The story is based loosely on an actual event in Maine. It's a good read by a GREAT illustrator. Also check out Chris VanDusen's Mr. Magee books and If I Built a Car. The guy is 1950s-vintage GREAT.
The Circus Ship
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)
Not age appropriate for kids under 0, age appropriate for kids over 5; suggested age 5. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Odd shipwreck tale comes on a little strong.
Why We Rated This
for Ages 5 and Up
The good stuff
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Educational value:
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Role models:
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Illustrations:
What to watch out for
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Violence & scariness:
What Parents Need to Know
About The Circus Ship
Parents need to know this picture book means well, but the bullying circus owner is so aggressively angry it’s hard to enjoy the pleasures of the book. Kids might be unsettled by the opening shipwreck scene, in which the circus owner orders the captain to leave the animals to drown in the water. Later, a young child trapped in a violently burning building is rescued by a tiger.
Read our full review by Darienne Hosley Stewart
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about right and wrong. What should Mr. Paine have done when the ship sank? Why were his actions wrong? What about the captain?
- The animals belonged to Mr. Paine. Were the villagers right to keep him from collecting what belonged to him? Why or why not?
- The end notes describe a much sadder true story that Circus Ship is based on. Older kids and parents can talk about what parts of the story are different. What parts are the same?
Our Members Say
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title on for age 4 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Great illustrations
- I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Great illustrations
My first graders absolutely loved this book when the librarian read it to us the other day. We are big Chris VanD fans and this book had all the things we love- lots of action, great rhythm and rhyme, and bright, bold illustrations. It is now a favorite in our class library, even among those who usually never deign to read anything but chapter books.

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