Molding & Casting Handbook

Mold making and casting for puppetry is a complex topic, and I plan to write about it in the future. In the mean time, check out The Prop Builder's Molding and Casting Handbook, by Thurston James. It explains many molding and casting materials including alginate, latex rubber, plaster (and much more), and it covers techniques like self-releasing molds, two part molds, and injected silicone rubber molds. The book runs 236 pages, has easy to follow directions and black and white photos.

The Puppetry Handbook

The Puppetry Handbook by Anita Sinclair is the best how-to puppet book I've found. It is clearly written and has whimsical illustrations. The book covers both building and performing in all types of puppetry, including hand puppets, marionettes, shadow puppets, walk arounds, and rod puppets.

The book is available through the Puppetry Store, a service of the Puppeteers of America, or if you live in Australia you can order it directly from Anita Sinclair.