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Bring a piece of New Zealand’s nocturnal wilderness to life with the Folkmanis® Kiwi Hand Puppet. This charming, pear‑shaped puppet features soft plush accented with velour, perfectly representing the flightless kiwi bird. Its gentle appearance and realistic design make it an endearing character for storytelling, wildlife education, or imaginative play.
Slip your hand inside to animate the kiwi’s movable head, and even use its foot pockets to simulate walking or gentle motion. The puppet’s design emphasizes the kiwi’s unique form and posture, giving your performances or play sessions a touch of natural realism.
Bring a piece of New Zealand’s nocturnal wilderness to life with the Folkmanis® Kiwi Hand Puppet. This charming, pear‑shaped puppet features soft plush accented with velour, perfectly representing the flightless kiwi bird. Its gentle appearance and realistic design make it an endearing character for storytelling, wildlife education, or imaginative play.
Slip your hand inside to animate the kiwi’s movable head, and even use its foot pockets to simulate walking or gentle motion. The puppet’s design emphasizes the kiwi’s unique form and posture, giving your performances or play sessions a touch of natural realism.
Design Inspired by Nature & Wonder
Strongly rooted in Judy Folkmanis' original vision, the brand draws from the natural world—offering a menagerie of creatures both familiar and fantastical. Their puppets blend realism with whimsy, breathing life into animals, mythical characters, and even storybook favorites.
Award Winning
Folkmanis puppets are among the most awarded in the toy industry, recognized by trusted programs such as Parents’ Choice, Creative Child Awards, and the PAL (Play Advances Learning) Award. From lifelike animal designs to imaginative fantasy creatures. And have won multiple “Toy of the Year” and “Puppet of the Year” titles for their exceptional craftsmanship, educational value, and ability to inspire creative play.
Sustainability
Environmental and ethical commitments also set Folkmanis apart—they’ve partnered with Sierra Club for licensed wildlife-themed puppets and are known for using eco-conscious packaging and sustainable practices. They deliberately avoids excessive individual packaging for their puppets and emphasizes recycling practices—helping reduce unnecessary waste.
Quality
Folkmanis have strict quality guidelines to meet stringent EU Toy Safety Standards (EN-71), which historically exceed U.S. regulations. Since as far back as 1994, they've ensured lead content stays under 90 ppm and materials are free from harmful phthalates. They also prepare for ASTM F963 U.S. toy safety testing long before implementation, offering self-certification and product-specific safety documents.