Circus Girl

by Jack Sendak, Maurice Sendak (Illustrator)

Fans of Maurice Sendak's Caldecott Medal-winning Where the Wild Things Are will love Circus Girl— a loving collaboration between Maurice Sendak and his brother, Jack Sendak. Born amid the happy life of the circus, Flora loves her fellow performers. But when she begins to have terrible dreams about the people who come to see the circus every night, she sets off on a journey to learn more about them.   Saturday Review praised Circus Girl , saying, “Flora finds out many things in this imaginative story by Jack that bad dreams are just dreams, and that the great audiences that frightened her were warm and friendly when she got to know them. . . . A book that will intrigue both adults and children.” First published in 1957, Circus Girl is a special collaboration between brothers!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1957

Reviews

[Honore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sendak super fans only! The writing is a bit longwinded and there are not enough illustrations to balance out the story. Don't see myself revisiting this one.

[Allie]

More of a book for an intermediate reader (which is where we shelve it) rather than a picture book. This came across my desk when I was changing over display books from our Sendak exhibit. It's an interesting and sweet story that would be a nice read aloud for an early-elementary kid.

[Becca Stokes]

Writing a circus play. If you have no plans for the next EIGHTY YEARS, feel free to talk to me about it.

[Hazel · Rating 2 out of 5]

It must suck to live in the shadow of your brother. Perhaps Jack Sendak should have stayed away from books. Maybe take up gardening. The book was long and super-wordy.

[Sasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted so badly to love this, because Sendak is my spirit wild thing. But as gorgeous as his quiet nighttime city scene scapes were, the writing itself just felt bombastic for kids. Also, Flora was a bit strange and not in a quirky heroine way.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice writing. Sensible story with easy plot.

[Diana Polansky · Rating 4 out of 5]

For anyone who loves Maurice Sendak, is intrigued by the circus, is considered an outsider, wonders about "the other", is an entertainer, made giddy by pretty pictures, etc.