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In front of the mantle of the library's fireplace, the wide-eyed and animated 92-year-old — she'll be celebrating another birthday next month — spoke with her hands. Her right one was covered with a puppet of Leonardo da Vinci, which also spoke with its hands. The Renaissance artist was joined by Frida Kahlo, Beatrix Potter and more than 40 additional puppets, all handmade by MacCormick. 

"They now have breathing space," MacCormick told the audience of dozens. 

After her retirement, she explained, she kept the puppets upstairs in her home. Now, they're on display at the library, where the public can see her creations for the next couple months.

The first puppet MacCormick created was one-eared Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh, designed to help her in the classroom.

"How can I introduce art to the children?" she said. "A puppet project."

One puppet led to another, each taking about a month to make. The papier-mâché faces were molded using Styrofoam balls and then painted. A cardboard toilet paper roll helped sturdy the neck and body. The clothing was made from scraps of fabric leftover from sewing projects, and the head and facial hair came from wool and yarn.

The daughter of German immigrants, MacCormick explained that she followed her parents' footsteps into education after majoring in classical archeology at Wellesley College. Her father was a teacher at an all-men's college in Maine. Her mother, meanwhile, was so eager to learn that she sat outside classrooms at an all-boys school, listening in, and leaving before they were dismissed.

At first the puppets were for fifth and sixth graders, leading MacCormick to one of many anecdotes about her teaching career.

"I was surprised that children heard of these artists," she said with da Vinci on her hand and Donatello, Michelangelo and Raphael on the mantle. "I asked how, and they said they were Ninja Turtles."

MacCormick also highlighted New Mexico artist Maria Martinez, who was known for her experimental pottery. She often incorporated manure into her pieces before firing them, creating a signature black.

The audience at the Aurora library captively looked on and listened. Among them was Michelle Nichols, a former student of MacCormick's at Emily Howland Elementary School.

"When going through and looking at (the puppets), I remember her teaching about them. It made the lessons come alive," Nichols told ÈËÊÞÐÔ½».

"It was really cool to see her excitement and how she remembers all the stories and details of all the different artists." 

MacCormick concluded her presentation by fielding questions and talking to the attendees, one of whom asked, "Do you have a favorite puppet?" 

She responded, "That's like asking, 'Which child is your favorite?'"

A couple children asked the educator if she was ever going to make a puppet reminiscent of herself. The humbled MacCormick hugged them.

Sandra Groth, director of the Aurora library, expressed her excitement having the puppets on display. She said they may stay in the stacks longer depending on their popularity. 

Groth added that the educational aspect of MacCormick's puppets complements the events and programs offered at the library, which will be celebrating its 125th anniversary this year.