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The Circus Ship

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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.

40 pages, Hardcover

First published September 22, 2009

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About the author

Chris Van Dusen

52 books282 followers
Chris Van Dusen writes: “I was born in Portland, Maine, on St. Patrick’s Day, 1960. As a child, my brothers and I would spend hours drawing pictures. We didn’t have video games or computers to entertain us, so we drew instead. One of my brothers would sketch intricate war scenes. Another would draw animals so realistic you’d swear they were breathing. My specialty was aliens, robots, and monsters.

“Dr. Seuss and Robert McCloskey were my heroes. I loved the rhythm of Dr. Seuss’ words and I was fascinated by the meticulous detail of Robert McCloskey’s illustrations. I had no idea back then that I’d end up writing and illustrating children’s books when I grew up.

“After high school, I studied fine art at The University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth and graduated with a BFA in 1982. It took me a while to figure out what I wanted to do. First I was a waiter, and then I was offered a part-time job at a magazine for teenagers. Eventually I started drawing cartoons and illustrations for the magazine and my career as an illustrator was born.

“For more than ten years I worked as a freelance illustrator specializing in art for kids. I was doing mostly editorial work and my illustrations appeared in magazines like Nickelodeon, Family Fun, and Disney Adventures. One day I started thinking about drawing a picture of a boat stuck high up in a tree. I thought that would be a really funny and intriguing illustration. At the same time, a refrain kept running through my head—“Mr. Magee and his little dog, Dee / Hopped in the car and drove down to the sea.” The combination of these two things eventually became my first book, Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee (Chronicle), which was published in 2000. Since then I’ve written and illustrated A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee (Chronicle) (2003), If I Built a Car (Puffin) (2005) and I’ve had a ball illustrating Kate DiCamillo’s Mercy Watson series (Candlewick).

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5 stars
1,952 (60%)
4 stars
917 (28%)
3 stars
289 (8%)
2 stars
56 (1%)
1 star
20 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 481 reviews
Profile Image for Prabhjot Kaur.
1,052 reviews188 followers
February 9, 2021
The Circus Ship is inspired by a real event that happened in 1836. The author changed the details to make it a fun read for the young kids. With rhyming text and stunning illustrations, the book tells of a story how fifteen circus animals were saved from a ship wreckage and their cruel circus owner. A fun read.

4 stars
Profile Image for Kelli.
876 reviews428 followers
May 16, 2016
When I pulled this book out for mystery reader at least ten kids said "I love this book!" Loosely based on a real shipwreck involving a circus off the coast of Maine, this book is tons of rhyming fun. Van Dusen has a distinct illustration style that brings a lot of giggles in the classroom. Colorful with its own little seek and find page and great ending, this is a winner with the kids. 4.5 stars.
Profile Image for Abigail.
7,332 reviews221 followers
July 11, 2021
Miserly circus owner Mr. Paine and fifteen of his most exotic animals are caught up in a shipwreck in this rhyming tale from author/illustrator Chris Van Dusen. Abandoned by their cruel owner, who decides to save himself, the animals make their way ashore on a small Maine island, where their kindness to the human locals soon wins them friends. When the islanders get word that Mr. Paine is headed their way, determined to reclaim his animal performers, they spring in to gear to protect and hide these unexpected new residents...

Apparently inspired by a real incident from history, in which a ship carrying a circus sank off the Maine coast in 1836, The Circus Ship pairs an entertaining read-aloud tale in rhyme with brightly-colored, immensely expressive illustrations. I enjoyed pretty much everything about this one, from the story itself to the rhyming text, the eye-catching artwork to the seek-and-find element in the scene in which the villagers hide the animals in plain sight. I know Van Dusen largely through his work on Kate DiCamillo's Mercy Watson books, although I have read one of his own picture-books - Hattie & Hudson - as well. I'm glad to have now read another, and I thank my boss Tim for giving me a copy. I can certainly understand why it is a family favorite! Recommended to picture-book readers who enjoy animal stories, as well as to fans of Chris Van Dusen's vibrantly colorful artwork.
Profile Image for Luisa Knight.
2,897 reviews968 followers
September 7, 2018
A fun story about circus animals that get shipwrecked. Though all the pages are really delightful, one in particular has a full page spread of hiding animals. Your children will enjoy seeing if they can find them.

