Hocus and Pocus at the Circus

by Fran Manushkin, Geoffrey Hayes (Photographer)

A young witch tries in vain to teach her little sister how to spook a Halloween circus.

Genres: Halloween, Picture Books, Childrens

58 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1983

About the author

Fran Manushkin is the author of more than fifty books for children, including the Katie Woo series; Big Girl Panties, illustrated by Valeria Petrone; Big Sisters Are the Best, illustrated by Kirsten Richards; The Tushy Book, illustrated by Tracy Dockray; and Baby, Come Out!, illustrated by Ronald Himler and translated into eight languages. She lives in New York City.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hocus was a mean little witch, and she was determined that her younger sister Pocus should be one as well. Unfortunately, Pocus' spells had a tendency to be kind, rather than cruel. When Hocus and Pocus attend a Halloween circus, every single one of Hocus' ideas for ruining the experience for everyone goes wrong, thanks to Pocus' well-meaning bungling...

Published in 1983, Hocus and Pocus at the Circus was part of HaperCollins' I Can Read collection of beginning readers, and features a few simple sentences on each two-page spread. The story was engaging enough, although I didn't particularly care for the circus theme, given the use of performing animals. Leaving that issue aside, this had a sweet ending, and cute illustrations, and is one I would recommend to beginning readers who enjoy witchy tales.

[Cassidy Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book for young children most definitely! The way Hocus and Pocus act towards each other is something else! I love how at the end they make up like most sibling arguments do.

[Dalton Prather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of course this would be a good Halloween story, but i would read this at other times of the year. I like the idea of the tricks going wrong and having a nice ending.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two sister witches set out on Halloween to cast tricks at a circus. But every time the little one tries she messes up the spell and they end up being a treat instead of a trick. Her big sister gets very frustrated at her. In the end however they end up going home with a good Halloween behind them. My adult special needs son and I enjoyed this Halloween book.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Shannon 1987." I much preferred Geoffrey Hayes' illustration work with Otto and Uncle Tooth.