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    The Circus Ship

    Author Chris Van Dusen
    Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen
    Paperback
    $8.99 US
    Candlewick
    9.88"W x 10.25"H x 0.15"D   | 7 oz | 70 per carton
    On sale Feb 24, 2015 | 40 Pages | 9780763655921
    Age 4-8 years | Preschool - 3
    Reading Level: Lexile AD600L | Fountas & Pinnell M
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    “The verse is sprightly, but the pictures are the true stunners.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

    When a circus ship runs aground off the coast of Maine, the poor animals are left on their own, but 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 hidden-pictures spread for eagle-eyed readers of all ages.
    The verse is sprightly, but the pictures are the true stunners. Bright, lampooning gouaches (familiar from the Mercy Watson series) and dizzying perspective perfectly suit this picaresque tale...Children will pore over panoramic spreads that invite them to find each of the 15 animals and celebrate a denouement that serves up Mr. Paine's just deserts. Splendid!
    —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
    Chris Van Dusen is the author-illustrator of DOWN TO THE SEA WITH MR. MAGEE, A CAMPING SPREE WITH MR. MAGEE, and IF I BUILT A CAR. He says, "When I first read Mercy Watson to the Rescue, the characters were very vivid in my mind, and they just came to life when I started painting. This is exactly the type of story I love to illustrate – a wonderfully silly adventure with lots of action." This is his first book with Candlewick Press. View titles by Chris Van Dusen

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    About

    “The verse is sprightly, but the pictures are the true stunners.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

    When a circus ship runs aground off the coast of Maine, the poor animals are left on their own, but 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 hidden-pictures spread for eagle-eyed readers of all ages.

    Praise

    The verse is sprightly, but the pictures are the true stunners. Bright, lampooning gouaches (familiar from the Mercy Watson series) and dizzying perspective perfectly suit this picaresque tale...Children will pore over panoramic spreads that invite them to find each of the 15 animals and celebrate a denouement that serves up Mr. Paine's just deserts. Splendid!
    —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

    Author

    Chris Van Dusen is the author-illustrator of DOWN TO THE SEA WITH MR. MAGEE, A CAMPING SPREE WITH MR. MAGEE, and IF I BUILT A CAR. He says, "When I first read Mercy Watson to the Rescue, the characters were very vivid in my mind, and they just came to life when I started painting. This is exactly the type of story I love to illustrate – a wonderfully silly adventure with lots of action." This is his first book with Candlewick Press. View titles by Chris Van Dusen

    Additional formats

    • The Circus Ship
      The Circus Ship
      (A Rhyming Adventure of Circus Animals Finding a New Home - For Preschoolers, Kindergarteners, and 1st-3rd Graders Ages 4-8)
      Chris Van Dusen
      9780763630904
      $19.99 US
      Hardcover
      Candlewick
      Sep 22, 2009
      Age 4-8 years
    • The Circus Ship
      The Circus Ship
      (A Rhyming Adventure of Circus Animals Finding a New Home - For Preschoolers, Kindergarteners, and 1st-3rd Graders Ages 4-8)
      Chris Van Dusen
      9780763630904
      $19.99 US
      Hardcover
      Candlewick
      Sep 22, 2009
      Age 4-8 years

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