If you're still not sure, watch Jack, age 6, tell you why it's so great!

Ages 4+

Cleanliness: someone infers another man is "daft." There is a picture of a lady's bloomers and corset hanging on the line.

**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it!

Visit my website!
Profile Image for Annie ⚜️.
503 reviews20 followers
April 14, 2019
I thought there'd be more about them being on the ship. That early part is very brief. There is a cool look and find section.
Profile Image for Melki.
6,375 reviews2,438 followers
June 4, 2022
When a ship carrying circus performers crashes, the animals swim to the safety of a nearby island. The residents there are first astounded, then fearful, then accepting. Van Dusen's artwork is spectacular, particularly one laugh-out-loud illustration of what happens when the nasty circus owner comes looking for his missing menagerie.
description
It would be best NOT to read aloud the author's note at the end which explains that the book is based on a real incident that occurred in 1836. It DID NOT have a happy ending.

This is why fiction is SO MUCH BETTER than reality . . .
Profile Image for Tracy.
74 reviews6 followers
January 4, 2018
Fun art, good story. My kids loved looking for the animals and picking out the rhymes! They have even gone back to it several times to count the animals!
242 reviews
December 23, 2012
It is official. I LOVE this book. I have memorized the whole thing. Mama will read the first line of a page and I tell her the rest of the page. Mama thinks this is so cool. I am getting tired of her carrying the book around to show everyone that I have memorized the book. I am not a trick pony.

What a great thing to have little buddies who like to read stories with their family too. Right now, this is one of my buddy's favorite books. He gave me a copy for the holidays. It is filled with fun illustrations that are colorful and capture my attention. I like to pull the book up close on my lap and look at the pictures and ask mama and papa questions about them. I also ask what part of the story my friend likes. It makes for a lot of fun conversation and allows me to broaden my perspective as I think about what someone might have experienced with a story.
Profile Image for LindaJ^.
2,237 reviews6 followers
December 7, 2016
This was the third children's book I read today to be sure I'd chosen good books for gifts for children. While not quite as good as the other two (I rounded up from 4.5stars), it is still a beautiful book. It seems there really was a circus ship in the late 1800's that broke up during a storm off the coast of Maine and at least one animal made it to a nearby island. This story expands on that story, having many animals make it to an island, where, after a bit of a rough start, bond with the residents who hide the animals when the circus owner comes to find them. The illustrations are nice and very colorful, and the story is heart touching. I think I need to read more children's books or at least those that show people being kind!
Profile Image for Susan Schuler.
297 reviews5 followers
March 30, 2015
One of my favorite read alouds for school visits. Kids love this book.
Profile Image for Becky B.
8,111 reviews125 followers
May 28, 2017
When a circus ship crashes the selfish circus owner saves himself instead of his animals. A nearby 1800s seaside town in Maine is quite surprised when the exotic animals start showing up. At first many of the residents are very concerned for their safety but when one of the circus animals makes a brave rescue the entire town has a change of heart and starts plotting how to save the animals from the mean circus master when he comes looking for them.

Such a fun historical fiction story. Of course, many of these animals would eat the town in real life, but their actions are clearly not true to life. Kids can definitely cheer for circus animals getting freedom and should enjoy the rhyming text. Oh, and the arrival of the circus master is quite funny (and provides a nice hidden picture hunt...see if you can find all of the animals on that spread...oh, and Mr. Magee and Dee too while you're at it..they must have traveled back in time to visit). I'm quite convinced that some of the Deckawoo Drive characters are direct descendants of this town. If you're looking for a whimsical story for animal lovers, this may be their next favorite book.
33 reviews2 followers
February 12, 2018
The beautiful artwork in this story introduces children to life in the 1800's. Based on an actual shipwreck, this story is a great way to engage in conversation about traveling circus animals, a ferry boat, and even an outhouse. This fun read-aloud has room for audience interaction as you search for the lost animals and a moral tale about kindness!
Profile Image for Miss Ryoko.
2,631 reviews159 followers
January 30, 2018
Fantastic book! Chris van Dusen has great illustrations (if you're not familiar with his work, get to it) but the story was also great too! I want to live in that town!! Lol

