Common Sense Media Review
By Darienne Stewart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Odd shipwreck tale comes on a little strong.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 10 parent reviews
Parents say that this engaging book captivates children of various ages with its vibrant illustrations and rhythmic storytelling, making it a highly recommended choice for family reading. Reviewers appreciate the heartwarming plot, the positive messages about friendship and cooperation, and the interactive element of finding hidden animals throughout the story, praising it as a classic in the making.
- engaging illustrations
- positive messages
- interactive element
- suitable for all ages
- enjoyable read-aloud
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Illustrator and author Chris Van Dusen loosely bases his story on a 1836 incident in which a boat carrying a circus went down in flames off the coast of Maine. In Van Dusen's tale, the ship founders in a storm. Mr. Paine, the circus owner, saves himself and leaves behind his animals, who desperately swim to an island in Maine. The villagers at first are annoyed by the strange arrivals. But once a tiger -- reverting to his training -- leaps into a burning building to save a girl, the people befriend the animals. When Mr. Paine comes charging back to retrieve his animals, the villagers vow to keep him from taking any of them.
Is It Any Good?
There's no shortage of bad guys in children's stories, of course, but Mr. Paine is a little over the top in a story that feels contrived. Young kids -- for whom, typically, a circus is a source of delight rather than disgust -- may very well be taken aback by the sheer awfulness of this frightening grown-up bully. He hurls himself about the story, red-faced and corpulent, overwhelming the lighthearted touches. The rhyming text moves along easily enough, but the big twists in the plot -- the heroic tiger, and the sudden return of Mr. Paine -- are dispatched in a rush.
The idea of these strange animals stumbling ashore in 19th-century Maine is intrinsically fun, and Van Dusen offers some delightful scenes. One of the best moments is a simple hidden pictures-style two-page spread in which the 15 circus animals are disguised around the town: a camel as a haystack, an ostrich as a tree, and so on. Mr. Paine scratches his head in frustration, but kids will delight in finding each animal.
So brightly colored they veer toward gaudy, the best illustrations invite kids to explore the ways the circus animals have become part of village life.
Talk to Your Kids 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?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Chris Van Dusen
- Genre : Animals
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Candlewick Press
- Publication date : September 22, 2009
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 40
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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