The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen(Preschool - Grade 2)
Author and illustrator Chris Van Dusen (illustrator of the Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo) continues to impress with his lively stories and vibrant illustrations. His latest picture book, The Circus Ship, is based on an actual event when The Royal Tar, an 1836 side-wheel steamer sailing to Maine went up in flames. Van Dusen has chosen to soften this history for children and create a satisfying adventure with heroic animal feats. In the book, the circus ship does indeed go down at sea, but the animals gallantly swim to a nearby island where they surprise and impress the islanders. The animals, with the islanders help, face off their greedy owner with hilarious results. Older readers will delight in the detailed illustrations and circus antics, and younger children will love the lyrical, rhyming cadence Van Dusen maintains in his books. Don't miss this entertaining picture book along with other books by the same author: the Mr. Magee series and If I Built a Car.
Visit http://www.newberglibrary.org/ to find this book at our library.
Reviewed by Amanda L., Children's Staff
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