Great work Chris! Loved it!
Profile Image for Mitchell Friedman.
4,946 reviews202 followers
March 12, 2021
Beautiful vaguely cartoonish art. Clever rhyming text. And a just barely believable story. Clever and funny and it just works. Even the animals hiding in plain sight works. Almost certainly would hold up to repeated reading as well as studying the art.
Profile Image for Mortisha Cassavetes.
2,314 reviews58 followers
February 21, 2022
WOW! Such a beautifully illustrated picture book with an amazing circus story. The story follows the circus animals riding on the circus ship as it crashes and everyone is thrown into the sea including the circus owner who decides to save only himself. The animals had to save themselves and found a wonderful town on a little island. No spoilers. I highly recommend this book to kids of all ages. We loved it!
Profile Image for Staciel.
695 reviews8 followers
May 1, 2020

Cute story with bright and lively pictures.

There is a page that may be scary for the smallest children- a fire breaks out. However, it ends well.

Enjoyable read
44 reviews
April 10, 2022
Cute little book. Granddaughter loved looking for and finding the animals. Illustrations are great
Profile Image for Dan.
518 reviews12 followers
January 18, 2020
This is the perfect children’s book. It has wonderful illustrations and is a great read-aloud. There is also a page where kids get to find all of the hiding animals and my boys LOVE it. There’s a great villain and it’s just a fun story loosely based on a real event. I highly recommend this if you want a good book to read to your kids.
10 reviews2 followers
October 26, 2022
Both of my children (ages 3 and 5) ask for this book over and over and over again. It's especially delightful to see my 3-year-old, who struggles to sit through two pages of any other book, enraptured by the pictures and text of this story.
Profile Image for Ryan.
4,848 reviews28 followers
January 17, 2018
A bad storm has caused a ship to sink. Thank goodness the animals can rescue themselves. They try to hide out in town, but it's pretty hard to hide an elephant. A tiger relies on his training of jumping through fiery hoops, and saves a town child from a burning barn. The towns people rejoice, and help to hide the animals from the evil zoo owner who left them when the ship went down. I love that the beginning of this book is based on a historical event. Even if the real event was not as fun or as happy as this picture book.
Profile Image for Michael K.
674 reviews27 followers
August 29, 2019
Really lovely illustrations—found this at a thrift store and it’s one of the coolest purchases ever. Such a beautiful gem.
Profile Image for Suzie.
917 reviews
February 26, 2017
Beautiful illustrations, and especially fun to search for the hidden animals on one of the pages. I really enjoyed the words used in the book. There was a wide variety and none of the rhymes seemed like too much of a stretch.
Profile Image for Kathryn.
4,499 reviews
November 24, 2009
This book is so much fun! I must say that I am not usually a fan of circus books but this one is great because the animals get away from the mean circus boss, woo hoo! What I really love are the illustrations and seeing how the animals fit in with life on the island--I won't add any spoilers but there's one spread that is absolutely fabulous and contains "hidden" animals. Overall, I found this a delightful read.

Parents may wish to skip reading aloud the author's note at the end which shares his inspiration for the story--a real circus ship that caught fire at sea and many of those passengers and animals did not a happily-ever-after! :-(
Profile Image for Jenny.
2,916 reviews31 followers
April 27, 2016
Inspired by a real event (but changed a great deal...the author's note describes the actual event) Van Dusen writes a humorous story about circus animals on a ship that sinks. The animals swim to shore, resting on an inhabited island. At first, the people on the island are concerned and dismayed to find a lion, tiger, bear, giraffe, monkey and other animals on their island. But soon, the animals win them over and they protect the animals from the horrible circus owner. The story is told in rhyme and the illustrations really bring it to life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 481 reviews

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