Everyone is excited to see that Sir Sidney’s circus is coming to town, but this owner is getting older and needs to find someone to help run his little circus, with a lion, an elephant, two acrobats, two mice who add jokes all along the way, and one crow. After quite a few interviews, Sir Sidney offers a trial week to Barnabas Brambles, who appears okay to Sir Sidney, but the rest of us readers are just a little suspicious. Barnabas’ management ends up quite a disaster, but the animals do their best to keep the circus together, and try hard to make the week work, and staying together. Barnabas cuts everyone back to one meal a day, tries to sell the animals and finally makes a deal with a zoo. Because he doesn’t seem to know how to drive the circus train, he makes the two acrobat brothers drive. They end up creating quite a few disasters in their navigation that plague them all, but especially Barnaby. All the circus performers miss Sir Sidney very much, and we soon discover that he is missing his circus too. Through huge changes made in order to make money, and travel mishaps all over the United States, the story ends in San Francisco with a grand finale. The lessons taught by Sir Sidney of kindness and giving someone a second chance underscore the story throughout. The illustrations are clever and bold, using both regular text and balloon speech to carry the story forward. There are posters and letters when needed. This book would make quite a fun read aloud! The Show Must Go On by Kate Klise and M. Sarah Klise – Fantasy, 3rd grade and up – Release date: September 10th. I was so excited to receive permission to read a new book by this fabulous team. It is so special. I loved finding connections visually between their series 43 Old Cemetery Road and this lovely new release. Having faith in others when they don’t have faith in themselves is a tall order, but this book dishes it up… There’s a wonderful circus run by a kindly older oner, Sir Sidney. He becomes tired and things he needs a break from traveling with his show so he places and ad and hires Barnabas Brambles who has many devious, dark plans in mind for the circus. I loved all the animals and performers in addition to the impressive things the circus train is able to do… I also appreciated how the story was wrapped up. Fun quick new fantasy fiction title.
What do You think about The Show Must Go On! (2013)?
Great introductory chapter book for 2nd and 3rd grade students.
—Leia
A charming read! Enjoyed the underlying humor.
—gwen
