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This simple poem penned by first-time children's book author Maya Gottfried and illustrated by Robert Rahway Zakanitch, also a newcomer to children's books, captures both the marvels of the circus as seen by a wide-eyed child and the slow, thick images of a remembered dream. Brief sentences are accompanied by luminous paintings of acrobats and animals. "I jumped through hoops," is printed opposite... More

This simple poem penned by first-time children's book author Maya Gottfried and illustrated by Robert Rahway Zakanitch, also a newcomer to children's books, captures both the marvels of the circus as seen by a wide-eyed child and the slow, thick images of a remembered dream. Brief sentences are accompanied by luminous paintings of acrobats and animals. "I jumped through hoops," is printed opposite a painting of four dogs in dresses and party hats, quivering with anticipation as each awaits its turn to leap through the big red hoop above. The circus performers, dangling from ropes and trapezes, balanced upside down on horseback, or with heads just clearing a lion's pointy teeth, sport costumes magnificently patterned with flowers, feathers, and curlicues. Each is captured against a black background, just as if in a spotlight under the darkened big top. The clowns in this book aren't scary--but you may swear off circuses forever after you see the laughing chimpanzee hanging from the parallel rings. The other illustrations are lush and whimsical, especially one featuring a woman in a spectacularly feathered dress carrying exotic birds on her arms and head. (Ages 4 to 8) --Jennifer Lindsay

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