Puppets teach lessons in caring, sharing

A traveling show at the O.C. Marketplace entertains children as it teaches them good manners.The Orange County Marketplace was bustling on Sunday with hundreds of locals enjoying the sunny weather while getting some Christmas shopping done. Child Life Books took advantage of the large crowds and favorable weather to put on a puppet show.

The “Manners I. Care” traveling puppet show, which was performed several times at the marketplace on Sunday, is a musical adaptation of a children’s book of the same name. The author and founder of Child Life Books, David Bruce, has been traveling with the show around Los Angeles and Orange counties, selling and signing copies of the book.

The book is the first in a projected series of 12 designed to help children learn to connect with others. Bruce said he began writing the book years ago when his young son was struggling with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.

“I wanted him to learn to connect to others,” he said. “The idea is if we can help the kids connect with others, they’ll spend less time in time out.... If kids learn to care and share, a lot of the rules of manners will fall into place.”

Bruce said the series tries to take serious subjects and make them fun for children to learn about. His next book will be about addictions.

Growing up in a household of alcoholics and himself showing symptoms of ADHD, Bruce had a tough time making friends.

“The only safe place for me was in my mind,” Bruce said. “The older I got, the less that worked.”

As a result, Bruce said, he became an addict after leaving home at 18. At age 27, Bruce turned his life around and is now a real estate developer, husband and father of three.

Bruce founded Child Life Books to get his message of caring and sharing out in the world. He also has a goal of helping children’s charities: 100% of after-tax royalties will go toward a number of nonprofits that work on literacy, ADHD, autism, abuse, neglect and mental health.

The puppet show was designed to help reach larger audiences. So far, it has traveled to fairs, schools and libraries.

Jess McKay of Los Angeles and Nita Mickley of Santa Monica are both puppeteers with the show.

“It stays fun because very time we do it, we’re doing it for a new group of kids,” McKay said. “This [the Orange County Marketplace] is a really great environment. It’s open so you get enough time to interact with the kids in-between shows.”

Bruce said he has been getting a good response from audiences, and he sold more than 20 copies of the book Sunday. Shoppers had the choice of buying one book for $10 or two for $15 and donating the second to a charity of their choice. He said only one person opted to buy just one.

“It’s a fun read,” he said. “The puppet show is a great way to bring the message to a diverse audience.... We want to rally people around the idea of making a more caring and sharing world.”

For more information about Bruce or Child Life Books, visit www.man nersicare.com.

* LINDSAY SANDHAM is the news assistant. She can be reached at (714) 966-4625 or lindsay.sandham@latimes.com.

20051212ird300knPHOTOS BY KENT TREPTOW / DAILY PILOT(LA)Jess McKay with puppet friends Balk the elephant and Jack Bantam perform at O.C. Marketplace on Sunday. Above right, Jordan Rivera, 2, supported up by his father, Steve, observes the show. 20051212ird2zmknPHOTOS BY KENT TREPTOW / DAILY PILOT(LA)Jess McKay with puppet friends Balk the elephant and Jack Bantam perform at O.C. Marketplace on Sunday. Above right, Jordan Rivera, 2, supported up by his father, Steve, observes the show.