The Circus Ship (Hardcover)
Winter 2009 Kids' List
“Oh, no! the circus ship has hit the rocks and the animals have to swim to shore. A feast for the eyes and a tickle for the funny bone, Chris Van Dusen has created a wonderful book that will keep you looking for more.”
— Laura DeLaney, The Rediscovered Bookshop, Boise, ID
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.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)