Mango is a tropically themed ECO Sockettes hand puppet from The Puppet Company, made from 99% recycled materials. Measuring 38cm tall, Mango bursts with vibrant colours and features a little embroidered moustache and tie for added character and fun, alongside embroidered eyes, a friendly face, a built-in squeaker in his tongue, and a wide, expressive mouth. Suitable for children aged 18 months and above and loved by adults too, Mango is a standout character in the ECO Sockettes collection and a lively, versatile tool for imaginative play, storytelling, and communication development.

How Mango helps with communication and learning

For children with dyslexia, speech and language difficulties, or other learning differences, puppets offer a low-pressure route into spoken language. When a child speaks through or to a puppet, the anxiety of direct communication reduces, making it easier to practise words, sentences, and ideas. Mango's tropical theme and distinctive personality provide a rich and colourful context for storytelling, vocabulary building, and descriptive language - all areas where children with dyslexia often benefit from structured, engaging support.

The wide mouth and built-in squeaker encourage voice play, sound exploration, and expressive language, supporting phonological awareness and confidence in speaking. Mango's dapper moustache and tie give him a distinct personality that children find easy to warm to and project a range of characters and emotions onto, which is especially useful in storytelling and role play activities.

Why Mango works well in schools and early years settings

• Rich stimulus for descriptive language and vocabulary: Mango's tropical theme provides a natural springboard for descriptive language activities, vocabulary building around colours, places, and textures, and imaginative storytelling that supports expressive language development.
• Distinctive, memorable character: The moustache and tie make Mango immediately recognisable and give him a clear personality that children can engage with consistently across sessions, making him an effective anchor for language and communication work over time.
• Reduces speaking anxiety: Puppets create a helpful distance between the child and the activity, making it easier for reluctant speakers and children who find direct communication challenging to participate in group and one-to-one sessions.
• Outstanding eco credentials: Made from 99% recycled materials, Mango is among the most sustainably produced puppets in the ECO Sockettes range, making him a strong choice for schools and settings with environmental procurement policies.
• Suitable across EYFS, KS1, and SEND settings: With an age range starting from 18 months, Mango works across Early Years Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1, and older SEND support groups where puppet-based activities remain a valued communication and literacy tool.

At home

Mango works just as well at home as he does in school. Parents supporting children with dyslexia or communication difficulties will find that his vibrant, characterful design tends to inspire conversation and storytelling with very little prompting. The built-in squeaker rarely fails to get a response from younger children, and his distinctive personality makes him easy to build repeated play and reading activities around.

Why puppets support children with learning differences

Research and classroom experience consistently show that puppets reduce anxiety around speaking and reading tasks. For children with dyslexia, the cognitive demands of reading aloud or retelling a story can feel overwhelming. When a puppet mediates the activity, children typically find it easier to engage, take turns, and experiment with language without fear of getting things wrong. Speech and language therapists regularly incorporate puppets into structured intervention sessions for exactly this reason, and Mango's 99% recycled construction makes him a responsible, durable choice for settings that rely on puppets regularly.

Ready to add Mango to your setting?

Mango the ECO Sockettes hand puppet is available now at The Dyslexia Shop. If you are buying for a school, nursery, or organisation and would like to discuss a bulk order, please contact the team directly.

• Made from 99% recycled materials: One of the most sustainably produced puppets in The Puppet Company's ECO Sockettes range, supporting environmentally responsible purchasing for schools and families.
• Built-in tongue squeaker: Encourages interactive play and draws children into vocal and communication activities naturally.
• Wide expressive mouth: Supports voice exploration, sound play, and storytelling, making Mango a practical tool for speech and language work.
• Distinctive tropical character: Vibrant colours with an embroidered moustache and tie - a memorable, dapper character that stands out in both group and one-to-one settings.
• Dimensions: Height 38cm x Width 14cm x Length 13cm.
• Materials: 99% recycled knitted textile fabric.
• Age suitability: Suitable for children aged 18 months and above; appropriate for adults in professional and therapeutic settings.
• What's included: 1 x Mango ECO Sockettes hand puppet.
• Brand: The Puppet Company
• SKU/MPN: PC007029

• What is the Mango ECO Sockettes puppet?
  Mango ECO Sockettes is a 38cm tropically themed hand puppet from The Puppet Company, made from 99% recycled materials. He features vibrant colours, an embroidered moustache and tie, a friendly face, and a built-in tongue squeaker, and is suitable for children aged 18 months and above.
• How does the Mango puppet help children with dyslexia or communication difficulties?
  The Mango ECO Sockettes puppet helps children with dyslexia and communication difficulties by reducing the anxiety around direct speaking. His tropical theme and distinctive character provide a rich context for descriptive language, vocabulary building, and imaginative storytelling, which are areas where children with dyslexia often benefit from structured, engaging support. The wide mouth and squeaker make voice and sound exploration fun and low-pressure.
• What age is the Mango ECO Sockettes puppet suitable for?
  The Mango ECO Sockettes puppet is suitable for children aged 18 months and above. He is used by early years practitioners, Key Stage 1 teachers, and SEND support staff, and is equally appropriate for adults using Mango in a therapeutic or professional context.
• Is the Mango puppet suitable for classroom or school use?
  Yes, the Mango ECO Sockettes puppet is well suited to classroom use. His tropical theme makes him a strong stimulus for descriptive language and vocabulary activities, while his open-ended character also works across circle time, storytelling, literacy interventions, and speech and language support sessions.
• Is the Mango ECO Sockettes puppet eco-friendly?
  Yes, Mango is made from 99% recycled materials, placing him among the most sustainably produced puppets in The Puppet Company's ECO Sockettes range. He is an excellent choice for schools and settings with environmental or sustainable procurement policies.
• Can the Mango puppet be used in speech and language therapy?
  Yes, hand puppets including the Mango ECO Sockettes are widely used by speech and language therapists and SENCOs to support children with communication difficulties. Puppets reduce the anxiety of direct speaking, making it easier for children to practise vocabulary, descriptive language, and conversational turn-taking in a relaxed and engaging setting.
• How big is the Mango ECO Sockettes puppet?
  Mango measures 38cm in height, 14cm in width, and 13cm in length. This size makes him comfortable to fit over an adult hand and visible enough for group storytelling and classroom activities.
• Does the Mango ECO Sockettes puppet have a squeaker?
  Yes, Mango has a built-in squeaker in his tongue. The squeaker encourages interactive play and is particularly effective at engaging younger children and drawing reluctant speakers into vocal and communication activities.