All of my greatest secrets revealed!
On March 13, 2013, I was honored to have my first book, "Sock Puppet Madness," published internationally via Cico Books (of Ryland, Peters, and Small).
Written and illustrated by me, the 128-page book details how to create 35 of my sock puppets and includes a bio for each of them.
While I did write and draw the whole project, in a strange departure from my Sock Puppet Portraits, someone else took the photos of the puppets.
While I've since written several books and love them all, "Sock Puppet Madness" will always have a special place in my heart, not only because it was my first published book, but because the subject is so deeply tied to my ongoing body of work.
While the book teaches the ins and outs of making 35 characters, there are also many thoughts and musings on the creative process itself.
In general, after telling people how to do everything, I encourage my readers to ignore all of my instructions and make up their own things.
Seen here I dig deep and summon the ancient knowledge of "The Sock Puppet Mind."
Wired.com's GeekDad Z declared it:
"…that rare craft book that always inspires and never intimidates…an enthusiastic blend of whimsy and wonder…the perfect craft book for makers of any skill level and kids of all ages…a book that any rainy-day caregiver or elementary school teacher should have on his or her reading shelf." (see full review here)
Peter Linz, aka Walter the Muppet, star of the hit film "The Muppets" says:
"Read it. Loved it... Marty Allen has simultaneously simplified and elevated the art of designing sock puppets..."
Minhut.com's Becky Ferreira assures us that it's:
"..so much more than a DIY puppetry guide. It's more like a manifesto for how to succeed in life as a creative nerd, and that's what makes it so refreshing. The sheer inventiveness of this book is contagious…Any nerd embarking on his/her own creative venture could benefit from his example."(read the full review!)
Legendary performer and artist (and personal hero) Corn Mo insists:
"I love manuals. I love puppets. Here is a marriage of the two written in Marty's voice. Ergo, Sock Puppet Madness is a perfect book."