Three-Ring Rascals, Books 3–4: The Circus Goes to Sea; Pop Goes the Circus!

Gr 2–5—In this second audio installment of Klise's "Three-Ring Rascals" series, listeners will be entertained by the continued adventures of Sir Sidney and his world-famous circus. In The Circus Goes to Sea, Bert, Gert, and the rest of the performers join Sir Sidney and Barnabas Brambles aboard the S.S. Spaghetti at the request of nine-year-old Flora, who resides on the ship. Unwelcome at first by the ship's captain, the troupe, especially Barnabas, eventually wins her over, leading to a life-changing event for two of the characters. In Pop Goes the Circus!, Bert is whisked away by a balloon. No one is as surprised as he is when he runs into Flora, who has run away in search of the circus, and together, they make their way towards Sir Sidney's peanut farm to reunite with their families. While the ensemble cast of performers imbue the characters with their own distinct personalities, the voice actors who portray Bert and Flora shine in this collection. They successfully capture their characters' petulance, frustration, remorsefulness, and subsequent joy with great feeling.