The Circus Ship
Age 4+
Picture Storybooks
With stunning artwork and a rhyming text, the illustrator of the Mercy Watson books tells a tale of human-animal connection full of humor and heart.
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.
Creators
Chris Van Dusen is a professional illustrator whose work features regularly in magazines and advertisements. He has also written and illustrated a number of children's picture books. His illustrations for the Mercy Watson series, written by Kate Di Camillo, have a nostalgic comic flair. Chris lives in Maine, USA.
