Children who love to make-believe will adore Pop Up Sooty and Sweep. With or without a puppet theatre (not supplied), little hands will soon be able to put on a show to rival anything the Messrs Corbett achieved. Modelled around a top hat, the handles are mock magic wands (around 10 inches, or 25cm in length) the whole of which are covered in plush, black material. The 9cm (3.5 inches) top hat sits atop the wand--Sooty's has a decorative blue band, while Sweep's band is red. When at rest, Sooty and Sweep tuck nicely away in their hats. But, push up on the wand and, hey presto, Sooty or Sweep will appear. The wand allows limited turning to left and right, but a little practice and the two will soon be expressing many emotions.
Aimed at children of 18 months and above, the two should be surface washed only, with warm soapy water, and when the puppets are tucked away in the hats, they can be stored on their ends. Great fun, these puppets improve hand-to-eye coordination while encouraging children to develop their imagination through story telling and role play. --Lucie Naylor
