Sidewalk Circus

Step right up and witness an astounding assemblage of tightrope walkers, strong men, sword swallowers, and clowns. The Garibaldi Circus is coming soon - though for those with clear eyes, the performers may already be in the ring.

Publishers Weekly

In a new direction for the team behind Weslandia, Hawkes provides studied, atmospheric paintings to go with Fleisch-man's wistful, nearly wordless story. In the sunlight and blue shadows of the waking day, a girl arrives at a city bus stop as a poster-hanger starts putting up circus advertisements. "Coming soon... World-renowned... Garibaldi Circus!!!!" announces the theater marquee across the street. Small, oval spot paintings show the waiting passengers in shades of gray. Only the girl appears in color; only she sees that the circus has already started, and that admission is free. One-and-a-half-page, full-bleed spreads portray the performers, ordinary working folks every bit as talented as the circus acts whose posters they mimic. Near a poster for "The Great Tebaldi, Prince of Tightrope Walkers," a construction worker walks an I-beam while carrying two buckets. A burly deliveryman hauls a side of beef into the butcher shop right next to a poster for "Goliath the Strongman." Skateboard-riding toughs ape "The Colombo Clowns"; the girl laughs and applauds their tricks. Hawkes's paintings combine in a most distinctive way a feeling of weight with the dreamy light of early morning. The girl's bus comes, she leaves; a boy arrives, and the "circus" begins again. Children will take pleasure in the story's appreciation of their own ability to see the wonder of the world around them. Ages 5-9. (Apr.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Paul Fleischman is the award-winning author of many books for children and young adults, including JOYFUL NOISE: POEMS FOR TWO VOICES, winner of the Newbery Medal; WESLANDIA, a SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL Best Book of the Year and an American Library Association Notable Children’s Book; and THE ANIMAL HEDGE, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline. "It came out of the blue," Paul Fleischman says of SIDEWALK CIRCUS. "A vision of a ringmaster standing on a city street, describing the sun rising and the clouds changing color as if they were circus acts. Eventually, I decided to leave him out of the story. And then I decided to leave the words out as well."

Kevin Hawkes is the illustrator of a number of popular books for children, including WESLANDIA and HANDEL, WHO KNEW WHAT HE LIKED, an American Library Association Notable Children’s Book and recipient of a BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK Honor Award. He says, "As I worked on SIDEWALK CIRCUS, I spent a lot of time in Portland, Maine. I was amazed by all the things going on in the city, and all the people and things I had never really noticed before. I am grateful to Paul Fleischman for opening my eyes."