Sidewalk Circus

I enjoyed the concept of this wordless book because I feel that there are many younger children that wouldn't understand it the way many adults might. The circus has been a disappearing entertainment act but this book brings it back for all readers. There's a lot to look at in this book, it would work well for students to look through individually during a quiet reading time.

Sidewalk circus is a great historical fiction. Between the element of story and the beautiful illustrations, this book is sure to capture the reader's attention. The common theme or focus of this book is all centered around an upcoming circus in town. As bystanders sit on nearby benches and take in their surroundings, it seems as though the circus has already begun. Construction workers that walk on high support beams of a unfinished building, hint at a person who might be walking a tight rope act at a circus. Furthermore, the illustrations are not only just colorful, but very detailed. The faces of worried characters are presented with bright red faces which allow the viewer to understand the severity of ensuing consequences. Sidewalk show more Circus presents the reader with one direction and quickly builds on an idea that may not have been inferred in the beginning. show less

I really liked this book for a number of reasons, but mostly because of the message that came across as I was reading it. With the illustrator's use of bright, colorful, detailed pictures/paintings, readers are able to connect or relate the people, places and things to what they know to take place in the circus. The author and illustrator work well together to show children how simple it is for them to be a part of something by using or taking advantage of the simple people, places and things they have right in their neighborhood. Both the author and illustrator incorporate comparisons to things children may see in a circus, which not only are attractive to the eye, but this allows children to feel like they can relate to the main show more character of the book. For example, one page in the book shows a chef flipping pancakes. This can easily be compared to that of a juggling act in the circus. Another page shows a construction worker walking across a very high building, as he holds two large buckets. This can be compared to a trapeze act in the circus. Overall, this book allows children to make personal connections to things they see in everyday life, after looking at the pictures used throughout the book. Being able to make connections to a text is super important and this book does a great job of granting students that opportunity. show less

Sidewalk Circus uses no dialogue just pictures. I found it very clever to deliver the story without dialogue, encouraging children to see the adventure in life around them rather than pay to have entertainment brought to them. In a culture where videogames must be bought (or at least have coins inserted), the idea that entertainment can be found by only adjusting your viewpoint is an excellent one for young children.

On each bright, primary-colored page, an unnamed child observes adventures and entertainments so resembling circus acts that she covers her eyes at the exciting parts and claps her hands at the skill. The “goings on” of daily life so resemble a circus that she mistakes the images for circus acts.

Oh too cute. I'm a fan of books that encourage readers to look at the world from a fresh perspective, whether they're toddlers' metafiction or adults' science fiction or anything in between. This comes at it from a direction I've never seen before. How wonderful to be able to see the extraordinary in the everyday, as the girl in this story does.

Do note that this resembles a wordless book because there's no narration or dialogue. But the words on the signs are very helpful and I would not share this without reading them.

"Sidewalk Circus" features a young viewer sitting on a sidewalk bench watching all of the work going on in her city. Most people do not see construction workers and food vendors and envision a circus act. When this young girl looks at the leader of the construction crew holding a blue print, she sees a ring leader. In the shadows, the blue print becomes a mega phone and his hat becomes a huge circus top hat. Using no words, a complete circus act is portrayed. This is my favorite book of the entire semester. It is amazing how people can view so many things differently. Imagination plays a major role in the theme. In the shadows we are able to see flame catchers, the strongest man alive, tight rope walkers, and a juggler.

Sidewalk Circus is a great wordless picture book that I enjoyed a lot. The illustrations were of course one of the reasons I enjoyed the book. They really depicted the city streets in a vibrant way. There is also great use of juxtaposition in the pictures. For example, on one of the pages the circus man is putting up a poster of a man juggling. Meanwhile in the window next door, a woman is inside juggling pancakes on the stove. The characters were also well depicted. I could imagine seeing every one of them walking down the streets of Baltimore City in the 1950's. The books main idea was imaginative thinking. It made the reader think about how life is really just an everyday circus.