If You Ever Want to Bring a Circus to the Library, DON'T!

If You Ever Want to Bring a Circus to the Library, Don't! is the third book in the 'Magnolia' series by Elise Parsley. Parsley is both the author and illustrator.

Magnolia has previously brought an alligator to school and a piano to the beach. So is a circus in the library a good idea? Well, the poster says...."You Can Do Anything at the Library!"

I work in a public library and have a small grandson who adores being read to as well as visiting the library so this newest book was a great fit for us.

He was interested in the book right away - the cover caught his eye - and it held his interest 'til the last page.

He started to remember the 'chorus' line with repeated readings...."You can do anything at the library - except......" and shouted show more the lines as they came up. There's a wonderful rhythm to reading this book out loud and so many opportunities to be vocally expressive. I do wonder if another word could have been found for 'concessions' (used in the food sense) as I ended up paraphrasing. There's a countdown moment that he loved as well.

Subsequent readings had us stopping to look at the pictures more closely (Library Gramma quite enjoyed the posters!) to see details more closely. There's lots of opportunity for discussion based on the book - talking about what his library looked like and what he does at the library and what he might like to do - both 'approved' and over the top like Magnolia. I do want to say as a library employee that things have changed over the years. Things do get 'loud' at the library sometimes and we do bring in 'events'. Not a circus so far though....

Magnolia as a lead character is wonderful - she is full of life, enthusiasm and imagination. The illustrations are colourful and quirky. The facial expressions allow a little one to interpret what the characters might be thinking or feeling.

Gramma and Little Guy both enjoyed this book. show less

The first of the Magnolia Says, "Don't!" series that I did not fully enjoy. While it has some good moments, Magnolia is just too obnoxious to the people around her and violates the sanctity of a library. Too far, Magnolia, too far!

Turns out the "You can do ANYTHING at the library" poster was a tiny bit misleading. The would-be ringleader eventually decides to entertain the other kids with a reading of the Three Billy Goats Gruff instead of circus acts.

The book is sweet enough, but it isn't anything amazing. It centers around a misunderstanding of a poster that says "You can do anything in a library!" and kind of takes on an absurdist humor skit from there. It really isn't bad. I can see how kids would like it and it has a bit of a lesson on how to act in libraries, but it isn't particularly fantastic.

Library behavior is addressed. This is a little confusing, because our young heroine seems to be getting away with some pretty rowdy behavior. But it does have an actual plot, and I'm sure kids love the humor. The posters that say "You can do anything at your library" do indeed need to be re-written.

In response to a one-star review: Yes, I know we don't say 'shh' anymore nor do we just read dtbs. But neither do we do high-wire acts or send shelves toppling like dominoes....

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