The Show Must Go On!

Sir Sidney, owner of Sir Sidney's Circus, is considering retirement -- but who will fill his shoes? A gentle soul, he prides his circus on its solicitous treatment of animals (daily groomings for Leo the lion; fresh imported peanuts for Elsa the elephant; plenty of rest between shows) and warm attitude toward audiences (free admission for children; complimentary popcorn). "Certified Lion Tamer" Barnabas Brambles wins the chance to take over the circus for a one-week trial run, but his obsession with turning a profit quickly (more shows! higher prices! worse food!) lands the circus in dire straits. As the group travels around the country, making accidental pit-stops atop various famous monuments and missing shows left and right, Brambles grows increasingly mean and miserly, and the animals grow more frustrated -- all except problem-solving mice Bert and Gert, who serve as both peanut gallery and intrepid kid stand-ins as they work to save the circus. Brambles's schemes reap comic (and karmic) consequences that directly undermine his endgame, and readers will enjoy tracing each bad choice to its disastrous conclusion. Black-and-white spot illustrations appear on almost every page, bringing the gawky-limbed characters (animal and human alike) to life and interacting dynamically with the text. The Klises maintain a light touch with the messaging, giving the book a comforting thematic unity around the importance of kindness; and humor is apparent in every detail, from the smallest conversational exchanges to the extravagantly silly set pieces that mark the book's major plot points. Readers will eagerly await the next volume of over-the-(big)-top hijinks. claire e. gross