Thursday, September 30, 2010

Book Review: The Circus Ship

Author: Chris Van Dusen
Published: September 2009
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Source: Library
Rating: 5 Stars

When a circus ship runs aground off the coast of Maine, the poor animals are left on their own to swim the chilly waters. Staggering onto a nearby island, they soon win over the wary townspeople with their kind, courageous ways. So well do the critters blend in that when the greedy circus owner returns to claim them, villagers of all species conspire to outsmart the bloated blowhard. With buoyant rhymes and brilliantly caricatured illustrations evoking the early nineteenth century, Chris Van Dusen presents a hugely entertaining tale about the bonds of community — and a rare hidden-pictures spread for eagle-eyed readers of all ages.

My children and I loved this book! The rhyming text in this book flows nicely making it a great read aloud. This book is just plain fun. Delightful, whimsical illustrations fill the pages of this book.

Our favorite page is when the animals are hiding from the Circus master. My children love doing hidden pictures so we all enjoyed finding their hiding places.

This is a book I would love to own, it's by far one of our favorite reads this year.
I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves. ~ Anna Quindlen

Good children's literature appeals not only to
the child in the adult, but to the adult in the child.
~ Anonymous ~