skills Arms are flexible and easy to move Available in many other variants
Cons
Mouth may not move May not have whiskers
12. Betterline Five Piece Animal Set Hand Puppets
Improve your little one’s ability to express with these hand puppets. The five-piece set from Betterline includes five animal puppets great for group play. They allow your child to create a story or play a role while playing in groups. Available in four different themes, you may choose a set of animals to your child’s liking. They are 100% safe for kids and have movable mouths for realistic puppet play. These glove-style hand puppets are made of plush material and can easily fit adult’s and child’s hands. Pros
Vibrant and bright colors Movable mouth Can be used for occupational therapy Made as per ASTM standards
Cons
May be slightly small for adult’s hand
13. Tiny Heart Animals Hand Puppets Set
Give your little one a little companion to stimulate their creativity with these puppets. The set of four animals are great to tell jungle-themed stories or for an individual play. It includes a giraffe, tiger, elephant, and monkey made of soft plush material. These glove-style puppets are easy to handle by adults and kids. The manufacturer recommended age for these puppets is one year and above. These hand puppets allow interaction, improve hand-eye coordination, and imagination in your little one. Pros
Huggable toys Filled with PP cotton Doesn’t deform Machine washable
Cons
Toys may be a bit saggy
14. Cate & Levi Zoo Collection Hand Puppets
Cate and Levi zoo collection has three hand puppets – giraffe, monkey, and elephant. Each hand puppet has a colorful fabric and fun design that attracts your little one. These glove-style hand puppets are helpful for interactive plays, storytelling, puppet shows, role play, and more. They are made of 100% USA polar fleece, derived from recycled plastic water bottles. Pros
Easy-to-control mouth movements Bright colors Promotes creativity Eco-friendly Machine washable
Cons
Seams may not be reinforced May be slightly smaller than expected
15. Lacroky Kermit Frog Puppet
Made of high-quality polyester microfiber, this frog puppet by Lacroky is easy to hold, hug, or squeeze. This puppet measures 23.6 inches from head to toe. It is designed uniquely with a functional mouth. The toy could be a suitable companion for your little one while sleeping, and comes with fine detailing. Pros
Encourages imaginative play Made of non-toxic material Lightweight Safe to wash
Cons
Mouth may not close fully Seams may be a bit fragile
16. Roniavl Squirrel Finger Hand Puppet
Roniavl squirrel finger hand puppet comes in five pieces, including a squirrel head and four claws. Put these five pieces on your fingers, and you can pretend to play a squirrel character. It is made of soft eco-friendly rubber material and has a realistic detailing. This cute squirrel puppet looks lively, and your little one loves to play with it. It fits an adult’s and child’s fingers and is a good gift for anyone who loves interactive games. Pros
Non-toxic and odorless material Fade-resistant paint Scratch-resistant Can be used for role-play
Cons
Smaller than expected
17. Folkmanis Three-Toed Sloth Hand Puppet
Folkmanis three-toed sloth hand puppet catches everyone’s eye with its realistic fur and details. It has magnets inside the arms and legs to hang the sloth. You can control the movements of the mouth and hands for creating different expressions. This sloth character is helpful for storytelling or a puppet show. It is recommended for ages three and above. Pros
Soft and durable Easy to control Ideal for cuddling Rounded claws
Cons
Mouth may be a bit firm
Things To Consider Before Buying A Hand Puppet
Here are a few things to consider before choosing the best hand puppet.
Finger puppets look tiny and are significant for young children to control with their little fingers. Glove-style hand puppets are suitable for children and adults to play and interact. Bath puppets are great for bath time. These are made of rubber material, unlike others.
Why Trust MomJunction?
Priti Bose is our product writer specializing in toys and gifts, and she delivers detailed information on high-quality toys. In this post, she provides the list of best hand puppets with their features, such as quality, material, safety, and durability. She also mentions animals included in each set of toys and their features. You may go through the details to buy the right hand puppets.
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