Sidewalk Circus

Written by Paul Fleishman

Written by Kevin Hawkes
Candlewick Press 2004
ISNB: 0-7636-1107-7

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls! Step right up and witness an astounding assemblage of tightrope walkers, strong men, sword swallowers, and clowns.

The Garibaldi Circus is coming soon, but for those with clear eyes, the performers may already be in the ring.

Awards

ALA Notable Children's Book

Kirkus Reviews Editor Choice Award
NCTE Notable Children's Trade Books in the Language Arts

Reviews

This delightful book will fascinate children and help them to see their world with new eyes. — School Library Journal (starred review)

"The splendor of everyday life is revealed in this quietly exciting wordless offering. . . In a gorgeous action-packed spread, all the acts of the sidewalk circus appear at once. A lovely tribute to the endless power of imagination." —Kirkus Reviews

Insider's Scoop

When I was first presented with the idea of Sidewalk Circus from Paul Fleishman, he listed a variety of circus acts and their corresponding city-scenes. I liked the ideas alot but wondered if I could find any of these in an actual city to use as reference. To my surprise, after spending a day in Portland, Maine, I found nearly every scene. So Sidewalk Circus and its shadows are not as far-fetched as you might think!